reports

Pathways to an outcomes-based public realm

This report, developed by the Real Estate Innovation programme at Connected Places Catapult and TreesAI, sets out a new way to plan and develop public spaces.

May 19, 2025

This report argues that public space should not be treated as a secondary feature, but built into every stage of the commercial real estate process. It calls for change across five key areas: finance, procurement, design, planning, and long-term management, all supported by better use of data and measurement.

The aim is to make sure every change to urban space delivers long-term social, environmental, and economic value that can be clearly measured.

The report highlights that current real estate practices often overlook the value of public space. This is due to disconnected decision-making, financial models that are too simple, cautious procurement approaches, poor use of nature-based design, siloed planning processes, and weak long-term management. It also points out that the metrics currently used focus too much on what is easy to measure, rather than what really matters, such as biodiversity, climate resilience, and community wellbeing.

This report is a starting point for developing practical tools, models, and new ways of working that could help unlock investment and improve how public spaces are managed. We invite designers, local authorities, and developers, especially those with a long-term interest in land and property such as estate-based or build-to-rent developers, to work with us in creating these solutions and supporting public spaces that deliver shared, long-lasting benefits.