Create Streets
@createstreets.bsky.social
At Create Streets we believe in structured, attractive, walkable places with real character. California Forever demonstrates that even today, one landowner + one vision + good infrastructure can lead to better outcomes. Policy can learn from this...
November 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
At Create Streets we believe in structured, attractive, walkable places with real character. California Forever demonstrates that even today, one landowner + one vision + good infrastructure can lead to better outcomes. Policy can learn from this...
Yes, the context in California is special: near the Bay Area, tons of investment, huge scale. But the underlying logic can apply in 🇬🇧: less about scale, more about ownership & ambition in planning the whole rather than just parts...
November 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Yes, the context in California is special: near the Bay Area, tons of investment, huge scale. But the underlying logic can apply in 🇬🇧: less about scale, more about ownership & ambition in planning the whole rather than just parts...
Why does this matter for the UK? Because the UK still struggles with fragmented land ownership and ad-hoc development. A single-owner or coordinated approach offers a way to “internalise the externalities” and build places that look & feel coherent, not just functional...
November 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Why does this matter for the UK? Because the UK still struggles with fragmented land ownership and ad-hoc development. A single-owner or coordinated approach offers a way to “internalise the externalities” and build places that look & feel coherent, not just functional...
... California Forever's new city is different. On one large site, it’s planning a gridded street network, perimeter-block urbanism, mingled uses, heavy industry segregated yet connected, segregated cycling lanes, transit-oriented layout & a strong design code rooted in local vernaculars.
November 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
... California Forever's new city is different. On one large site, it’s planning a gridded street network, perimeter-block urbanism, mingled uses, heavy industry segregated yet connected, segregated cycling lanes, transit-oriented layout & a strong design code rooted in local vernaculars.
Most modern British development happens in small parcels. That means each landowner focuses on their own plot & has little incentive to invest in shared infrastructure (streets, parks, drainage, public transport). The wider public goods get short-changed.
November 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Most modern British development happens in small parcels. That means each landowner focuses on their own plot & has little incentive to invest in shared infrastructure (streets, parks, drainage, public transport). The wider public goods get short-changed.
Historically, large landowners and “Great Estates”, solved this by internalising the externalities: they built networks of streets, parks & buildings in a unified way so the value of the whole increased: John Wood in Bath, Bedford Park or Mayfair in London, Le Vésinet in Paris...
November 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Historically, large landowners and “Great Estates”, solved this by internalising the externalities: they built networks of streets, parks & buildings in a unified way so the value of the whole increased: John Wood in Bath, Bedford Park or Mayfair in London, Le Vésinet in Paris...
... in our latest blog, Create Streets fellow @scp-hughes.bsky.social explains how beauty in architecture and urbanism is a classic positive externality: the owner pays for it, but everyone benefits. Because markets don’t reward that benefit directly, beauty tends to be undersupplied...
November 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
... in our latest blog, Create Streets fellow @scp-hughes.bsky.social explains how beauty in architecture and urbanism is a classic positive externality: the owner pays for it, but everyone benefits. Because markets don’t reward that benefit directly, beauty tends to be undersupplied...
Is this best news for city creation for over a century? In Solano County, California (California Forever) is attempting something fascinating: a unified-landowner model to build what might become “the finest piece of urbanism at that scale” for over 100 years .... 🧵
November 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Is this best news for city creation for over a century? In Solano County, California (California Forever) is attempting something fascinating: a unified-landowner model to build what might become “the finest piece of urbanism at that scale” for over 100 years .... 🧵
...also saved by Historic England is the C17th Old School Coffee House, in Barnstaple, Devon, founded as a school for ‘20 poor maids’ in 1659, it is now transformed into affordable homes. The perfect example that we don't space, we need place. The greenest building already exists
November 11, 2025 at 4:58 PM
...also saved by Historic England is the C17th Old School Coffee House, in Barnstaple, Devon, founded as a school for ‘20 poor maids’ in 1659, it is now transformed into affordable homes. The perfect example that we don't space, we need place. The greenest building already exists
What a joy to behold. Gloucester's 26 Westgate ('Old Judges House'), and England's largest timber-framed townhouse has been repaired thanks to a grant from Historic England. Approaching 500 years old, it's now home to the Gloucester Antiques Centre. Long may she thrive...
November 11, 2025 at 4:58 PM
What a joy to behold. Gloucester's 26 Westgate ('Old Judges House'), and England's largest timber-framed townhouse has been repaired thanks to a grant from Historic England. Approaching 500 years old, it's now home to the Gloucester Antiques Centre. Long may she thrive...
