This Must Be The Place
This Must Be The Place is a London-based interdisciplinary placemaking consultancy serving UK developers, landlords, local authorities and BIDs through strategic vision, cultural programming, meanwhile activation, brand narrative and project delivery for major regeneration schemes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What This Must Be The Place does
This Must Be The Place Ltd is a London-based interdisciplinary placemaking consultancy founded in 2017, operating from Printworks London, Surrey Quays Road. The firm serves developers, landlords, local authorities and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) across the United Kingdom, helping clients deliver commercially viable placemaking outcomes through an integrated portfolio of eight core services: Placemaking Strategy & Vision; Research, Insight & Strategic Reporting; Meanwhile & Catalyst Activation; Cultural Programming & Identity; Commercial, Cultural & Tactical Partnerships; Brand & Place Narrative; Community Engagement & Participatory Design; and Delivery & Implementation. There is no proprietary technology platform; the firm's value proposition rests entirely on its interdisciplinary expertise combining property, culture, events, brand and community-centred strategy, marketed under the term 'commercial placemaking'.
The firm has built a portfolio of high-profile UK regeneration projects including Silvertown Quays, Mayfield Depot, Meridian Water, Euston Station and Birmingham Smithfield. Named enterprise and government clients include Lendlease, U+I, Enfield Council, Allied London, R&F Properties and Leeds BID. A flagship outcome is the delivery of the Drumsheds London culture venue at Meridian Water and the Field Day festival as its inaugural commercial event, executed in partnership with Broadwick Live for Enfield Council. The firm also participates in larger bid consortia, notably as part of Studio Egret West's winning team for the Birmingham Smithfield concept.
Revenue is generated exclusively through professional services engagements structured as tailored project-based fees or retainers; no pricing is publicly disclosed, no revenue figures are reported, and no funding rounds or institutional backing are indicated. The company is independently owned, with founder Phil Dawson, and operates as a UK private limited company with a headcount of 1-10. Distribution is entirely direct-to-enterprise via personal contact, a website portfolio and an organic social presence (Pinterest, Instagram), supplemented by industry referrals.
This Must Be The Place firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- This Must Be The Place
- Legal name
- This Must Be The Place Ltd
- Website
- https://thismustbetheplace.agency
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- This Must Be The Place is a London-based interdisciplinary placemaking consultancy serving UK developers, landlords, local authorities and BIDs through strategic vision, cultural programming, meanwhile activation, brand narrative and project delivery for major regeneration schemes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
This Must Be The Place industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Placemaking Consulting
- NAICS
- Services to Buildings and Dwellings (5617)
- SIC
- Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Place-Based / Retail & Venue Media (Malls, Gyms, Cinema, Office Buildings) (BPAFALAE)
Keywords
Where This Must Be The Place is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
This Must Be The Place business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Consulting and Advisory Services: Professional services revenue from providing placemaking strategy, cultural programming, meanwhile activation strategies, brand and place narrative development, community engagement, and delivery and implementation services to developers, landlords, local authorities and BIDs. Projects are likely structured as fixed-fee engagements or retainers for ongoing consultancy.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
This Must Be The Place product offering
Product offeringCore offering
This Must Be The Place is an interdisciplinary placemaking consultancy that helps developers, landlords, local authorities and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) deliver commercially viable placemaking outcomes. It blends strategy, design, culture, events and community-centred thinking into services covering placemaking strategy, meanwhile/catalyst activation, cultural programming, brand and place narrative, partnerships, community engagement, and end-to-end delivery and implementation. Its work has shaped flagship UK regeneration schemes including Silvertown Quays, Mayfield Depot, Meridian Water, Euston Station and Birmingham Smithfield.
Product overview
This Must Be The Place is an interdisciplinary placemaking consultancy offering a unified portfolio of advisory and delivery services. The core offering encompasses Strategy services (Placemaking Strategy & Vision, Research & Insight), Activation services (Meanwhile & Catalyst Activation, Cultural Programming & Identity, Partnerships), and Brand/Community/Delivery services (Brand & Place Narrative, Community Engagement & Participatory Design, Delivery & Implementation). The company helps developers, landlords, local authorities and BIDs create commercially viable places through strategic planning, cultural programming, operational delivery, and community engagement across UK regeneration projects.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Placemaking Strategy & Vision
Quantifiable outcome
- Delivery of Drumsheds culture venue at Meridian Water and successful Field Day festival as inaugural event
Companies that use This Must Be The Place
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
This Must Be The Place technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
This Must Be The Place partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Broadwick LivecoreCollaborative partnership for establishing and implementing culture strategy for Meridian Water. Worked in partnership to deliver Drumsheds London venue and Field Day festival at the heart of Meridian Water regeneration.
