Scheme

Recognised in 1936 as the world’s largest brickworks - producing 500 million bricks annually and employing over 2,000 people - Stewartby Brickworks holds deep cultural and historical significance for the community.

Strategy

As part of our engagement, we reached out to two local schools to give students space to feedback on the proposal and explore the careers associated with the development that sits at the heart of this community.

Young voices are seldom heard within the planning process and, with government renewed commitment to meaningful careers encounters for pupils, we were able to combine a real world example of development with telling young people about the jobs and roles of the project team.

The first workshop took place with 45 Y3&4 pupils at Broadmead Lower School. The team ran two sessions, one with each year group, and began by asking what the pupils knew about the brickworks. The pupil then got into groups and set about designing their vision for Stewartby. Key themes that emerged included fast food outlets, pet provision, cafes and restaurants, food shops, open green spaces, sports pitches, play equipment, a zoo, a pool, hairdressers and medical services.

The second school workshop was held at Marston Vale Middle School where workshops were held with 14 Y9 students. Pupils were given a short presentation on the site's history and future vision, covering housing, heritage, green infrastructure, connectivity, and community.

The workshops then delved into two key activities: students discussed what makes public spaces feel unsafe or unwelcoming, highlighting issues like a lack of benches, insufficient lighting, and feeling judged by adults, followed by exploring what's missing in local public spaces to make them feel safe and welcoming. Finally, students were tasked with designing their ideal outdoor space for Stewartby, drawing inspiration from themes of biodiversity, social interaction, teen activities, and overall safety and inclusion.

As part of our social impact strategy for the Stewartby Brickworks site, representatives from Meeting Place and Harworth Group also attended a career day at Marston Vale Middle School. The team engaged with students from Years 5 to 8, answering questions about the regeneration of the former brickworks site, as well as providing insights into day-to-day work and career pathways into the built environment sector.

Outcome

We engaged with over 130 pupils over the workshops, as well as speaking with upwards of 20 young people at the pop-up community day. Face painting, bulb planting and a drawing competition all allowed young people to engage at the event and share their ideas.

By working with young people early in the engagement process we were able to meaningfully apply their ideas and input to the emerging plans, ensuring that the next generation feel a sense of ownership over the next chapter of Stewartby Brickworks.