PUBLIC PRACTICE

How are places really shaped? With the pressure to deliver homes, tackle the climate crisis and navigate policy change, the role of the public sector has never been more critical. Through in-depth stories, insights and reflections, Public Notice Issue Two highlights the vital role of public sector work in shaping better places for everyone through real stories, case studies and expert insights. Limited availability. Get your copy: https://lnkd.in/eZUf4pzg  Photography: Lina Viluma #Placemaking #PublicSector #UrbanPlanning #BuiltEnvironment #HousingCrisis #SustainableDevelopment

We're excited to announce the release of Issue Two of Public Notice, A Better Everyday: our annual magazine exploring the impact of public sector placemaking. Through in-depth stories, insights and reflections, Public Notice highlights the vital role of public sector work in shaping better places for everyone. Limited copies available. Get your copy now: https://lnkd.in/eZUf4pzg Editor: #YAAProjects Production: YAA Projects, PUBLIC PRACTICE, and with the support of many contributors across England and Wales YAA Projects team: Editors: Nana Biamah-Ofosu, Lois Lokko Innes Editorial assistant: Efua B. Illustrations: Efua Boakye, Keaton Seddon Photography: Dion Barrett, Nikolas Dost, Grant Donaldson Texts: All texts are produced by YAA Projects unless otherwise stated Copyeditor: Lila Boschet Design: Oliver Long Studio Typefaces: Notice Sans (by Kia Tasbihgou), Times Ten (by Stanley Morison) Printing: Pureprint Group (2025)

Each year, women from our team and board are recognised among the most influential figures in planning, and 2025 is no exception. We are thrilled to see Jessica Littlewood, our Programmes Manager, included in this year’s list, celebrating her commitment to fairness and inclusion contributing to a more diverse workforce in public planning and placemaking. This recognition is a testament to the leadership and impact of all those featured, whose work continues to shape the built environment in meaningful ways. Their contributions are shaping more equitable, sustainable, and resilient places, strengthening communities, influencing policy and driving long-term change in the built environment. Read the full list here: https://lnkd.in/eFj_cT_j #WomenInPlanning #Leadership #Placemaking #PublicSector

Be First Regeneration Limited is seeking a new Associate Director (Design Lead) to join its Design Consultancy Team. Be First is a pioneering urban regeneration company wholly owned by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. Its mission is to accelerate growth and capitalise on the borough’s position as London’s hottest investment and development opportunity. The Associate Director will lead all Design Team work areas, including design management and technical assurance, urban design studio, planning and strategy. This is a full-time, permanent role with a minimum of 1 day per week in the office. For more details and to apply by 17 March: https://lnkd.in/e_S7ucyF #Planning #PublicSectorJobs #BuiltEnvironment #Regeneration #Architecture #JobsUK

For this month’s away day, the PUBLIC PRACTICE team visited Woking’s WWF-UK Living Planet Centre, designed by Hopkins Architects. This collaboration between an ambitious client, thoughtful architectural design and Woking Borough Council demonstrates how underutilised urban spaces can be reimagined for sustainability. Built above a public car park, this partnership with Woking Borough Council transforms underutilised airspace into a thriving, eco-conscious hub. Inside, we explored how it integrates renewable energy, rainwater harvesting and community engagement, demonstrating how sustainability and placemaking can work hand in hand. The WWF-UK Living Planet Centre is a powerful example of how visionary thinking can turn overlooked spaces into assets, creating places that benefit both people and the planet. #SustainableDevelopment #Placemaking #GreenInfrastructure #SustainableCities #WWFUK

The Royal Borough of Greenwich is seeking a new Project Manager (Heat Decarbonisation) to join its Housing Energy and Sustainability Team. The new Heat Decarbonisation Project Manager will bring technical expertise in heating systems to the team and will be responsible for managing housing projects focusing on decarbonising heating systems. One of the new Project Manager's primary responsibilities will be managing the communal heat network upgrade programme. The Borough owns and operates about 70 communal heat networks serving over 3000 homes. This is a full-time, permanent role with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office. For more details and to apply by 10 March: https://lnkd.in/eHq3WyNU #GreenJobs #EnergyEfficiency #UKJobs #CareerOpportunities

