Peabody partners with Open City to promote sustainable urban development
Open City is delighted to announce a partnership with Peabody, one of London’s largest and oldest housing association Peabody, who will become founding headline sponsors of the Open City Stewardship Awards.
The Open City Stewardship Awards are the only British prize to celebrate long-term sustainable urban development practices. The partnership with Peabody, one of London’s largest and oldest housing associations, will also support a public programme to run from early 2022 championing environmental and social stewardship through architecture and city-making.
Recently, Open City announced a shortlist for the 2022 Stewardship Awards which includes examples of best practice at all scales, ranging from community gardens in Brent and Dalston, community-led housing development in Lewisham, the management of historic campuses like Covent Garden market and LSE’s University Quarter, and contemporary large-scale development in King’s Cross. Through the Stewardship Awards, Open City is working to champion citymaking based on ongoing acts of maintenance and care, which we believe is the most important but least celebrated aspect of urban development. The winners in each of the five categories will be announced in Spring 2022.
Peabody draws on nearly 160 years of history and expertise championing social housing in London. Since 2014, they have been involved in the development of Thamesmead New Town, where they have also entered a new chapter as stewards of a landscape including 240 hectares of blue and green space which includes five lakes, seven kilometres of canal and 53,000 trees. In 2020, they set out their strategic approach to managing these outdoor spaces through their Living in the Landscape framework.
Dr Phil Askew, Director of Landscape and Placemaking at Peabody said: “We’re delighted to be working with Open City as a founding sponsor of the Open City Stewardship Awards as we believe stewardship and sharing best practice is key to unlocking the potential of parks and waterways across the UK to meet the challenges of climate change and habitat loss, and to provide healthy living environments.”
John Lewis, Executive Director for Thamesmead at Peabody, said: “We’re passionate about working with people and communities to help maintain and enhance neighbourhoods across London and beyond. For me, co-design is at the heart of what makes great places, and our long-term stewardship model and whole place approach in Thamesmead is already bringing tangible improvements for people in the town. We’re thinking about the future, but are also listening and learning about what is needed here and now. The awards are a great opportunity to celebrate best practice and share ideas, promoting excellence in sustainable urban development.”
Rhea Martin, chair of the Open City Stewardship Awards, said: “When it comes to long-term stewardship of the built environment, there are few organisations with as illustrious a history as Peabody, which was founded on social principles in the Victorian era and remains the long-term manager of many historic buildings across the capital. We look forward to bringing this experience to the judging panel, and to exploring changing attitudes to urban development, environmental stewardship, and social care through the story of Thamesmead as part of the upcoming public programme.”
Peabody joins Construction Declares and Public Practice in supporting the Open City Stewardship Awards.
Partners
About Open City
Open City is a UK charity committed to making architecture and urban design more accessible, open and equitable. For 30 years we have engaged citizens, particularly from under-represented backgrounds, to learn about architecture and city making, and have a meaningful role in shaping their future. From our flagship Open House Festival and its international network Open House Worldwide, connecting 46 cities around the globe, to pioneering education programmes, films, podcasts and publications we open up buildings, places and careers in the built environment to those who are normally locked out of them.
About Peabody
The Peabody is one of London’s oldest and largest housing associations and provides over 67,000 homes in London and the South East and 155,000 residents. As Thamesmead's main landowner, Peabody is driving the town's regeneration in collaboration with the London Borough of Bexley, Royal Borough of Greenwich, Greater London Authority and Transport for London.
Other Partners
Construction Declares
Construction Declares is an international group of built environment practices that have committed to radically changing their practice to tackle the twin climate and biodiversity crises.
Public Practice
Public Practice is a not-for-profit company founded in September 2017 by the Greater London Authority and seed funded by six founding Partners from across the public, third and private sectors.
Contacts
Please contact rhea@open-city.org.uk with enquiries.