Built environment experts come together for first Making Places in the North event

The event will be hosted at the Manchester offices of international legal business DWF, who are one of the partners of Making Places in the North.

Making Places in the North is an initiative by Constructing Excellence Manchester which aims to use the skills and knowledge of professionals in the industry to support the economic ambitions of the Northern Powerhouse and make the area a great place to live. The initiative aims to explore how best to achieve these aims by building homes that are not just bricks and mortar but that are supported by community facilities, useful amenities and good transport links. All of these elements can help turn a group of houses into a sustainable neighbourhood with a sense of community.

The event will comprise of a panel discussion and Q&A session with Henri Murison of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, Hugh Ellis of TCPA, Shelagh Grant of the Housing Forum, Julia Park from RIBA, David Rudlin of The Academy of Urbanism and Don Ward from Constructing Excellence.

The panel members will each share their idea of what 'place making' means to them and will then answer questions from the audience.

David Vayro, partner in DWF's construction team, said:

"We are excited to be able to work alongside and support Making Places in the North and its partner bodies in this inaugural event. The issue of housing provision is one of the keys to success in the delivery of the Northern Powerhouse, but the construction process is only one aspect of creating the environment in which communities can establish, develop and thrive. 'Place making' is a term which can mean all things to all people, Making Places in the North is committed to a vision of quality and sustainability in the built environment which will encourage those communities to prosper, and in turn add further value to the area. We are very much looking forward to the variety of perspectives which our distinguished and experienced panel will share and the lively debate which is sure to follow."

Roger Burton, Chairman of Constructing Excellence Manchester, added:

"Creating places for people to live is about more than building houses. Where those homes are built, the physical environment, how they connect, the creation of neighbourhoods and communities, and the provision of services all make the places in which we desire to set down our roots. Making Places in the North, a new initiative by Constructing Excellence, brings together the key built environmental professions to collaborate in the exploration of these issues and understand how the North can best respond to the growing demand for housing in the context of a growing Northern economy. We believe this represents a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to look at the North afresh and consider how we can satisfy growth and take advantage of the opportunity to build a quality, sustainable environment and create the places where people can live healthy and fulfilling lives."

Don Ward, Chief Executive of Constructing Excellence, said:

"Constructing Excellence is movement to stimulate, debate and drive much needed change in the construction industry. Our thousands of participants share a vison for change through innovation and collaboration. We are pleased to work with and support all the partners in this new initiative to explore and promote the value of place making, adding a valuable and important contribution to the success of the Northern Powerhouse."

The Making Places in the North event will be held on Wednesday 13 June 2018 from 11.30am to 3pm at DWF, 1 Scott Place, 2 Hardman Street, Manchester M3 3AA.

For information on booking a ticket visit Eventbrite here.