This month, our Partnerships Manager Alex Govier attended the Placemaking for Town Centres Conference, hosted by the Design Commission for Wales and the Welsh Government in Cardiff. With almost every Welsh Local Authority in attendance, it was great to see the enthusiasm for place-based solutions to the issues that town centres in Wales and across the UK face. Speakers included: — Jayne Bryant MS - Newport West, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government — David Engwicht, Director of Creative Communities International (bringing a perspective from down under!) — Richard Baker, Deputy Director - Place Division, Welsh Government — Laura Alvarez, Urban Designer, Nottingham City Council — Paul Relf, City & County of Swansea Our first edition of Public Notice was snatched up by those in attendance. Learn more about our annual magazine: https://lnkd.in/efAE-v9q - Yr wythnos diwethaf, mynychodd ein Rheolwr Partneriaethau Alex Govier y Gynhadledd Gwneud Lleoedd ar gyfer Canol Trefi, a gynhaliwyd gan y Comisiwn Dylunio Cymru a’r Llywodraeth Cymru yng Nghaerdydd. Gyda bron pob Awdurdod Lleol yng Nghymru yn bresennol, roedd yn wych gweld yr awydd i ddod o hyd i atebion sy’n seiliedig ar le i’r heriau y mae canol trefi yng Nghymru a ledled y DU yn eu hwynebu. Ymhlith y siaradwyr roedd: — Jayne Bryant AS, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Dai a Llywodraeth Leol] — David Engwitch, Cyfarwyddwr Creative Communities (yn dod â safbwynt o'r ochr draw i'r byd!) — Richard Baker, Dirprwy Gyfarwyddwr - Adran Lleoedd, Llywodraeth Cymru — Laura Alvarez, Dylunydd Trefol, CC Nottingham — Paul Relf, CC Abertawe Cyhoeddwyd ein rhifyn cyntaf o Public Notice yn llwyr gan y rhai a fynychodd. Dysgwch fwy am ein cylchgrawn blynyddol: https://lnkd.in/efAE-v9q

LAST FEW DAYS for our Recruitment and Skills Survey 2025 for officers working in planning, housing, regen, transport, nature recovery, etc. https://lnkd.in/eqrPuS26 Councils, national governments, and member networks constantly ask us for our survey data, which they use to shape policy, campaign, and budget decisions. The more responses we get, the better - it takes only five minutes. Please contribute asap. PAS Team Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government County Councils Network District Councils' Network Design Commission for Wales Planning Inspectorate Urban Design Learning Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) Association of Town & City Management Homes England Natural England Historic England Local Government Association ADEPT RTPI Scotland Royal Town Planning Institute Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Landscape Institute

The Royal Borough of Greenwich is seeking a new Project Manager (Climate Change and Retrofit) to join its Housing Energy and Sustainability Team. This is an exciting time to join the team, with many new retrofit and energy efficiency projects underway. The new Climate Change and Retrofit Project Manager will bring architectural expertise to the team and be responsible for managing large building fabric retrofit projects. This is a full-time, 2-year FTC role with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office. For more details and to apply by 10 March: https://lnkd.in/eHq3WyNU #Retrofit #Sustainability #GreenJobs #JobOpportunity 

At the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) conference yesterday, we witnessed a tranche of new announcements made by the Minister for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook. We were particularly happy to hear the government's commitment to continuing to work with Public Practice to recruit their 300 planners target. Our Recruitment and Skills Survey closes next week. Please take 5 minutes now to fill it out, which will help us shape how we support you with your recruitment in the coming year: https://lnkd.in/eqrPuS26 #PlanningAdvisoryService #HousingUK #Recruitment #SkillsSurvey #UKHousing #PlanningProfessionals #UrbanDevelopment