Whether it’s how many trees to plant or more intangible questions like how environments should feel, everything we build and do will be scientifically informed. The other strand of work we’re doing with Buro Happold and the University of Manchester is about making sure architects and urban designers respond to the latest health and wellbeing findings to Brent Cross Town.
Anderson believes that it’s on researchers to provide stronger evidence for what works. Most often, studies of the built environment are ‘post occupancy evaluation’ snapshots; think data like, “These people walking in the park say they are happy.” He argues that it’s paramount to move beyond that and find stronger ways to demonstrate causality, providing enough evidence to make statements like, “These people are happy because they are walking in the park.” A previous paper led by Jack Benton at Manchester University provides further recommendations for how to justify conclusions about the effects that places can have on all of us.
Around 120,000 people live within a 10-minute cycle ride of Brent Cross Town. They will soon be joined by the 35,000-odd people who will live and work in this new town. And don’t forget the rest of London, who can visit and enjoy world-class facilities for sport and play. We’re dedicated to developing a place here which not only makes life better for these three groups of people, but that can prove it – where decisions are informed by science and where community is key to flourishing.