To create a community space like a public park that will genuinely serve a wide range of local people, close collaboration between local authorities, developers and the community itself is required in order to deliver the best result.

However, as an industry, we often forget those who know a place best are those that live there. Collaboration with the local community is often overlooked or, at best, limited to a handful of small events held in town halls at inconvenient times, with plans drawn up before local people have had the chance to share their ideas or insights.