Circa 12 years ago the team and I completed a development called Rathbone Market. The development marked the phase 1 of the regeneration of a borough in East London called Newham. The same borough where the Olympics took place on the same year.
When we completed the development, some industry journalists were interested in discussing the project which, to be honest, in many ways was ahead of it's time for sure.
For instance
-Every design, client, affordable housing provider and contractor team has women in it. Most had women leading the teams, including me.
-The development incorporated a considerable amount of off-site manufacturing to shorten the construction time after being delayed due to the so-called credit crunch.
-It also used every roof as part of the rain water management as well as providing amenities for the residents such as allotments and play spaces.
-There was a designated elderly resident block with wide south facing access to balconies where they could pull up a chair and talk to their neighbours.
-And, of course, the entire thing run on biofuel.
This said, I was surprised to receive a call from a mainstream paper looking to discuss the project. Being totally honest, I found difficult to believe they would take an interest in a project outside the glossier parts of town.
Two minutes into the conversation, when he asked me how we had felt when achieving planning permission, I started to feel suspicious (that had been years ago and it seemed odd to be discussing it then) but I explained that it had been achieved by working hand in hand with the community, local authorities, the GLA and the Development corporation.
At that point the journalist stopped (the penny had dropped), made an excuse and said he would call me back. He never acknowledged his mishap , and he never called back , but we all knew at my end.
