Street Space

What Street Space does

Street Space is a UK-based engagement and collaborative design social enterprise, constituted as a Community Interest Company (CIC) and founded in 2018 in Barking, East London. The firm partners with local authorities, town councils, and community organizations to reimagine streets and public spaces so they feel safer and foster social connection, delivering listening exercises, co-design workshops, prototyping, and resident-led activation. Its core practice is built on a proprietary toolkit — the North Star framework (organizational manifesto and long-term vision), Map for Map Makers (project-conception resource), and Method Cards (engagement methodology templates) — and embeds a Young Producer model that recruits and pays local 18–25 year-olds to bring authentic community perspectives into engagement teams.

The company is led by Founder & Director Phillippa Banister, with a small core team of approximately seven (one Founder/Director, one Young Producer, four Associates plus five CIC Co-Directors on the governance board). It relocated its headquarters from London to Bradford in 2022, timed with Bradford's designation as UK City of Culture 2025, while maintaining an Associate bench across Bradford, London, and Bristol to deliver UK-wide project coverage. Notable clients include the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (multiple projects), Lambeth Council, Camden Council, Redbridge Council, Newham Council, Bradford Council, Shipley Town Council, and the Greater London Authority; partners include Huddlecraft, Canopy, Centre for Public Impact, JRF Emerging Futures, IF_DO, Phil Jones Associates, Be First, James Corner Field Operations, Sustrans, and Living Streets.

Revenue is generated on a project-by-project professional-services basis, with local-authority commissions ranging from entry-level programmes (Play Street Pioneers, starting at £5,000 per local authority over 6 months) to multi-phase design-team engagements. Beyond fee-for-service work, Street Space has productized two programmes — Play Street Pioneers (resident-led play street activation) and Your Town Jam (a 3-month peer-learning journey) — and receives grant-style support from JRF Emerging Futures for its Collective Imagination Practice work. The operating model is consultancy-led with no software platform, no public pricing, and no external venture investment disclosed.

Name

Street Space

Legal name

Street Space

Website

https://wearestreetspace.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Street Space is a UK-based community engagement and collaborative design social enterprise (Community Interest Company) that partners with local authorities and community organizations to reimagine streets and public spaces through co-design, prototyping, and resident-led activation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Engagement and Collaborative Design Services

NAICS

Facilities Support Services (561210)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ), Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (BPAIACAI), Local & Neighborhood Communities (BPAMABAG)

Keywords

• Community engagement services
• Collaborative design
• Participatory urban planning
• Public realm consulting
• Place-making facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Bradford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Consultancy and Engagement Services: Street Space generates revenue through commissioned projects with local authorities, town councils, and community organizations. Projects include community engagement, collaborative design, and facilitation services for public space improvements. They are commissioned for specific project periods with deliverables.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Street Space is a community engagement and collaborative design consultancy that works with local authorities and communities to reimagine streets and public spaces. Services include listening exercises, co-design workshops, prototype testing, and community-led design processes aimed at increasing safety, joy, and social connection. They complement these services with a proprietary toolkit (North Star, Map for Map Makers, Method Cards) and structured programmes such as Play Street Pioneers and Your Town Jam.

Product overview

Street Space is an engagement and collaborative design social enterprise offering professional services rather than a software product platform. The core offering consists of community engagement and collaborative design services for reimagining streets and public spaces. Key service offerings include their Street Space Engagement & Design Services (core consulting work), the Street Space Toolkit (North Star, Map for Map Makers, Method Cards), and specialized programs like Play Street Pioneers ( doorstep play activation model) and Your Town Jam (collective imagination learning journey). They also employ a Young Producer Program to bring local voices into engagement processes. The company operates as a service consultancy rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Play Street Pioneers: A resident-led model designed to activate doorstep play in the neighbourhoods, supporting residents to unlock play streets

