Bins & Bikes

2nd Mar 2026
| Insights
| Darren Park and Euan McLaren

Our conversation continues with Euan McLaren and Darren Park. The second of three, Bins & Bikes explores the practical logic of city living.

For all the complexity of tall buildings, transport nodes, and thousands of homes, the 3DReid team jokes that the real secret to masterplanning is much simpler. “If you get the bins and the bikes right, you’re halfway there.” Darren says. Behind the humour is a deep truth: good masterplans are built on the everyday realities of how people live. Streets that feel safe, courtyards that feel sheltered, and neighbourhoods that feel like they belong all start with the most basic functional requirements.

Perhaps the most unique aspect of their approach is this “bottom-up” pragmatism. Developing urban strategies is a form of constant negotiation. Considering the form of new streets and spaces but also thinking about how bins might be collected. This approach ensures that the practicalities of modern life—waste management, sustainable transport, and deliveries—don’t become an afterthought that compromises the quality of the public realm later. In projects like Trafford (shown above) and New Fountainbridge, these considerations are the foundation upon which the social value of the site is built.

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3dreid-masterplanning-bins-bikes-cycle-parking

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Edinburgh Gateway, Image 1: Waste locations and collection route, Image 2: Cycle parking locations Image 3: Cycle Movement, Image 4: Pedestrian Movement

The pair don’t see viability as working at odds with design, but a fundamental part of the negotiation of making new places. “It’s getting harder” admits Euan. “Viabilities are becoming so stretched that we now approach things from the perspective of what is possible, rather than what we would like”. This focus on viability ensures that their designs aren’t just beautiful sketches but are projects capable of being built in the “real world. It requires a sophisticated understanding of construction costs, environmental regulations, and the specific needs of developers and local authorities.

Sustainability is a core driver of every project. At Edinburgh Gateway, the scheme promotes the accessibility of the site. By embracing the city’s existing “multi-modal” connectivity, the masterplan reduces the reliance on private vehicles, encouraging a shift toward rail, tram, and cycling. Along with the client – the team promoted a diversity of uses, particularly along key street edges and nodes. A well-connected site provides residents with better access to jobs, education, and leisure, creating a more resilient and equitable community.

“We like to consider the sustainability holistically. It’s not just about carbon footprints, it’s also about the social qualities of the places we are creating.”

Euan McLaren

Director

The pair look to innovative urban strategies to promote streets and spaces that are comfortable, safe and navigable. For the Embankment masterplan in Cardiff, the team developed the ‘park house’ model in tandem with the developer Vastint.

‘The park house focussed the majority of vehicle parking in two large multi-storey structures near the main road. This allowed the streets to be mainly car free” says Euan.

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3dreid-masterplanning- Curran Embankment 2a

3dreid-masterplanning - Curran Embankment 2b

Curran Embankment, Cardiff. Design Concept: The River’s Edge, Green Corridors, Streets & Spaces

“We also considered how these could adapt over time. Masterplans take years, decades even, to realise. So, we developed an approach where these park house structures could be designed for de-construction too. Disassembled in the future if car use goes down as projected” continues Darren.

Social value also manifests in the “tenure-blind” approach to housing. Whether it is the 35% affordable housing requirement in Edinburgh or the mixed-use blocks in Cardiff, the goal is to create a balanced social fabric. By designing the affordable and private housing to the same high architectural standards, the team ensures that the development feels like a single, cohesive community rather than a fragmented one.

“All projects have these competing demands and constraints. We don’t see these as issues, just part of the puzzle which makes each project unique and interesting” says Euan.

“Constraints can often improve a project. I think we’re more confident after a few of these large masterplans that we can make something good with them” continues Darren.

Streets and spaces have the potential to be incredible places, a new backdrop for a community to grow and thrive. As long as the bins and the bikes are in the correct place.

The Embankment, Cardiff

This article is number 2 of 3 in our Masterplanning series. Part one, Laying the picnic blanket, explores the initial approach, continuity and expression and part three, Continuity & Quiet Euan & Darren discuss honouring place and history in their design, coming soon.