Picture This

🌳 From Paris to Birkenhead: greening disused railway lines 🌳 The transformation of former railway infrastructure into vibrant green spaces is a trend gaining momentum globally. Shannon Conway visited Paris’ Promenade Plantée today, the world’s first elevated park, which set the standard by turning a disused railway viaduct into a linear city park that blends nature and urban living. Birkenhead’s Dock Branch Park South is following a similar path, repurposing a disused railway line to create a green corridor that will connect communities and celebrate the area’s industrial heritage. Designed by Planit, Dock Branch Park South is set to become a fantastic green space for people to enjoy nature and Birkenhead’s heritage. Both railway park projects show the power of creative thinking when it comes to repurposing old infrastructure for public good. With the help of grant funding from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Homes England, the first phase of Dock Branch Park South and the remediation of the wider Hind Street Urban Village will be starting very soon 👏 We consider ourselves very lucky to be supporting Ion Property Developments Limited and Wirral Council with the delivery of such a transformative regeneration project. Mike Nicholson Shannon Conway Rob Mason Stephen Parry Chris Jones Jason Cain Danny Marsh Sean Swarbrick Pete Swift #UrbanRegeneration #birkenhead #highline #GreenInfrastructure #SustainableCities

You’ve summed it up perfectly Steph Hepworth. It was a privilege to be part of the conversation and shine a light on the opportunity the Hind Street project in Birkenhead presents. Ion Property Developments Limited Wirral Council Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Beckie Joyce

Moving the dial for economic, social and environmental renewal ☝️ Discussing this topic, Shannon Conway will be joining fellow panelists Suzy Jones (Urban Splash ), Catherine Dewar (English Heritage), Carol Holt (Environment Agency) and Will Garton (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government). Chaired by William Seabrook Day One: Convention Of The North

We have formed a strategic development partnership with Ion Property Developments Limited 😊   Our first project together will be Hind Street Urban Garden Village, a low carbon neighbourhood in Birkenhead which will deliver 1,600 homes, commercial uses and a new high level linear park, Dock Branch Park South 🌳🚶➡️👩🦽➡️🚲💗🌳 Hind Street provides an exciting opportunity for Picture This to support Ion deliver an exemplar residential village with strong environmental and social credentials. Stephen Parry, Managing Director, Ion Developments said: “Picture This bring extensive residential experience to support us at Hind Street. Its contribution to design, strategic phasing, multi-tenure funding and delivery, place making and user engagement will complement our ambition to deliver a multi-generational, green urban neighbourhood in Birkenhead. We recognise the Picture This approach could be a perfect addition to other projects, bringing added value to mixed use developments.” Last month Ion gained planning approval for the scheme, which is located on the site of a former gasworks and railway siding. This comes after Wirral Council, working with Ion, secured £51m of funding from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Homes England for the scheme.   Phase One of Hind Street is expected to be underway by summer and will include remediation, the delivery of Dock Branch Park South, 633 homes and 14,000 sqft of commercial space developed. Rob Mason Chris Jones Jason Cain Halle Kinnear Mike Nicholson Shannon Conway BDP (Building Design Partnership Ltd) Planit Curtins WSP Royal Pilgrim Communications Mark Braund Pete Swift Sean Swarbrick Danny Marsh

Planning has been submitted for Picture This Stockport, our first scheme with JV partner Progressive Living Developments - 245 homes for rent - purposefully designed for ages 0 to 100 - designed to combat social isolation - practical design considering neurodiversity and accessibilty - Passivhaus low energy standard - neighbourhood spaces for residents and non-residents - apartment mix driven by demand in Stockport from a variety of demographics AEW Architects Zerum Renaissance Associates Limited re-form Landscape Architecture Ltd Euan Kellie Property Solutions Greater Manchester Combined Authority David Fairclough Shannon Conway Mike Nicholson Phil Hepworth Kate Silvester Jonathan Miley Yi Hsien Kao (Emma Kao) Andrew Duffy Helen Gribbon Euan Kellie Katie Daniels Pauline Johnston

HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Melanie Lewis for being awarded an MBE in the New Years Honours List, for services to theatre. Mel joined us in the podcast studio and shared her thoughts on why performance spaces are so important to our towns and cities. If you missed it, you can listen here: Apple: https://lnkd.in/emp2tsv5 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ejJ4Bd5G Podbean: https://lnkd.in/eCxfR3kX

🦻 New Podcast - Place and Ageing - a Multigenerational Approach. Age-friendly design isn't just about accommodating older people —it's about creating inclusive spaces for all. Join us as Dr. Mark Hammond discusses the importance of integrating diverse age groups in urban planning and development. Podcast links in the comments, or head to our website to listen. Sound: CitySeventeen Design: Mr.M ideas studio Supported by: Material Source #AgeFriendlyCommunities #UrbanPlanning #multigenerational #intergenerational #propertypodcast #ageinclusive #inclusivedesign #inclusiveplanning #agefriendlydevelopment

We've signed the Healthy Homes Pledge ✒️ 💡 The quality of our homes and neighbourhoods defines the entire arc of our lives. The evidence is clear that health is made at home. Healthy homes radically reduce costs not only to people, but also to the NHS and to wider society. 🤲 The pledge outlines 12 Healthy Homes Principles which must be adhered to. These include ensuring all our homes are inclusive, adaptable and accessible; provide thermal comfort year round; and are close to amenities, nature and transport. This is part of the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) Health Homes Campaign, more details of which can be found here https://lnkd.in/eU9JJ_qk

Homes England has, and continues to play a vital part in the Picture This story. Since those first ideas of how we could bring something different to the residential market, they have been there to provide their insight, ideas and to act as a critical friend. Many in our sector see Homes England as a body that distributes grant. This is just the tip of the iceberg - the work they undertake , and the problems they try to solve is often complex. This gives them oversight of a whole sector, not just the microcosm we work in. So a huge thank you to those at Homes England (past and present) who have lent an ear, gifted us with their time, insight and support to date 🙏 💡 Jennifer Murray David Bridges Harry Swales Eleanor Bowden Steph Everett Lauren Whitworth Claire Richards Tom Cruddas Michael Palin Peter Denton Sara Eustace (formerly Parkinson)

Over the past 12 months Picture This and Maple Grove Developments have been working together on a town centre revitalisation proposal. The work was supported by a team of amazing people from JH Architects, CW Studio Ltd, enabl, Civic Engineers, Baltic Creative CIC, PLACED, Oxford Innovation and #republikofideas Framed by the Eric Wright Group and Picture This’ core values, alongside the ambition of the Local Authority and key stakeholders, the team came together to research, design and stress test a vibrant mixed use scheme delivering apartments, serviced accommodation, creative space, co-working, a futureproofed travel/car park hub, and 2.5 acres of public realm which included a new town centre park and rooftop community allotment. Running alongside was a community engagement strategy, support for local CICs, entrepreneurs, schools and work placed learning. Unfortunately we narrowly missed out and another developer was chosen, however we wanted to take this opportunity to showcase the team's incredible work and thank them for their commitment and passion over the past year. They totally nailed the brief 👏 Although the outcome was a blow, we are extremely proud of the collective work and the ideas and solutions that came from the process 💡👫 Nik Puttnam Shannon Conway Mike Nicholson Matthew Dixon Paul Harrison Andrea George Lucy Marshall Jo Harrop Stephen O'Malley Lynn Haime