The project seeks to develop a methodology and toolkit prototype to assist public and private sector stakeholders to gauge the value of creative placemaking in urban contexts. The overarching focus is on creative placemaking: here referring to both physical and tangible interventions, as well as more intangible creative processes undertaken during community-focused urban revitalisation activities, and as distinct from other forms of placemaking.

Initial research identified a gap within the existing literature around the value of placemaking to its various stakeholders, as well as to the broader community. While the cultural and social value of placemaking is assumed in planning mandates for community engagement processes tied to development applications, there are difficulties in defining both the economic and social value of these somewhat nebulous—though intrinsically valuable—cultural pursuits. In this project we therefore seek to contribute to planning practice and urban policy by mapping key social and economic indicators which could potentially be used for evaluation.