Celebrating the Impact of the Becontree Design Forum

At Be First, we have a steadfast commitment to community involvement and sustainable living. This commitment recently saw the culmination of an exciting and profoundly impactful project: the Becontree Design Forum.

Last November 2022, we sent out an open call to the residents of Becontree. We were on the hunt for passionate individuals who embodied the diversity and spirit of our modern estate, eager to collaborate with Be First in shaping our future. The response was overwhelming and inspiring. After careful deliberation, we successfully assembled the Becontree Design Forum, comprised of fifteen dedicated residents representing the diversity of the Becontree Estate.

The Becontree Design Forum was not just a residents group; it was an empowered community group, poised to co-design Becontree's future. They focused their energies on the forthcoming homes, local spaces, and active neighbourhoods from November last year through to April this year.

This unique community collaboration bore fruit in two significant projects:

1. Our Estate: The first accomplishment was the co-creation of the draft Becontree Design Code. Produced in collaboration with the Becontree Design Forum, this draft code provides a comprehensive guide for residents aiming to make changes or adaptations to their homes. It will help streamline the planning process, ultimately improving the quality of the estate.

2. Our Homes: The Becontree Design Forum members, alongside Archio architects, put their heads together to co-design a Becontree Residents Retrofit Guide. This initiative allowed the Be First design team to gain in-depth insight into how we inhabit the estate. Most importantly, it provides a valuable resource to the wider community, illustrating the scope of possibilities for their homes.

The journey with the Becontree Design Forum has been nothing short of transformative. We express our heartfelt thanks to all the participants who have given their time, knowledge, and passion to these projects. We can’t wait to see how the fruits of this collaborative effort will positively shape the future of the Becontree estate.

Moving forward, we are excited about the potential of community-led design and engagement in the development of our neighbourhoods. We believe that the lessons learned and the successes achieved with the Becontree Design Forum will serve as a blueprint for future endeavours. We're excited about what the future holds and we invite all residents to join us in this journey of creating a better, more sustainable Becontree.