A New Era of Regenerative Urban Design in Lancaster District
In a world where urban spaces are at the forefront of pressing issues—ranging from climate challenges to social equity—the perspectives of young people are increasingly vital. Placemaking with Young Adults 2.0 (PYA2) is an innovative research initiative committed to bringing young voices to the forefront of urban planning and policy development in Lancaster District.
Building on Success
Following the tremendous impact of the initial Placemaking with Young Adults (PYA1), funded by The British Academy and Research England E3, which empowered young residents of Lancaster to contribute meaningfully to sustainable urban development, PYA2 aims to elevate this dialogue to new heights. This project runs from February 2025 to March 2026, setting the stage for a new era of participatory placemaking urban design.
This engagement project has generated impact beyond academia, being featured in RTPI’s documentary, “Planning for Tomorrow’s Environment” as an example of best practice in community engagement (Chapter 5: Engaging us in the process; min 19.46), with over + 600K views and 2.75M impressions. Friends of the Earth also highlighted the project as an example of unlocking transformative climate action. The project was shortlisted for two Local Government Chronicle Awards (LGC) and featured in Lancaster City Council’s LGC 2024 Award on Net Zero (June 2024).
Lancaster City Council officers presented the project in public talks and conferences, including the APSE Big Energy Summit, Festival of Place: Climate Resilience 2024, and This is the North Convention 2023, and more recently in iPACT Infrastructure for Port and Coastal Towns event (London, 2025) to share knowledge and best practices. The Lancaster City Council chief executive included the project in public talks, such as the APSE performance networks seminar 2023. The published report (2024) is part of the LCC Local Plan Review, having a lasting local policy impact.
Why This Matters
Despite their critical stake in future planning, many young people feel marginalised from decision-making processes that shape their environments. PYA1 successfully addressed this by actively involving young adults in urban planning discussions centred around sustainability and resilience. PYA2 seeks to deepen this engagement, ensuring that youth perspectives are integral to the Lancaster District Local Plan Review—a guiding framework for the district’s growth through the mid-2040s.
What’s New in PYA2?
- Enhancing Participation
- Educating on Placemaking & Planning
- Strengthening Engagement
Upcoming Activities
PYA2 will bring young adults into direct contact with policymaking in the following ways:
- Placemaking Walking Tours (April-May 2025): Young participants will explore potential site development using placemaking techniques to envision future interventions and constructively criticize site allocations.
- Future Vision Workshops (May/June 2025): Interactive sessions will empower participants to collectively envision and propose sustainable urban layouts in specific sites.
- Policy Co-design Workshops (September/December 2025): Creative sessions will enable young people and policy makers to collaborate side by side in the development of the Local Plan Review, co-designing its aspirations and prioritising themes, embracing placemaking principles for a sustainable future.
- Synthesised findings and young people’s contributions will be documented in reports to inform the Local Plan Review.
Impact & Engagement
Leveraging networks established during PYA1, PYA2 continues to connect young adults with university students, policymakers, and expertise from diverse sectors – this includes collaboration with Lancaster City Council and RTPI. This collaborative approach aims to not only refine Lancaster’s Local Plan but also cultivate a culture of active civic participation among youth—helping to nurture the community leaders of tomorrow.
Join Us in Shaping the Future
Introducing roles such as Placemaking Research Associate and Placemaking Ambassadors, PYA2 offers an unparalleled opportunity for young adults to actively shape Lancaster’s future. We invite young residents to partake in this groundbreaking journey, infusing their ideas and creativity into building a brighter, more sustainable community.
Get in touch here if you would like to become a placemaking Ambassador.
Stay tuned for further updates on participation opportunities. Your insights are invaluable to the success of this project. Together, let’s pave the way for a more inclusive and responsive urban landscape!
For more information, contact:
We look forward to working with you to create lasting, positive change in our community. Watch this space for updates and upcoming blogs as we embark on this exciting journey of urban transformation!
Here you can find more info on PYA1:
https://imagination.lancaster.ac.uk/project/youth-democracy-and-sustainable-citizenship/
Mirian Calvo