Listening to Andy Burnham’s speech this week, one message stood out above all others: the future of Britain’s towns and cities will be shaped not simply by how much we build, but by where we build, how we build and the places we create.

Whether discussing high streets as the new symbol of Britain’s renaissance, a renewed commitment to council housing, or the need to build more homes within existing towns and city centres, many of the themes reflected conversations that have been taking place across the built environment for some time.

For us at 5plus, these aren’t new ideas. They are principles that continue to shape the way we approach urban regeneration, masterplanning and sustainable placemaking.

‘Good density’, for example, is often misunderstood. It is not about maximising numbers at the expense of quality. It is about creating neighbourhoods that support local businesses and a town centre economy, encourage walking and cycling, make better use of existing infrastructure and public transport, and ultimately create sustainable places where people choose to live.

Similarly, successful regeneration is not created through isolated developments. It is about strengthening the wider town or city, reconnecting communities, establishing economic resilience and creating confidence for future investment.

These ideas have informed a number of our projects. In Northampton, our masterplan explored how the town centre could better utilise poor quality public spaces and brownfield land to support long-term growth through more connected, walkable urban neighbourhoods with safer streets and a greater sense of pride and ownership. The work was founded on the belief that regeneration should reinforce existing centres rather than expand beyond them into lower density surrounding areas. Underpinned by our masterplan, a number of projects are underway or have already completed.

A similar approach has informed our work on the West Bar masterplan in Sheffield. The masterplan has established a new mixed-use district on the northern edge of the city centre, reconnecting an underutilised post-industrial site within the wider urban fabric and neighbouring Kelham Island. With the first phase now complete, including three new buildings and significant public realm, the development has begun to establish a vibrant new city centre neighbourhood. Hundreds of residents have already moved into West Bar, demonstrating how residential-led regeneration, combined with employment, public space and active travel, can breathe new life into previously overlooked parts of our cities.

In Bradford, where planning consent has been secured, our proposals form part of a broader vision for city-centre renewal, recognising that new homes can play an important role in supporting local businesses, increasing activity and encouraging long-term investment. Affordable housing will be provided in phase 1 with a new urban park and apartment building following in phase 2. Further phases will follow over the years on the remaining underutilised sites.

Those same ambitions continue to guide our work in Wakefield, where the emerging masterplan is considering how residential growth can be integrated with new public realm, improved connectivity and community infrastructure to create sustainable neighbourhoods that complement the existing place and replace a underutilised shopping centre.

None of these projects claims to provide all the answers. They are, however, examples of a wider shift in thinking across the profession. Architects increasingly recognise that our responsibility extends beyond designing buildings. We help shape places, support local economies and create the conditions for communities to thrive.

Perhaps that is why Andy Burnham’s speech resonated with so many in the industry. It suggested that ideas long championed within architecture and urban design are becoming part of the national conversation.

Turning that ambition into reality will require more than political commitment. It will depend upon collaboration between local authorities, developers, communities and the design professions. If those partnerships can be fostered, Britain’s urban renaissance will be built not through isolated projects, but through a shared commitment to creating better places for people.