Urban design
Liverpool ONE, UK
The Good CityAt BDP and NK, our urban designers are expert in crafting places that follow the principles of The Good City.
This is not just about physical design but requires an understanding of the social, economic, and environmental aspects that make great places.
We work collaboratively with clients, stakeholders and other professions to address these complexities and have a particular expertise at working with local communities through workshops, charrettes and online engagement.
The tools our urban designers use are master plans, spatial frameworks, coding and design guides working at scales ranging from individual sites to city regions and encompassing both the renewal of existing urban areas and the creation of new neighbourhoods and settlements.
How we can help
Spatial visions
City wide visioning with municipal authorities to plan for investment and growth guided by a unifying vision for the city. This includes new transit lines, planning for active travel, TOD development and urban extensions . This work goes hand in hand with our planners to create an imaginative spatial dimension to large scale spatial planning.
Master plans
The design of three dimensional plans in a wide range of circumstances. These include vacant sites and redevelopment opportunities, new settlements and urban extensions. This work is done for a wide range of land owners, developers and public bodies looking to promote the development of land and negotiate the planning system.
Regeneration strategies
Our urban designers also develop strategies and plans for existing urban areas including town centres, former industrial areas and increasingly malls and car-based retail areas. These strategies are based upon an understanding of urban economics to develop viable uses that are able to regenerate the area as well as implementation for strategies for areas in multiple ownerships.
Developer design codes
As part of our master planning work our urban designers develop codes and plot passports to guide the implementation of schemes. This are often a requirement of the planning consent but is also important in the process of master development and the negotiation of each development parcel.
Design charrettes and workshops
Our urban designers work collaboratively with local communities in all of their work to respond to local views and build consensus. Techniques involve design charrettes and workshops and increasingly online engagement.
Our work
Broad Marsh Masterplan
The Masterplan sets out a vision for the transformation of one of the UK's largest and most significant city centre sites.
Urban Design Guidelines for Child Friendly Neighbourhoods
A comprehensive package of urban design measures for neighbourhoods in Indian cities.
National Model Design Code UK
The purpose of the UK National Model Design Code is to provide detailed guidance on the production of design codes, guides and policies.
Ohgishima Masterplan
A bold and visionary masterplan, that will have lasting economic and environmental impact.
Key contacts
Manisha Bhartia
Urbanism Director, New Delhi Studio Head, BDP
Eiji Okada
Urban Design, Nippon Koei Urban Space Co., Ltd.
Related themes
Bringing people together
The Good City thrives on connection. Even in a digital world, real human interaction remains vital to urban life.
Well designed
Every layer of the Good City – from plans to details – is carefully designed to shape a functional, beautiful, connected place.
Quality of life
The Good City fosters safe, diverse, supportive communities – where people thrive in healthy, connected places.