Safer and more inclusive place making
As a leading communications agency in the built environment, we know all too well the industry’s challenge of creating environments people want to be and, more importantly, places where they feel safe and able to be themselves while going about everyday life.
Placemaking has been around for a very long time, but that doesn’t mean everyone knows what successful placemaking is or what it looks like.
In our world, we support real estate leaders and experts by engaging with communities, managing public consultations, and delivering strategic communications for regeneration projects around the country. All with the aim of creating safer and more inclusive spaces.
Beyond buzz words
Placemaking is the act of creating places that people want to be in, whether that’s for work or to live, visit, or play in. It involves taking the time to understand the local community’s needs and wants to develop a shared vision that can adapt over time and continue to serve its purpose.
Human-centric brands and communications
Real estate is awash with industry awards for placemaking. Yet, there is still not enough recognition of the reality that the very best buildings and places are the ones that make people feel welcome and are both safe and inclusive.
Getting it right enhances and protects property values while boosting market demand by attracting a wide range of potential occupiers. A progressive, human-centric approach also strengthens the reputations of the brands involved, builds trust with stakeholders, and establishes a leadership position amongst peers.
For all that, a wealth of data paints a very different picture of UK towns and cities.
One in two women feel unsafe walking alone after dark near their home. At the same time, fear of crime and anti-social behaviour features significantly in the lives of young people, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those of us with disabilities.
While many of the challenges behind these figures are social and cultural, plenty of industry voices are working towards change.
As real estate PR experts we recently gathered a group of these progressive thinkers for a workshop to put down some markers on the way ahead to enhancing safety and inclusivity.
Our report below sets their key insights.
If you’d like to learn more about how we help property sector companies with their messaging, download our credentials document here.
Sam Jarrett Head of Marketing and Communications, LandsecU+I,
“We’re proud to say that Influential have been with us since day one at Mayfield in Manchester. They were originally hired to manage all consultation, engagement, PR and profile building for Mayfield at the inception of the Mayfield Partnership in 2015. Since then, their team has been pivotal in building the project’s fame across the UK as the blueprint for future urban regeneration.
When we began to think about how we may celebrate the opening of Manchester’s first new park for a century it was a no brainer for us that Influential would lead. They gathered 100 children from schools across the city and mobilised the support of key cultural partners including Manchester City FC in the Community. A broad spectrum of media outlets including BBC, ITV and The Guardian were invited to see the first guests enter the park which led to fantastic coverage with over 100 stories published across TV, Radio and Digital.
The team continue to work seamlessly with our partner organisations and agencies which is vital on large schemes. The launch of Mayfield Park will go down as certainly one of the proudest days of my career, thank you Influential for helping us make it happen.”
For more general communication support across the built environment:
- Chris Hulme: 07971 350116 – hulme@thisisinfluential.com
- Sarah Gilmour: 07938487894 – gilmour@thisisinfluential.com
- Chris Barry: 07733 103693 – barry@thisisinfluential.com
Our Team
Chris Hulme
PR Director
Sarah Gilmour
Senior Account Director
