The Building Garden Communities Conference, supported by South East LEP, Kent Housing and Development Group and Essex Developers Group was the latest event in a Garden Communities programme curated and delivered by White Label Creative.

The half-day virtual conference, which took place on 25 March had over 200 attendees join with many also taking the opportunity to network and speak to some of the planners involved in the garden communities, at the end of the webinar session.

With keynote speeches by Christopher Pincher, Minister of State for Housing, Fionnuala Lennon, Homes England’s Head of Garden Communities and Professor Carlos Moreno the pioneer behind the 15-minute city concept, delegates were able to find out more about the plans and ambitions for garden communities post COVID-19.

Chaired by Katy Lock, Director of Communities and Project Delivery, TCPA, a wide range of expert speakers took part in panel discussions throughout the morning – focusing on placemaking, transport and infrastructure, supporting the local economy and building back better. Speakers included Christian Brodie, Chair, South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP); Andrew Taylor, Group Planning Director, Countryside; Ian Piper, Chief Executive, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation; Coby Tomlins, Project Lead for Dunton Hills Garden Village, Brentwood Council; Tara Gbloade, Co-Founder Gbolade Design Studio; Richard Davidson, Director, Willmott Dixon and David Ames, Executive Director, Letchworth Garden City, plus many more.

The key message delivered was that of collaboration, by working together across the supply chain and between the public and private sector the ambitions for sustainable, healthy and affordable garden communities can be realised.

SELEP Chair Christian Brodie said: “I am delighted at the success of our Garden Communities conference. Our desire to bring everyone together, to share expertise and perspectives at an event like this, predates the COVID-19 pandemic, but the events of the last year have accelerated some important trends and the discussions today were more relevant than ever.

“We have a unique opportunity to revitalise how we live and work, for the better – to make full use of innovative technology that can improve our day-to-day lives, to make green energy and sustainability a driving force for future housebuilding, and to take what this pandemic has taught us about how we live and work, and use those lessons to create a better quality of life for future generations.

“This event has provided a fantastic platform to highlight the real benefits that Garden Communities can bring to the South East. We will be taking these forward into the next steps in delivering our new Recovery and Renewal Strategy. I’d like to thank our partner organisations and all of those involved in organising the day – including our fantastic speakers – for making this conference such a success.”

Countryside, Willmott Dixon, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation and Anglia Ruskin University also partnered with the conference – joining existing supporters SELEP, the Essex Developers Group and the Kent Developers Group.

To find out more about White Label’s Building Garden Communities programme and to get involved please contact Bonnie Stephensmith – bstephensmith@wlcreative.org.uk