Placemaking in Cambridgeshire: Designing neighbourhoods for living
At 24/Three, we believe placemaking is about more than just buildings, it's about shaping communities that support wellbeing, connection, and everyday life.
With many of our projects based in Cambridgeshire, we’ve seen how good urban design can transform not just the built environment but how people live within it. From walkable streets to green spaces, the best places are those designed with people at the centre.
During her time at university, our associate, Leah, explored in her thesis how streets act as the framework for neighbourhoods – encouraging interaction, supporting a mix of uses, and creating the conditions for vibrant communities. The key principles included:
Connected movement: Neighbourhood centres linked by walkable streets and public transport, creating a continuous and accessible network.
Community intensity: Activity focused in compact centres with cafés, shops, and communal spaces close to homes.
Pedestrian-first design: Narrower, car-free streets and clear destinations to encourage walking and outdoor life.
Green spaces for wellbeing: Parks and planted public squares that connect areas, support biodiversity, and offer places to pause and reflect.
Social vibrancy: Active frontages, visible ground-floor uses, and public-facing buildings to bring life to the street.
These principles echo the approach of Urban&Civic, with whom we’ve worked on several Cambridgeshire projects. Their people-first masterplans prioritise placemaking from the outset – with strong pedestrian and cycle networks, proximity to nature, and the kind of thoughtful design that enhances wellbeing.
By embedding these ideas into every stage of design, we aim to create places that not only function well but feel great to live in – places that truly belong to the people who inhabit them.
Author: Leah Bingham-Frost
