Wimborne | Posted on September 17th, 2026 | return to news

Regional Building Foundation lights a torch for better homes

St Giles House played home to a new forum launch that aims to deliver sympathetic housing that supports local businesses.

St Giles House, Wimborne recently played host to the Regional Building Foundation (RBF). It launched a new national network for place-based building with over 140 landowners, regional builders, materials suppliers, funders and built-environment professionals to promote a joined-up approach to local development.

Hosted by the Earl of Shaftesbury and Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Dr Michael Dooley, the event marked the launch of the Hampshire Basin regional forum, the first of the RBF’s 14 regional forums. Chair Tim Gray set the tone, reminding guests of Winston Churchill’s famous words: “We shape our buildings: thereafter our buildings shape us.”

The event included a guided tour of Wyatt Homes’ Rivers Edge development in Wimborne, where guests saw place-based building in action.

David Wyatt, CEO and founder of Wyatt Homes said “We were proud to welcome The King’s Foundation, University of the Built Environment and colleagues from across the housing industry to our new offices, and to showcase Rivers Edge. After 35 years as an SME housebuilder, we are passionate about sharing our experience and supporting others across the sector. We look forward to working with everyone involved in the new Regional Building Foundation and sharing knowledge to help strengthen the future of SME housebuilding.”

At St Giles House, guests explored stands representing the RBF’s four pillars – Networking, Educating, Enabling and Innovation – and heard from regional builders, landowners and funders making the case for regional SME housebuilders as the partner of choice for landowners who care about legacy.

The day closed with the lighting of a ceremonial bronze Regional Building Foundation torch, built by local blacksmith Ian Thackray, to symbolise the beginning of a new chapter for place-based building.

Supported for an initial three years by Carlisle Brass, Imperial Bricks, Saint-Gobain UK, VELUX and Worcester Bosch, the Foundation was established by the King’s Foundation and University of the Built Environment to reconnect the regional ecosystems needed to deliver better places, bringing landowners together with regional SME builders, suppliers, funders and built-environment expertise to help create locally rooted characterful communities.