Vivendi Cities

We create great places for people.

At Vivendi Cities, we combine deep expertise in urban policy, research and design to deliver innovative, data-driven advice and solutions. We partner with government, industry, academia and NGOs to think differently about what makes streets thrive; offering practical solutions that span urban planning, active transport, infrastructure and governance. 

Our Services

  • We’ve worked with every level of government to shape their policies and guidance.

    We don’t just write policies — we work closely with the community, government agencies and NGOs to ensure that our advice is and practical and implementable to ensure meaningful change in the short, medium and long term.

  • We are trusted advisors to government and the private sector to address urban challenges with an approach that goes beyond ‘standard practice.’

    We blend deep experience, creative thinking and data-driven insights to deliver exceptional outcomes.

    Our clients love working with us — they consistently provide top feedback scores and return to us for future projects again and again.

  • We harness cutting-edge analysis and AI technologies to lead the next wave of industry practice.

    By combining our deep understanding of complex urban issues with scalable, evidence-based technology, we provide innovative solutions tailored to each context.

    Over many years, our team has developed and refined new AI-driven models to transform how we understand:

    • Walking and cycling patterns and demand modelling

    • Road safety

    • Parking and land-use evaluation

    • Urban planning and housing strategies.

  • Improving access — to housing, jobs, services, education, and recreation — sits at the heart of everything we do.

    We work with our clients to identify the most efficient, effective and equitable ways to improve access for people in their communities.

    Whether it’s through better governance, funding programs, guidelines, training, community co-design, or structural reform, we:

    • Ask the right questions

    • Dig deep into data and evidence

    • Leverage our global expert networks

    • Draw on decades of experience.

    By doing so, we help our clients and communities address their most pressing challenges with world’s best practice solutions.

Project Portfolio

  • Cover of draft ATAP Guidelines: Valuing Place Effects

    Business Case Guidance

    Our team have prepare a range of guidance for governments throughout Australia on best practice business cases.

    Valuing Place: industry-leading guidance on valuing place effects in transport business cases for the Australian Transport Assessment and Planning guidelines (ATAP).

    Over $11 billion of place-based and transport business cases: Together, Nick and Marc have worked on a range of highly complex business cases, including Walking, Cycling and Micromobility strategic business cases, a place-based business case for Macquarie Park, and a transport study for Westmead, one of the largest health districts in Australia

  • Observed factors that influence walking from regression analysis

    Place and Walkability Scoring

    The team have been exploring ways to measure and improve place and walking for many years.

    With the Government Architect, Marc developed the Built Environment Indicators, a single set of measurable factors that measured place performance as agreed by key NSW agencies and integrated into the NSW Movement and Place Framework, and now LandIQ.

    In collaboration with Transport for NSW, councils and other government agencies (including Marc for the Government Architect), Nick undertook sophisticated geospatial analysis using AI and big data to objectively understand what makes local centres walkable.

    The Place Analysis and Walkability Scoring (PAWS) model assessed 117 variables across 79 urban centres and used regression analysis using AI. We found that 55% of walking is attributable to ‘structural’ factors, allowing solutions to be tailored to address the specific challenges of each centre. The model has been further developed and used on a range of projects including Westmead, Parramatta and the Northern Beaches.

  • Practitioner's Guide to Movement and Place Cover

    State and National Guidelines

    We’ve worked with federal, state and territory governments to shape their policies and guidelines. Our track record includes:

    - NSW Movement and Place Framework.

    - the NSW Cycleway Design Toolbox,

    - NSW Walking Space Guide, and

    - NSW Guide to Transport Impact Assessment (parking)

    - Design and Place SEPP including a revised Apartment Design Guide and a draft Urban Design Guide.

    We have also been SME representatives on the development of a number of other guidelines and standards such as the NSW Speed Zoning Standard.

  • Local Government Strategies

    We have delivered a range of urban design frameworks and active transport strategies for local governments throughout Australia:

    - Launceston’s award-winning Urban Greening Strategy and Urban Design Framework

    - Randwick City Council’s Active Transport Strategy

    - Advice to Sydney’s Inner West Council on the Rozelle Town Centre Masterplan and Victoria Road improvements

    - Mona Vale Place Plan and Dee Why Walking Infrastructure Pilot for Northern Beaches Council

    - Input to major cycleway and main street designs for City of Sydney and other councils

  • Extract from the draft National Urban Policy

    Thought Leadership and Advocacy

    We are leaders in our field and collaborate on a wide range of submissions, thought leadership papers, conference and presentations, webinars, podcasts and social media.

    Recently Marc presented to the National Roads and Traffic Expo on ‘Being Smart About Road User Space’ - presenting some key insights into roadway use and travel patterns to help designers think differently about how streets are designed.

    We also volunteer many hours for not-for-profit charity and industry organisations: Marc is the past president of WalkSydney and a current councillor for Hunters Hill

    Through this work, we work with local communities and politicians to improve the funding, planning and delivery of streetscapes.