Greenbelt CEO Andrew Duthie chaired a key conference discussion today, focussing on issues that are vital for the future of the housebuilding industry.

Taking the stage at the Garden Communities and New Towns Development Conference in Kensington Town Hall, London, he addressed the subject of Major Garden Community and New Towns Development Plans.

He began by looking more closely at areas of particular expertise for Greenbelt: ‘Placekeeping’ and ‘Long-Term Stewardship (LTS) Solutions and Enabling Placemaking’.

This opened up an in-depth exploration of the reality of managing Public Open Spaces for the benefit of new communities, while ensuring optimal outcomes in service, costs and the enablement of that all-important sense of place and community.

Andrew commented: “It really was a pleasure to address this important conference this afternoon and I’d like to thank all of the delegates ­– those at the event and those who joined remotely ­– for their warm response.

“The level of engagement in our discussion was reflected in the questions raised, which allowed a wide range of stakeholders to delve deeply into the issues the industry is facing – as well as discuss viable, long-term solutions.”

Sponsored by Greenbelt, the UK’s unrivalled leader in the stewardship of Public Open Spaces (POS) on new home developments, the special session welcomed invaluable input from Fiona Gray, Project Director, Welborne Garden Village; Nick Pollock, Head of Planning, Duchy of Cornwall; Rosa Etherington, Associate Director (Planning), Countryside Partnerships PLC; and Sarah Robson, Director of Development and Regeneration, Karbon Homes.

If you’d like to hear more about the matters discussed, you can keep up to date with conference highlights right here in our dedicated News section.