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In August 2025, we were delighted to welcome Madeleine Alton, a Geography undergraduate from Lancaster University, to our London office for a two week placement. Madeleine applied directly to Continuum, motivated by her interest in Human Geography and her ambition to see how her studies connect with real-world planning and regeneration.
From her first week, Madeleine immersed herself in the Stafford town centre regeneration project. She supported the preparation of a demolition planning application for a recently acquired site, guided potential operators around the development area, and researched calls for sites across the UK to help our landowning clients in our sister company Prosperuum identify land promotion opportunities.
Madeleine also gained exposure to the financial side of development. She worked with our viability specialists on projects for Exeter and Staffordshire councils, learning how viability assessments guide regeneration and planning decisions. Her introduction to Argus Developer gave her practical skills in an industry-standard tool and helped her understand the importance of financial modelling in successful development.
Her background in Human Geography added real value. She drew on her academic knowledge of place-making and social context while gaining new technical and analytical skills, bridging the gap between university learning and professional practice.
During her placement, Madeleine took part in team meetings and client discussions, sharpening her communication skills and building confidence in professional settings. She also developed strong research and organisational abilities, supporting planning submissions and viability work, while gaining insight into how multidisciplinary teams collaborate on complex regeneration projects.
Reflecting on her time with Continuum, Madeleine said:
“Over the past few weeks, I have been fortunate enough to gain practical work experience with Continuum, a Real Estate Advisory Company. During my time there, I had the opportunity to attend two site visits, which included touring demolition sites and sitting in on meetings concerning the regeneration project in Stafford town centre. This has been super relevant to my Geography degree in relation to place making. I would like to thank Anthony Pulsford and Murray Lloyd for their expert guidance and support. I look forward to spending time with the team again next summer.”
Looking ahead, Madeleine plans to build on her time with Continuum by gaining further placements across the built environment. She is particularly interested in the public sector side of planning and is seeking opportunities with local authorities to complement her private sector experience.
At Continuum, we are proud to support students like Madeleine who want to develop their skills and experience in the planning and regeneration sector. Our placements are designed to provide practical exposure, mentoring, and hands-on project work, giving students a meaningful insight into careers in the built environment.
