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mæ was appointed to carry out consultation and develop a spatial framework for the regeneration of the North Prospect estate area of Plymouth. Decent Homes Standard and £19 million of structural repairs is needed on the existing housing stock; the capital for which must be generated through new development within the North Prospect area.

mæ, in association with Stuf, worked with key stakeholders in a participatory exercise that sought to communicate the need for higher density development in North Prospect. We aimed to identify, with the community, areas where development would best be located based on key principles of sustainable urban design.

A game ‘prospectopolis’ was designed to aid consutation. Game scenarios were then developed into a spatial framework using parametric modelling techniques. Games ask simple questions but can have complex outcomes. Prospectopolis is a tool masquerading as a game. A tool which enabled a group to think clearly about urban options for change in North Prospect.

The game exercise was used to demonstrate the potential to create a financially viable development strategy for North Prospect that was sustainable and had the capacity to benefit the area. It proved an extremely successful medium, encouraging stakeholders to work together and attempt to reach a consensus on the future development of their neighbourhood.