For years, industrial estates have been the workhorses of the built environment, functional, efficient, and, let’s be honest, often uninspiring. But as the expectations of occupiers evolve, so too must the spaces we create for them. The time has come to rethink how we design and deliver industrial environments, and placemaking offers a compelling framework to do just that.
Placemaking, once the preserve of residential and mixed-use developments, is about more than aesthetics. It’s about creating spaces that people want to be in and places that support wellbeing, foster community, and reflect identity. And while these ideas might seem more at home in a leafy housing scheme than a logistics park, they’re just as relevant to the industrial sector.
Take landscaping, for example. Green buffers and thoughtful planting do more than soften the edges of a warehouse, they can reduce noise, improve air quality, and make a site more pleasant for the people who work there. Add in amenities like cafés, fitness areas, or even just decent rest zones, and suddenly you’re not just building for operations but you’re building for people as well.
Connectivity is another area that is ripe for improvement. Too many industrial estates remain car-dependent islands. Better integration with public transport, cycling routes, and pedestrian-friendly layouts can and do make a huge difference, not just for sustainability, but for recruitment and retention too. People want to work in places that are accessible and feel connected to the wider community.
And then there’s identity. Industrial estates don’t have to be anonymous grey boxes. With the right design and branding, these spaces could reflect the values of their occupiers, be that innovation, sustainability, or craftsmanship. It isn’t just about looking good; it’s about standing out in an increasingly competitive market.
We’re already seeing this thinking in action. SEGRO’s East Midlands Gateway is a great example of how placemaking principles can be applied at scale, with pedestrian-friendly design and multi-modal transport links that have reduced solo car use to under 50%.
Ultimately, placemaking in industrial settings isn’t about making warehouses look pretty. It’s about recognising that these are places where people spend a significant part of their lives. If we want to attract talent, support wellbeing, and future-proof our assets, we need to start designing industrial estates with people, and not just processes in mind.
For a more in-depth look at placemaking principles in industrial estates please read our recent article.
Our content explained
Every piece of content we create is correct on the date it’s published but please don’t rely on it as legal advice. If you’d like to speak to us about your own legal requirements, please contact one of our expert lawyers.