Much that once was is lost, for none now live who remember it. But, what was destroyed may be reforged as our friends in glorious Dresden are demonstrating. This is new. Every gold stone of it.
November 10, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Much that once was is lost, for none now live who remember it. But, what was destroyed may be reforged as our friends in glorious Dresden are demonstrating. This is new. Every gold stone of it.
…made possible by new trams on beds of grass 🚃and replete with cafes, shops & businesses as well as homes...
November 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
…made possible by new trams on beds of grass 🚃and replete with cafes, shops & businesses as well as homes...
…places to walk & cycle and civic pride (this is a new town hall)…
November 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
…places to walk & cycle and civic pride (this is a new town hall)…
…this gorgeous and green Gentle Density with high levels of affordable housing...
November 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
…this gorgeous and green Gentle Density with high levels of affordable housing...
Our generation’s gift to London. YES, YES, YES to new homes but this is not loving or respectful to places or their people. Meanwhile, less manacled by group think, Paris in the same decade is building…
November 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Our generation’s gift to London. YES, YES, YES to new homes but this is not loving or respectful to places or their people. Meanwhile, less manacled by group think, Paris in the same decade is building…
You can read our 7 ideas for curing these highway halves in our latest report 'A-road between us' here www.createstreets.com/projects/a-r...
October 31, 2025 at 2:30 PM
You can read our 7 ideas for curing these highway halves in our latest report 'A-road between us' here www.createstreets.com/projects/a-r...
Many of Britain’s 6,116 villages and small communities have an A-Road running through them. Fast roads like these are slicing British villages in two, creating Highway Halves. So, how do we fix it?
October 31, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Many of Britain’s 6,116 villages and small communities have an A-Road running through them. Fast roads like these are slicing British villages in two, creating Highway Halves. So, how do we fix it?
...then you should definitely check out the upcoming Create Streets Foundation short courses
Gentle Density Masterclass - createstreetsfoundation.org.uk/creating_gen...
Dare to Draw - createstreetsfoundation.org.uk/dare-to-draw/
#urbandesigncourse #drawingcourse
Gentle Density Masterclass - createstreetsfoundation.org.uk/creating_gen...
Dare to Draw - createstreetsfoundation.org.uk/dare-to-draw/
#urbandesigncourse #drawingcourse
October 28, 2025 at 12:41 PM
...then you should definitely check out the upcoming Create Streets Foundation short courses
Gentle Density Masterclass - createstreetsfoundation.org.uk/creating_gen...
Dare to Draw - createstreetsfoundation.org.uk/dare-to-draw/
#urbandesigncourse #drawingcourse
Gentle Density Masterclass - createstreetsfoundation.org.uk/creating_gen...
Dare to Draw - createstreetsfoundation.org.uk/dare-to-draw/
#urbandesigncourse #drawingcourse
...or would you like to refine your drawing skills and learn to draw buildings and streets under the tutorship of architectural technician Mark Shepherd?...
October 28, 2025 at 12:41 PM
...or would you like to refine your drawing skills and learn to draw buildings and streets under the tutorship of architectural technician Mark Shepherd?...
Interested in learning how to design beautiful and sustainable places with Create Streets’ experienced urban designers?...
October 28, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Interested in learning how to design beautiful and sustainable places with Create Streets’ experienced urban designers?...
New Gentle Density emerging in London. A lot is admirable here. Curves. Arches. Texture. Reeding. Implied pilasters. Slowly, pace by pace we are winning.
October 23, 2025 at 4:18 PM
New Gentle Density emerging in London. A lot is admirable here. Curves. Arches. Texture. Reeding. Implied pilasters. Slowly, pace by pace we are winning.
... and Wallis Road in Hackney (not yet built). We CAN do it in prosperous and less prosperous neighbourhoods but councils and landowners and neighbourhoods need to care and need to want to create places that make the heart sing. PS: we can help ! DO get in touch.
October 3, 2025 at 11:40 AM
... and Wallis Road in Hackney (not yet built). We CAN do it in prosperous and less prosperous neighbourhoods but councils and landowners and neighbourhoods need to care and need to want to create places that make the heart sing. PS: we can help ! DO get in touch.
... to Spitalfields Works in London by The Architecture Company...
October 3, 2025 at 11:40 AM
... to Spitalfields Works in London by The Architecture Company...
... to Elephant Park by Maccreanor Lavington...
October 3, 2025 at 11:40 AM
... to Elephant Park by Maccreanor Lavington...
... to the Birmingham Road site in Lichfield currently in planning...
October 3, 2025 at 11:40 AM
... to the Birmingham Road site in Lichfield currently in planning...