Urban Foundry is working with Swansea Council to ensure local people, businesses and organisations have a voice in shaping the city’s future.
Great places are shaped by the people who use them.
That’s why meaningful engagement is such an important part of placemaking — understanding what matters to local communities, listening to different perspectives and making sure those insights help inform decisions about the future.
Urban Foundry has been working with Swansea Council to support the development of the city’s placemaking plans, bringing together residents, businesses and organisations to share their views on how Swansea can continue to grow and develop.
Putting People at the Heart of Placemaking
In 2024, we delivered an extensive programme of engagement to help inform the development of Swansea Council’s placemaking strategy.
Our approach reflects the principles of the Design Commission for Wales’ Placemaking Charter, which Urban Foundry is proud to have signed.
The Charter promotes collaborative, people-centred approaches to planning, designing and managing places — creating distinctive, sustainable environments where people want to live, work and spend time.
Following the initial engagement, a range of consultants helped shape the draft strategy, bringing together different perspectives and expertise.
Urban Foundry was then commissioned to undertake a further phase of engagement, helping communities, businesses and key organisations understand the proposals and share their feedback.
Turning Conversations into Meaningful Action
This latest phase of work included public drop-in sessions at Swansea’s new Y Storfa building, alongside workshops with organisations and stakeholders across the city.
Among these were sessions delivered in partnership with Regeneration Swansea and Swansea BID, bringing together people with different experiences and perspectives on the city’s future.
The feedback gathered will be shared with Swansea Council to help inform the final version of the placemaking plan.
It’s an important part of making sure the strategy reflects the needs, ambitions and experiences of the people who know Swansea best.
Creating Better Places, Together
At Urban Foundry, we believe successful regeneration starts with listening.
By bringing people into the conversation, understanding local challenges and identifying opportunities together, we can help create places that work better for everyone.
It’s an approach that runs through our work across South Wales — connecting people, organisations and ideas to help turn shared ambitions into positive change.
Looking to engage communities, businesses or stakeholders in your project? Find out more about our Engaging People services and how we can help.
