Regeneration is the process by which run-down parts of cities, towns or rural neighbourhoods improve their social, environmental and economic well-being. Its objective is to reverse the cycle of exclusion suffered by people in disadvantaged areas by providing decent homes, good transport links, new jobs and safe, comfortable surroundings. These activities, when taken together, contribute to the growth of sustainable communities and the renewal of the built environment.

Buro Happold has played a major role in designing and delivering some of the UK’s most high profile regeneration projects. Our innovative solutions help create environments in which people want to live, work and play. Operating across both the public and private sectors, our Infrastructure group assists clients in identifying their vision for a development and then unlocking its potential through the application of strategic planning and specialist engineering skills.

Early consideration of environmental issues is critical to ensuring that regeneration projects achieve sustainable outcomes. Our in-depth experience of urban masterplanning and environmental engineering gives us an in-depth understanding of site constraints and regulatory requirements. We work closely with our clients to develop design approaches that minimise environmental impact – and enhance the urban fabric – in areas such as traffic planning, landscaping and water management.

With a growing trend for regeneration schemes on reclaimed land – where contamination can be a problem – accurate geotechnical studies enable us to identify risks and hazards and develop appropriate remediation solutions. Large projects are also complex in the way they integrate with access and infrastructure networks, so we look to open up problem sites by making connections that work: to roads, transport interchanges, drainage systems and utility services.