Products and services

• Street Space Engagement & Design Services Community engagement and collaborative design services for reimagining streets and public spaces to increase safety, joy, and social connection. Services include listening exercises, co-design workshops, prototype testing, and community-led design processes delivered to UK local authorities and community organisations.
• Street Space Toolkit A collection of resources including the North Star (manifesto and long-term goals), Map for Map Makers (project guidance tool), and Method Cards (engagement methodology descriptions) that guide the practice and shape projects.
• Play Street Pioneers A resident-led model designed to activate doorstep play in neighbourhoods. The programme supports 12 local residents over 6 months to overcome administrative and confidence barriers to unlock play streets, providing peer cohort support, a digital village (WhatsApp ecosystem), play kit, and local accountability, with local authority contributions starting from £5000.
• Your Town Jam A 3-month hybrid learning journey part of the Collective Imagination Practice, where participants collectively reimagine the future of their towns through peer-to-peer learning, online sessions, and in-person meetups.
• Young Producer Programme A local engagement approach where young producers (aged 18-25) are recruited and paid to join Street Space's engagement team, bringing authentic local perspectives and connections to communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% increase in people feeling safe outside Barking station during Activation Station pilot
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• HuddlecraftcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 June 2023Huddlecraft is the practice of combining people to multiply potential. They co-steward the Collective Imagination Practice Huddles with Street Space, providing the peer learning framework for programmes like Your Town Jam. Huddlecraft's methodology supports Street Space's approach to community engagement through structured huddle processes.
• CanopycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 June 2023Canopy is part of the Collective Imagination Practice initiative funding and support structure. They collaborate with Street Space on imaginative enquiry programmes exploring the future of towns.
• Centre for Public ImpactcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 June 2023Centre for Public Impact supports the Collective Imagination Practice Huddles and works with Street Space on place-based collective imagination learning journeys.
• IF_DOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning architecture and design practice. Street Space has partnered with IF_DO on multiple projects including The Yard (Bruce Grove workspace), The Space (Enfield community facility), and Covid-19 Safer Streets guide development.
• Phil Jones Associates (PJA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStreet Space worked in partnership with PJA on Windmill Drive traffic filter project in Clapham Common, with PJA developing permanent designs based on Street Space's community engagement findings.
• Be FirstmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban regeneration company for London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. Partner on multiple projects including Greening the Fiddlers and Safe Streets Becontree.
• SustransminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive travel charity partnered with Street Space on Greening the Fiddlers Low Emission Neighbourhood project.
• Living StreetsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPedestrian advocacy organization partnered on Greening the Fiddlers project.
• James Corner Field OperationsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of award-winning team for Camden Highline design. Street Space provided community engagement within council estates adjacent to the proposed route.
• Roding RubbishminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community organization that Street Space collaborated with for Activation Station pilot to plant and maintain greenery while boosting community pride.
• RDLACminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRace and Disablity Leadership Advisory Committee partnered with Street Space on Royal Docks street naming project to coordinate community workshops.
• Custom House BookshopminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community organization partnered with Street Space for Royal Docks street naming project.
• Shared Future CICcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpert facilitation organization led by Pete Bryant that co-facilitated the Shipley Citizens Jury on Climate Change with Street Space founder Phillippa Banister.
• London Borough of Barking and DagenhamcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPrimary local authority client commissioning Street Space for multiple projects including Activation Station, Beckton Parks, and footbridge improvements.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Locality: UK national network supporting community-led organisations and neighbourhood services. Comparable in mission to support community-led place-making, but much larger and structurally a membership body rather than a project consultancy.
• Sustrans: UK active travel charity that co-delivers community engagement on walking, cycling and street schemes (partnered with Street Space on Greening the Fiddlers). Comparable in engaging communities on transport/public realm, but much larger and charity-structured.

Direct peers

• Project for Public Spaces (PPS): Global nonprofit focused on placemaking and community-led public space improvement. Closest international peer in philosophy and methodology, though much larger and more established than Street Space.
• The Glass-House Community Led Design: A UK social enterprise that supports communities and local authorities to plan, design and manage public spaces through community-led design. Closest direct peer to Street Space in mission, methodology, and client base (UK councils, community groups).
• Gehl: Urban design and public life consultancy known for people-centred street and public space design. Comparable in addressing how cities and streets serve people, but operates at larger scale and price point.
• Shared Future CIC: UK community interest company specialising in deliberative engagement, facilitation and citizens' juries (e.g., co-facilitated the Shipley Citizens' Jury with Street Space). Highly comparable as a small, mission-driven engagement consultancy serving UK local authorities.

Others

• Phil Jones Associates (PJA): UK transport and placemaking consultancy partnered with Street Space on Windmill Drive traffic filter. Comparable in delivering street/public realm schemes for UK local authorities, but lead design role rather than community engagement specialist.

Emerging players

• Living Streets: UK charity promoting walking and pedestrian-friendly streets, partnered with Street Space on Greening the Fiddlers. Overlaps in mission to make streets safer and more social, though delivers through campaigns and advocacy rather than paid consultancy.
• Centre for Public Impact: Global nonprofit reimagining government through citizen engagement and innovation; active partner of Street Space on Collective Imagination Practice. Overlaps in participatory methods and UK/international public sector clients.
• Create Streets: UK think and do tank focused on street design, community engagement and public realm policy. Adjacent to Street Space in subject matter (street/public space quality) though more advocacy- and research-oriented.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks8 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/wearestreetspace
• Facebookfacebook.com/wearestreetspace
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/street-space
• Instagraminstagram.com/wearestreetspace

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Street Space