T-Factor: ​Co-creating Cities through ‘Participatory Meanwhile’ initiatives

T-Factor was an EU Horizon 2020 project aimed at unlocking the transformative potential of temporary uses in urban regeneration. By leveraging temporary interventions in the early stages of urban redevelopment, T-Factor applied a missions-led approach to accelerate just transitions in cities across Europe. The project focused on integrating temporary uses into broader urban strategies to foster social inclusion, economic resilience, and sustainable development. In London, Central Saint Martins collaborated with Camden Council, Euston development partners and local community groups on the Euston pilot, exploring 'participatory meanwhile’ through community-driven approaches to ensure the redevelopment of Euston was inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to local needs.

​The project was led by Central Saint Martins as coordinators of the London team of a Europe-wide research consortium, including local authorities, universities, businesses, and grassroots organisations. With pilots in Amsterdam, Netherlands; Bilbao, Spain; Kaunas, Lithuania; Lisbon, Portugal; London, United Kingdom; Milan, Italy; and Shanghai, China.

The T-Factor Euston Pilot, led by CSM, aimed at ‘leveraging temporary uses to demonstrate and bring forward the benefits of inclusive, equitable and regenerative development’ for residents impacted by disruptive urban development at Euston. Focusing on the neighbourhoods bordering the HS2 construction works the project applied a methodology that combined; Outcome Mapping (to co-define desirable outcomes), Theory of Change (to articulate how these outcomes might be achieved) and Portfolio Logic to connect and combine activities in realisation of the Theory of Change; four missions were co-defined with local residents and stakeholders. The missions focused on:

• Arts, culture and heritage, with the aim of making the cultures, identities and heritage of Euston visible and accessible, integrated into the everyday life of the people that live and work in the area.
• Collaborative and circular economy – with the aim of reinvigorating Euston’s local economy by focusing on social and circular enterprises.
• Growing and Greening – with the aim of creating accessible green spaces to compensate for those lost to development, emphasising community involvement in their care and transformation.
• Safe and convivial streets and spaces – with the aim of enhancing community safety, local identify and conviviality within Euston’s neighbourhoods.

Delivering on these missions brought together arts and design practitioners from T Factor’s Community of Practice (assembled from CSM staff and students) with community organisations aligned with, and already actively addressing, the mission themes. Combining local action, knowledge, skills and expertise within a diverse array of collaborative creative practices and approaches, the collaborative missions were coordinated over time as a portfolio of interconnected, and mutually reinforcing, activities that assembled publics around mission goals, explored possibilities, revealed insights and opportunities, and build trust and capacity between collaborators as they unfolded.

• Leveraging the ‘time factor’ in urban development as a strategic asset for co-creative placemaking that can contribute to unleash multiple benefits for people and the environment.
• Unlocking meanwhile use to demonstrate how temporary spaces can accelerate sustainable and inclusive urban regeneration.
• Fostering cross-sector collaboration and building networks between government, universities, businesses, and communities to drive innovation in urban development.
• Promoting inclusion and sustainability by creating equitable, sustainable spaces that engage diverse communities and enhance urban resilience.

Initiatives and activities

Story Trail

The Story Trail is a resident-led public art initiative that showcases the stories and identities of Regent's Park Estate through a series of unique art installations. Led by Old Diorama Arts Centre and Regents Park Estate Community Champions, supported by artists and designers from CSM, the Story Trail was developed over 3 years. A series of community workshops and events defined a series of site specific briefs for artists. Residents were engaged in the commissioning and curatorial process, ensuring that the artworks reflect the voices and stories of the people who live in the area. By highlighting significant locations chosen by residents, the trail creates a journey through the community’s history and its hopes for the future, promoting connection and engagement through arts-led public realm improvements.

Art In Everyday Life - Augmented Reality (AR) Heritage Trail

The AR Heritage Trail in Somers Town digitally recreates and preserves historical public artworks using augmented reality technology. Led by A Space for Us People’s Museum, and delivered in partnership with CSM’s Digital Markers Collective the trail enables users to explore the rich cultural heritage of the neighbourhood through an innovative, immersive format and experience 3D digital versions of lost or stolen sculptures, originally created by Gilbert Bayes for the areas social housing in 1924.

Circular Market Hub

The Circular Market Hub, led by Our Little Markets CIC, supports local makers and artisans by providing a digital and physical platform for the sale of upcycled and sustainable goods. The hub encourages community engagement in a circular economy, revitalising Chalton Street Market while promoting local enterprise and circular and sustainable practices.

Placemaking outcomes

More accessible

Creating inclusive spaces and opportunities that were accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic background or physical ability.

More equitable

Focusing on the needs of underserved and marginalised communities, supporting residents to lead and targeting engagement to ensure the inclusion of diverse voices in the planning and execution of interventions.

More inclusive

Fostering a strong sense of inclusion by actively involving a wide range of stakeholders, including local residents, community organisations, and businesses, in the design and implementation of interventions.

More sustainable

Fostering environmentally responsible and circular practices such as re-use and re-cycling.

More innovative

The project developed and tested new practices and processes from introducing digital technologies to residents and community organisations to co-creating new models of governance, community engagement, and decision making.

More prosperous

Providing platforms for local businesses, social enterprises, and cultural initiatives to thrive, generating economic activity and fostering a sense of common ownership.

Nurturing collaborative and culturally aware engagement

Integrating ‘Participatory Meanwhile’ into long-term urban planning

Engaging diverse communities and stakeholders

Navigating regulatory and administrative barriers

Legacy

The legacy of the T-Factor includes increased local capacity and collaborative networks that support communities and stakeholders to participate in more inclusive urban regeneration and neighbourhood renewal. The project demonstrated how temporary urban interventions can foster lasting change by centering creative processes around local actors. These activities not only celebrated the rich cultural narratives of the area but also strengthened local engagement, contributing to a sense of ownership and pride within the community. The project’s focus on collaboration between local communities, commercial organisations, and public authorities has established a strong foundation for future projects, demonstrating the value of co-creation in urban development. By providing a blueprint for integrating ‘participatory meanwhile’ into regeneration strategies, T-Factor can inspire future efforts to prioritise adaptability, sustainability, and inclusivity in urban development.