Purpose-driven Development
Project
Building affordable, healthy and sustainable homes and places
About the project
Housing is more than a roof over our heads. It is the foundation of our health, environment, and community. While the UK faces a severe housing crisis, purpose-driven developers are proving that profit and positive impact can go hand-in-hand.
From retrofitting historic buildings to regenerating deprived neighborhoods with schools and green spaces, these pioneers are helping to tackle crime, boost public health, drive local growth and reduce emissions, while building desperately needed new homes.
ReGenerate is partnering with developers who have a purpose beyond profit, to identify how they can help to deliver the government’s priorities for places, and how the government can support them to scale their innovation across design technology, construction methods, funding models and community engagement to create high-quality, affordable, and sustainable communities for everyone.
Why we need purpose-driven development
While simply building more houses is often seen as the answer to the UK’s housing crisis, new homes are only happy and healthy to live in if they are affordable, high-quality, and integrated with the services and infrastructure we all depend on - shops and schools, green spaces and social hubs, roads and utilities. True success therefore requires a holistic, place-based approach that balances affordability with social and environmental impact. As shown below, purpose-driven development provides a framework to deliver the high-quality, sustainable homes and thriving communities that we need.
Progress to date
Defining "purpose-driven development"
Frameworks, regulations and certifications abound. Together with the Quality of Life Foundation, we have created a common definition for purpose-driven development, which encompasses a wide range of social, environmental and economic considerations and identifies six core pillars.
Identifying barriers
We have convened a diverse group of developers, from SME house builders to FTSE100 property investors, providing a unique forum for developers of all shapes and sizes to explore the systemic and policy barriers which act as a drag on "purpose", by limiting their ability to deliver mission-led projects at scale.
Designing solutions
In collaboration with these developers, government officials and other sector leaders, we have co-designed solutions which could overcome these hurdles and help developers to deliver more projects which prioritise people, place and planet alongside profit.
Have an interest in purpose-driven development?
If you are a property developer, policy maker, planning expert or simply have an interest in purpose-driven housebuilding and placemaking, we’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch
To find out more about the project or get involved, contact bramwell.blower@re-generate.org.
Related publications
Coming soon - watch this space!