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Commonplace Wins Pineapple Award for Community Engagement with Wandsworth’s Groundbreaking Night Time Strategy
We’re thrilled to announce our latest Pineapple Award win in collaboration with Wandsworth Council, for our work on the Wandsworth Night Time Strategy!
This recognition, awarded by The Developer at the Festival of Place, celebrates exemplary community-led placemaking. The judges hailed the strategy as a “trailblazing initiative—the first night-time strategy of its kind”, applauding its breadth, innovation, and inclusivity.
Why This Project Stood Out
Wandsworth’s Night Time Strategy set out to rethink the borough’s after-dark experience—making it safer, more inclusive, and vibrant for everyone. What made this project so special?
- Borough-Wide Reach: It engaged communities right across Wandsworth, from town centres to quieter neighbourhoods.
- Inclusive Outreach: The team made a concerted effort to reach traditionally underrepresented voices—particularly LGBTQ+ residents, gig economy workers, and others who often go unheard in civic discussions.
- Women’s Safety at the Forefront: One of the project’s most powerful impacts was the spotlight it shone on women’s safety at night, incorporating those insights directly into the final strategy.
- Beyond the Built Environment: The strategy went further than bricks and mortar—it explored social infrastructure, local culture, and a sense of belonging during evening hours.
Digital Tools That Made It Possible
At the heart of this success was Commonplace’s digital engagement platform, which enabled thousands of residents to have their say—many of whom might never have felt comfortable speaking out in public forums.
Whether through interactive maps, targeted surveys, or story-sharing, the platform helped surface diverse perspectives and gave the council real-time insights that shaped the final strategy.
“This is a state-of-the-art example of how engagement can be innovative, inclusive, and impactful,” said the Pineapple judges.
A Blueprint for the Future
This award affirms what we’ve long believed at Commonplace: true engagement is about listening deeply, reaching widely, and making it easy for people to shape the places they live, work, and socialise—day or night.
We’re proud to have partnered with Wandsworth Council on this pioneering work, and we’re excited to see how this model inspires other boroughs and cities across the UK and beyond.
Want to run a similar engagement project in your community?
Get in touch — we’d love to help bring your vision to life.