News
BuildWell Network Site Visits in Scotland | 27 October 2026
Calderwood, West Lothian & Sighthill, Glasgow
We are delighted to announce that BuildWell is hosting a day of site visits on Tuesday 27 October 2026, and we warmly invite all network members and anyone with an interest in housing, health and community design to join us. The visits will take us to two contrasting new housing developments in Scotland, a purpose-built new village in the morning and one of the UK’s largest urban regeneration schemes in the afternoon. Together, they offer a rare opportunity to explore first-hand how outdoor spaces, green infrastructure and community design perform in practice, and to discuss with the people who designed and built them what works, what could be better, and what lessons should shape the future of housing in Scotland and beyond.
The day is open to researchers, practitioners, planners, designers, developers, policymakers and residents, and part of the value of the day is bringing all these perspectives together in the same place.
Getting there
Coach transport is provided from Edinburgh, with a Glasgow pickup available for the afternoon session. We are happy to contribute towards reasonable travel expenses to reach one of our pick-up points. We would love for everyone to join from Edinburgh if possible, as visiting both sites together will make the discussions much richer.
Coach pick-up points:
Haymarket Station, Edinburgh (west entrance) | 08:30 Hermiston Park and Ride, Edinburgh | 09:00 George Square, Glasgow (east side) | ~13:10 (afternoon session only)
How to join
Not yet a BuildWell member? Join the network here.
Already a member? Sign up for the visit here.
BuildWell: Informal Network Meet-Up in Edinburgh, 16 September
We’re delighted to invite BuildWell Network members based in Scotland to an informal catch-up on Wednesday 16 September, 6:00–8:00pm, near Haymarket train station in Edinburgh. This is a relaxed opportunity to meet fellow network members in person, put faces to names, and connect over a drink outside our usual workshops and email exchanges. Whether you’ve been part of BuildWell since the start or joined recently, we’d love to see you there.
The exact venue will be confirmed shortly. In the meantime, save the date, and let us know you’re coming by signing up here.
BuildWell: Informal Network Meet-Up in Edinburgh, 16 September
We’re delighted to invite BuildWell Network members based in Scotland to an informal catch-up on Wednesday 16 September, 6:00–8:00pm, near Haymarket train station in Edinburgh. This is a relaxed opportunity to meet fellow network members in person, put faces to names, and connect over a drink outside our usual workshops and email exchanges. Whether you’ve been part of BuildWell since the start or joined recently, we’d love to see you there.
The exact venue will be confirmed shortly. In the meantime, save the date, and let us know you’re coming by signing up here.
BuildWell Network Workshops in Edinburgh and York
Over the past two months, the BuildWell Network has hosted its first two workshops at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and the University of York, bringing together colleagues from housing, planning, public health, design, academia, local government, and community organisations.
The workshops were created as an opportunity for people working across different sectors to come together and have open conversations about housing, health, wellbeing, sustainability, and the realities of delivery in practice.
The first workshop took place at the National Robotarium at Heriot-Watt University and focused on introducing the BuildWell Network, exploring shared interests across sectors, and creating space for discussion around healthy and sustainable neighbourhoods. Through a series of facilitated table discussions, participants reflected on housing quality, planning and development challenges, inequalities in health outcomes, nature-based approaches, and the importance of community participation in shaping local environments.
One of the most valuable aspects of the Edinburgh event was the range of perspectives in the room. Researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and community representatives were able to discuss both shared ambitions and the practical challenges involved in delivering healthier places.
The second workshop, held at the University of York, built on many of these conversations while welcoming new participants from across the UK. Discussions focused particularly on collaboration between sectors, the relationship between policy and practice, and the gap that can sometimes emerge between ambitions for healthy places and the realities of implementation.
Throughout the day, participants explored how housing, planning, public health, and design can work more effectively together, and reflected on the importance of long-term thinking, lived experience, and cross-sector collaboration in creating sustainable neighbourhoods.
The York workshop also provided an opportunity for participants to develop new connections, share examples from practice, and identify opportunities for future collaboration through the BuildWell Network.
Across both workshops, there was a strong sense of enthusiasm for continuing these conversations and building stronger links between research, policy, and practice. Participants consistently highlighted the need for more collaborative spaces where different sectors can openly discuss challenges, share learning, and work towards healthier and more sustainable places.
We would like to thank everyone who attended and contributed to the discussions in Edinburgh and York. The insights, conversations, and connections developed through these workshops will play an important role in shaping the next stage of the BuildWell Network.
For more information about the network and future activities, please follow the BuildWell Network website and LinkedIn page.
BuildWell is a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funded project hosted by Heriot-Watt University