Masterplanning Tomorrow: How SGP is Inspiring Young Designers at Oulton Academy

At Stephen George + Partners (SGP) we believe in building more than just places – we build futures. As part of our ongoing mission to inspire the next generation of designers and thinkers, we’re proud to be working with Veronica Heaven at The Heaven Company to deliver a hands-on educational experience to students at Oulton Academy, challenging them to reimagine their world through the lens of sustainable architectural design.

Over the past several weeks, 20 enthusiastic Year 8 students at Oulton Academy have embarked on a unique design journey. Their challenge is to masterplan a 15-minute neighbourhood, a community model where everything residents need such as work, school, shops, and recreation is accessible within a 15-minute walk or cycle. The goal is to teach sustainable urbanism while encouraging creative and critical thinking.

Each week, the students are guided by experts from SGP who bring different aspects of architectural practice into the classroom.

Week 1: Introduction to Masterplanning

Led by Alistair Branch, students were introduced to the core principles of masterplanning including zoning, green spaces, and how communities interact within planned environments.

Week 2: Design and Layout

Ross Hennigan visited to explore the layout and design of neighbourhoods, guiding students through the decisions behind spatial planning.

Week 3: Materials and Sustainability

Lyndon Johnson delved into materials and sustainability, encouraging the students to think about how their homes could be built with low carbon, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly methods.

Week 4: Interiors and Expression

Rachel Trend joined the students to talk about interior design, focusing on how the inside of a home can reflect comfort, accessibility, and personality.

After these sessions, students will begin creating their own scale models, giving form to their ideas and combining everything they’ve learned. This initiative is part of the wider SGP + You programme, developed in collaboration with The Heaven Company, which aims to bridge the gap between education and industry by providing young people with real-world insights into architecture and sustainability. The work at Oulton Academy is a strong example of our commitment to social value, helping young learners understand their power to shape the communities of the future. Their energy, curiosity, and creativity are a powerful reminder of what is possible when education is engaging, practical, and rooted in purpose.