What we shared 

We published the article How to make new housing estates work for the people who live there on science-based news website The Conversation in November 2025.

BBC media interviews and discussions

Following the publication of the report Hidden Toil behind Shiny Fronts, the BBC picked up on the research over the summer. This led to the following media broadcasts and discussions on Tuesday 16 September:

• BBC News report, which discussed the challenges of living on a new housing estate

• BBC Look East news item, which included additional interviews with residents of new estates in Milton Keynes

• BBC Three Counties radio discussion, with callers sharing their views about living on new estates across the country

• Interview on BBC Radio 2 Jeremy Vine show, discussing issues of social isolation, especially for residents with low incomes

Launch of research findings at Milton Keynes: International Festival

On Sunday 20 July 2025, we launched the research at the Milton Keynes International Festival. The team from The Open University and Community Action: MK led the event ‘We Make Milton Keynes’. It was an opportunity to find out more about our findings, and take part in the creation of a community art installation (bunting!).

More than 100 people joined to help create the community art installation as a way to share views about what they like about living in Milton Keynes and how it can be made even better, and to engage with the research findings about the challenges of living on a low income in this city, especially in new housing areas. 

Emily Darlington MP joined in as well as Deputy Mayor Cllr Paul Trendall, both confirming the importance of this research and ensuring that new housing estates come with early investment in infrastructure and community.