Past projects
Powerless People
In Northumberland, over 360 households are off-grid, often relying on costly and unreliable renewable systems. Collaborating with Community Action Northumberland, the initiative is designed to connect with these off-grid families, with the primary aim being to enhance their access to affordable, consistent, and sustainable energy. The project is in the recruitment phase, seeking expertise in renewable and off-grid energy to examine the current conditions of these homes and chart a vision for sustainable energy futures.
Hadrian’s Wall Design Sprint 2024
This was a highest level, genuinely globally-focussed tourism project, a collaboration between The Small Business Service, Hadrian’s Wall Partnership and The Rural Design Centre, working with the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise under the single banner of Rural Catalyst.
Rural Design Centre Innovation Project (RDCIP)
Over 200 businesses and community organisations were engaged in the design thinking process to develop ambitions for growth and innovation with key objectives to implement positive change and problem-solving initiatives within our rural communities.
Forestry Innovation Programme
Northumberland County Council, in collaboration with the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, embarked on a mission to ascertain the potential of a Forestry Innovation Centre/Programme based in Northumberland.
Community Land Trust
This programme was developed to facilitate innovative solutions for community-led housing within the north-east to try and re-address the UK's broken housing system towards more sustainable and equitable models.
Community Research in County Durham
Developing a Community Research Network in rural County Durham. This is as part of UK Research and Innovation's new national Community Research Network programme.
Modular housing for older people in rural areas
This project, funded by Innovate UK, a collaboration between Karbon Homes and Edwards Architecture, aims to use smaller, infill brownfield sites to provide ageing-friendly accommodation that supports older residents physically and emotionally.