More than 200 schoolchildren from across the North East have contributed ideas on the future of housing and community design, highlighting how early engagement can support long-term innovation in the digital construction sector. The initiative, delivered at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, brought together education, regeneration, and built environment thinking, placing young people at the centre of future-focused masterplanning.
The project culminated in a showcase attended by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and architect George Clarke, where 250 pupils from five primary schools presented their vision for a regenerated Horden. Students in years five and six were tasked with developing a comprehensive masterplan, considering housing types, community facilities, infrastructure, green transport, and the use of renewable and low-carbon energy. The challenge reflects growing industry recognition that future-ready housing design must integrate sustainability, digital planning tools, and community-led regeneration.
During their visit, pupils presented scale models and short videos explaining the rationale behind their proposals. These outputs mirror processes used in professional digital construction workflows, including visualisation, design communication, and stakeholder engagement. The work will be shared with Durham County Council to help inform future regeneration approaches, reinforcing the value of inclusive and collaborative planning in the built environment.
Beamish provided a fitting setting, allowing students to explore the evolution of housing and infrastructure. Alongside presenting their designs, pupils took part in STEM activities linked to the invention of the safety lamp and examined how historical housing models compare with modern expectations. They also learned how legacy infrastructure, such as disused mineshafts, is now being repurposed to support district geothermal heat networks, a real-world example of adaptive reuse and sustainable energy infrastructure relevant to modern construction and engineering.
Future skills development
The project was led by Mobie North, a charity focused on inspiring young people to engage with green infrastructure, social and affordable housing, and regeneration. Backed by the North East Combined Authority, the programme aligns with broader digital construction priorities, including net zero delivery, data-led masterplanning, and future skills development across the construction sector.
George Clarke emphasised the importance of involving future residents in shaping the built environment, noting that communities are most successful when designed around the people who live in them. He also highlighted the role initiatives like this play in raising awareness of careers in architecture, construction, and digital design, sectors facing ongoing skills shortages.
Mayor Kim McGuinness reinforced the link between regeneration, housing quality, and opportunity, stressing the need for warm, affordable homes within well-connected communities. She highlighted the value of listening to younger generations, who will ultimately live and work in the places being planned today.
Six student teams developed masterplans for Horden, with more than 50 pupils presenting directly to the Mayor and George Clarke, while others took part in workshops focused on design and place-making. The event transformed Beamish’s Community Welfare Hall into a collaborative exhibition space, echoing professional design review environments.
Rhiannon Hiles, Chief Executive of Beamish, highlighted the museum’s role as an anchor institution committed to learning, skills, and access to future careers. Hosting the event supported Beamish’s wider education mission while connecting heritage, innovation, and the future of the built environment.
As the digital construction sector continues to prioritise sustainable housing, smart infrastructure, and community engagement, initiatives like this demonstrate how early education can play a meaningful role in shaping better outcomes for people and places.
Read next: Why neurodiversity matters in construction and digital teams – Build in Digital
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