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About
Create Streets is a UK-based social enterprise and multidisciplinary consultancy dedicated to promoting urban design that prioritises people, place, and planet. Founded in 2012 by Nicholas Boys Smith, the organisation emerged from a desire to counteract the prevalence of low-quality developments and irrational decision-making in urban planning. Create Streets advocates for "gentle density"—a development approach that emphasises walkable, human-scale neighbourhoods featuring terraced housing and mid-rise buildings. Their mission is to create beautiful, sustainable places that foster well-being, social cohesion, and economic vitality. Central to Create Streets' work is an evidence-based methodology that links urban form to health, sustainability, prosperity, and public support. Through extensive research, they have demonstrated that traditional street patterns and architectural styles often lead to more liveable and popular communities. Their projects span from advising on national housing policies to collaborating with local communities on neighbourhood plans, ensuring that developments align with residents' needs and preferences. For building conservation professionals, homeowners, and enthusiasts, Create Streets offers valuable insights into integrating heritage with modern living. Their "Living Tradition" report, for instance, explores how adding mansard roofs to Georgian and Victorian buildings can provide additional living space while respecting historical aesthetics. Such initiatives demonstrate how sensitive design interventions can enhance the functionality of historic structures without compromising their character. Create Streets also engages in policy advocacy, aiming to reform planning systems to support the creation of places people love. Their "Create Streets Manifesto for Homes, Hope and Health" outlines practical suggestions to boost housebuilding and promote sustainable growth patterns. By influencing policy at both local and national levels, they strive to ensure that new developments contribute positively to the built environment and community well-being. In addition to consultancy and advocacy, Create Streets provides resources and tools for those interested in urban design and conservation. Their services include design codes, master-planning, regeneration strategies, and street assessments. By combining research, community engagement, and practical design solutions, Create Streets empowers individuals and organisations to contribute to the creation of places that are both beautiful and functional.
Info
| Keywords: | Urban Planning, Sustainable Cities, Communities |
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| Email: | contact@createstreets.com |
| Principal Areas of Work: | Urban Design, Planning, Regeneration, Community Engagement, Policy Advocacy, Sustainable Development, Housing, Master-Planning, Design Codes, Research |
| Capabilities and Specialisms: | Heritage Integration, Traditional Architecture, Conservation Planning, Sensitive Design, Historic Building Adaptation, Mansard Roofs, Architectural Heritage, Urban Fabric Restoration, Contextual Design, Building Conservation |
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