A Place at the Table - Stride Treglown

Collaborate, inspire and experience great food during a lively discussion on the nature of modern placemaking.

The menu

We like a meeting, but sometimes the most enlightening conversations happen at a dinner table. Especially when discussing big societal issues. So, what happens if we put the screens to one side, and host a different kind of meeting?

A Place at the Table is an informal setting where questions, ideas and good food are shared by influential shapers of the built environment. The overarching theme is modern placemaking, with each meal split down into three topics – one for each menu course. With around 15 guests, there’s space for everyone to contribute, speak freely and to be heard.

The result is lively, candid and cooperative conversations that bring us closer to challenging conventions and countering the issues we face across the built environment.

People

Understanding the broad and diverse interests involved throughout the life of a place.

Design

Responding to the many layers of complexities that underpin the success of a place.

Wellbeing

Weaving the needs of people as well as the planet into very essence of a place.

Delivery

Ensuring the aspirations for a place can be realistically delivered.

Previous events

2024

A Place at the Table Cardiff

Bigmoose coffee company, Cardiff

The property and construction sectors have a collective responsibility to ensure our projects deliver effective and relevant social impact for local communities and future generations.

Our guests discussed whether ‘social value’ is at risk of becoming the new ‘tick box’ that organisations use to market their good endeavours, how best to decide what the local need is and assess whether positive impact has been successfully delivered.

A Place the Table at UKREiiF

Crafthouse, Leeds

Almost every day we read that people’s trust in decision makers is at an all-time low. Is this true of the property sector and, if so, how do we fix it? Do we need to look at new ways of communicating? Are the new technologies that are starting to dominate conversations a help or a hindrance? And who can help increase trust amongst communities so that the places we deliver are welcomed? These were the topics of our lively debate at UKREiiF.

A Place at the Table at Footprint+

Footprint+

We hosted a breakfast roundtable under the canvas at Footprint+ to discuss “The relationship between net zero and placemaking”. Hosted by our sustainability experts, the event was held in the round in front of a live, studious audience.

A Place at the Table Bath

Minerva Wine Vineyard, Bath

We are increasingly hearing talk about how the built environment can impact on people’s health and wellbeing. As part of Stride Treglown’s Bath Wellbeing City initiative, we brought together local experts to discuss: how health and wellbeing can be embedded at a town, city or regional level; who needs to be engaged to make this a reality; and, how this intersects with the diverse needs of citizens and communities.

A Place at the Table at BCO ESG

The Conduit, London

On the evening before the BCO ESG Conference we gathered to discuss ‘ESG at Work’. We framed the conversation around three themes: should we adopt a ‘retrofit always’ or ‘retrofit first’ approach; who is driving the increase in retrofit and ESG focussed projects; and should our social value focus start in the workplace or in the wider community.

A Place at the Table at MIPIM

Invest Bristol and Bath Stand, Cannes

With “health and wellbeing” joining “social value” and “sustainability” in the property sector lexicon of buzz words, we discussed whether putting health at the centre of placemaking can drive economic recovery and growth.

Building on our recent Bath 2030 initiative that considers the reinvention of the city as one that is designed to promote health, we exploerd how these principles can be applied more broadly to support not just healthier people, but also a healthier economy.

A Place at the Table Great South West

Hotel Endsleigh, Tavistock

With local experts across the public and private sectors, we led conversations on how the blue economy can be harnessed to create a successful, sustainable Great South West region.

We also explored the competitive/collaborative dynamic between Truro, Exeter and Plymouth and how the three cities can develop complementary identities and work together for the good of the Great South West more widely.

A Place the Table at UKREiiF

Dakota, Leeds

Coinciding with UKREiiF 2023, our conversation considered the people element of placemaking. We asked who, in the absence of real leadership from central government, can and should take the lead in tackling the very real issues we face, exacerbated by the ongoing economic context, and create the places we need for a successful and fulfilling future.

2022

A Place at the Table at MIPIM

Invest Bristol and Bath Stand, Cannes

In partnership with Invest Bristol and Bath, we hosted a breakfast conversation around the question What does ‘quality of place’ mean in one of the UK’s most progressive regions? Discussion flowed around the fifteen-minute city model and we sought answers to the question: “how we can shape sustainable, inclusive and authentic urban centres?”

A Place at the Table at UKREiiF

Crafthouse, Leeds

On the eve of the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum, we gathered placemaking experts in Leeds to focus on three pillars of placemaking; community wealth building; connection; and quality conversation.

A Place at the Table at LREF

Oliviera Kitchen, London

Our dinner discussion ahead of the London Real Estate Forum was themed around long-term stewardship of places, addressing the questions: How can we design sustainable and resilient places? and How can we develop models of stewardship that will better prepare us for the challenges of the future?