- Studio Egret WestcorePart of Studio Egret West's winning team to deliver concept design for transformation of London's historic Smithfield Market into a mixed-use commercial, creative and cultural quarter.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
This Must Be The Place competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Heatherwick Studio: Internationally renowned design studio with a strong placemaking portfolio including Coal Drops Yard and Google's King's Cross. Competes in destination-creation and place-identity work for major developers and landlords.
- Allies and Morrison: Major UK architecture and urbanism practice with placemaking, masterplanning, and cultural quarter work across London and beyond. Competes for the same developer-led regeneration briefs at a much larger scale.
Direct peers
- Studio Egret West: London architecture and urbanism practice with a placemaking and masterplanning offer, partnered with This Must Be The Place on Birmingham Smithfield. Overlaps on developer advisory, place vision, and cultural quarter strategies.
- JTP (John Thompson & Partners): London-based architecture, masterplanning and placemaking practice serving UK developers and local authorities on regeneration projects. Comparable in scale, client base, and integrated strategy-to-delivery service model.
- Prior + Partners: London-based urban strategy and placemaking consultancy advising developers, investors, and local authorities on place vision, place economics, and regeneration — directly comparable strategic placemaking offer to developers.
- HemingwayDesign: UK placemaking and design consultancy founded by Wayne Hemingway, working with developers, local authorities, and brands on regeneration, place strategy, and brand activations — directly comparable in buyer segments and service mix to This Must Be The Place.
- Create Streets: UK placemaking think tank and consultancy advocating for incremental, community-led development with developers and councils. Overlaps on community engagement, place strategy, and developer advisory services.
- LDA Design: UK landscape architecture and urban design consultancy (now part of Stantec) working across regeneration, public realm, and masterplanning for developers and local authorities. Comparable in placemaking discipline and public/private client base.
- Public Practice: UK placemaking advisory that places built environment professionals into local authorities to support regeneration. Directly comparable in local-authority-focused placemaking advisory work.
- We Made That: London-based urban design and research studio working with local authorities, BIDs, and developers on placemaking, high street strategies, and cultural programming — closely comparable in public-sector engagement and meanwhile activation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
This Must Be The Place social profiles
Digital presenceThis Must Be The Place financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
This Must Be The Place leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
This Must Be The Place funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
This Must Be The Place M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about This Must Be The Place
What does This Must Be The Place do?
This Must Be The Place is an interdisciplinary placemaking consultancy that helps developers, landlords, local authorities and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) deliver commercially viable placemaking outcomes. It blends strategy, design, culture, events and community-centred thinking into services covering placemaking strategy, meanwhile/catalyst activation, cultural programming, brand and place narrative, partnerships, community engagement, and end-to-end delivery and implementation. Its work has shaped flagship UK regeneration schemes including Silvertown Quays, Mayfield Depot, Meridian Water, Euston Station and Birmingham Smithfield.
Is This Must Be The Place a public or private company?
This Must Be The Place is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was This Must Be The Place founded?
This Must Be The Place was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is This Must Be The Place based?
This Must Be The Place is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does This Must Be The Place make money?
One revenue line is on record: consulting and Advisory Services.
Who are This Must Be The Place's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Heatherwick Studio and Allies and Morrison. Direct peers are Studio Egret West, JTP (John Thompson & Partners), Prior + Partners, HemingwayDesign, Create Streets, LDA Design, Public Practice and We Made That.
Does This Must Be The Place have an API?
No public API is recorded for This Must Be The Place.
What industry is This Must Be The Place in?
This Must Be The Place's product category is Placemaking Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAO, Community Engagement & Participatory Planning, with a secondary code of BPAFALAE, Place-Based / Retail & Venue Media (Malls, Gyms, Cinema, Office Buildings). Its NAICS code is 5617 and its SIC code is 8744.