Applications open for Public Realm Innovation Initiative (United Kingdom)

Deadline: 30-Apr-25

Partner with Connected Places Catapult to unlock the value of public space through a Test & Learn intervention.

If your organisation is interested in partnering with them on this transformative initiative, they invite you to submit your Expression of Interest (EOI).

Key Challenges

• Preliminary research conducted by the Catapult identified three key challenges faced by public realm schemes:
  • An insufficient evidence base to understand social and environmental outcomes, and inform investment decisions
  • Fragmented policies leading to delays and inconsistent outcomes across the country
  • A lack of meaningful community engagement that allows real influence and builds trust with communities

Programme Opportunities

• The intention for the first year of the programme is to focus on the three challenges identified through the lens of health and wellbeing – which was found by researchers to be a key topic area for stakeholders in the built environment. Key lines of investigation could include:
  • How might they use evidence-based approaches to design, evaluate, and improve public spaces for measurable and investable health and wellbeing outcomes?
  • How might they foster collaboration among local stakeholders to balance competing priorities, fund, and co-create high-quality public spaces that deliver health and wellbeing benefits?
  • How might they create inclusive community engagement strategies that empower diverse voices, build trust in development, and ensure the sustainable maintenance of public spaces that support health and wellbeing?

Benefits

• Partnering with the Catapult offers the following benefits:
  • Position yourself as a leader in urban innovation: They will help you deploy innovative solutions that create high-quality future-ready public spaces.
  • Leverage Connected Places Catapult’s expertise: By accessing networks and opportunities to explore and develop innovation interventions. You will benefit from activities funded by their Innovate UK grant fund in FY 2025/26.
  • Boost asset value and place profitability: By creating healthy and resilient places that people want to live, work, and play in, they will help you boost footfall, increase rental and sales value, and attract tenants, investors, and buyers.
  • De-risk the process of adopting innovation: By testing concepts and solutions in real-world environments with local communities and stakeholders and in a safe-to-fail manner – collecting data and evaluating cost-benefit for integrating innovative solutions in your places.
  • Test potential for scalability and replication: By testing innovative solutions prior to commercial contracting, you can build the business case for innovative solutions that can be scaled and replicated across your portfolio.
  • Strengthen relationships with investors, tenants, local communities, and local authorities: By demonstrating commitment to sustainable, innovative places that meet current and future demands.

Eligibility Criteria

• They welcome expressions of interest from individual organisations, consortia, or joint ventures that:
  • Operate in the UK with a focus on real estate development or place management.
  • Have ownership or influence over mixed-use developments and a commitment to enhancing public spaces.
  • Can provide sites within public space for the trial of innovative solutions, whether pre-development land or managed places.
  • Demonstrate previous experience or future ambition to test and implement new ideas, technologies, or approaches.
  • Value health, wellbeing, and sustainability in placemaking.
  • Are willing to share insights and contribute to wider knowledge exchange.

For more information, visit Connected Places Catapult.