It had been suggested that Cllr Muhammed Butt has taken on Cllr Shama Tatler's portfolio only temporarily until a new Cabinet member was appointed. However, in an updated Full Council Agenda yesterday it appears that this is permanent arrangement.
Cllr Butt has granted himself direct power over Regeneration, Planning and Growth in addition to Housing which he took over when Cllr Promise Knight went on maternity leave.
Given the number of controversial developments and planning decisions in Brent this might be seen as too much power and influence for one person. Cllr Butt hs been pro-active in early meetings with developers before applications get to Planning Committee but now has a formal role. What price the independence of Brent Planning Commitee?
Other changes were notified on the Agenda following the resignation from Committee positions of ex-Deputy Mayor Cllr Diana Collymore:
Full Council – 18 November 2024
Agenda Item 5 – Appointments to Committees & Outside Bodies Standing Order 30(g) states that, if necessary, Full Council is required to agree appointments to committees and outside bodies. In addition to the changes listed Council is being asked to confirm the appointment of an Independent Person.
Such appointments are set out below:
Cabinet Membership
Council is asked to note that effective from 8 November 2024 the Leader of the Council has incorporated the role of Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Growth within his remit following Councillor Shama Tatler having stood down from her role as a Cabinet Member.
Committee Appointments:
1. Audit & Standards Advisory Committee and Audit & Standards Committee – Councillor Lesley Smith to replace Councillor Teo Benea as a full member.
2. Community & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee – Councillor Teo Benea to replace Councillor Diana Collymore as a full member
3. Corporate Parenting Committee – Councillor Lesley Smith to replace Councillor Diana Collymore as a full member.
4. Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee - Councillor Teo Benea to replace Councillor Diana Collymore as a substitute member
Cllr Shama Tatler attended her last Brent Cabinet today to make a presentation on the next stage of the South Kilburn regeneration.
Cllr Tatler earned the nickname 'Towerblock Tatler' for her unapologetic support for highrise developments and densification in Brent housing projects.
From tomorrow she starts a new role at Head of the Labour Office at the Local Government Association.
Cllr Tatler will step down as the Cabinet lead for Regeneration, Planning and Growth but says she will continue to support Brent Labour from the back benches.
She wrote on LinkIn:
Thank
you to all my Cabinet colleagues, past and present and I wish my
successor all the best in continuing to deliver progressive Regeneration
and Planning for Brent's residents.
The map shows how many sites are still to be developed 20 years after the 2004 Masterplan.
The South Kilburn Regeneration began as a concept in the late 1990s, with the New Deal for Communities adopted in 2001.
The first South Kilburn Masterplan was approved on the 12th July 2004 so the project has been going for 20 years and completion may take at least another ten.
The Minutes of the 12th July Executive Meeting show that non-Executive members were concerned that the Masterplan had not gone to the Scrutiny Committee. LINK
Tomorrow's Cabinet starts at 10am and South Kilburn is Item 12 out of 15 items LINK. The meeting will be livestreamed HERE.
Cabinet will be asked to approve a new chapter with the council seeking a single developer rather than a multiplicity of developers for the sites that remain. They include
Queens
Park & Cullen House, William Dunbar House and William Saville House,
Masefield House, Wordsworth House and Dickens House, Craik Court, Crone Court
and Zangwill House, Hereford House and Exeter Court, Austin House and Blake
Court and John Radcliffe House.
The Cabinet are told that Early Pre-market Engagement has indicated interest from several companies to take on the very large task with attendant risks in the current climate. Economies of scale are cited as an advantage but there are still risks regarding viability
The regeneration programme is based on the cross-subsidy model where the
receipts from market housing funds the delivery of affordable housing, social
and public infrastructure. It is however notable that the programme has up
until now benefitted from rapidly rising sales values as regeneration improved
the area, but the sales values are now flattening out.
Meanwhile construction
cost inflation has risen steeply and continues to remain high, this alongside
the recent regulatory changes, specifically the second staircase, is putting
viability under extreme pressures. Also, interest rate rises have affected both
development market and purchaser demand. Affordability of the programme is
expected to remain challenging and will need to be carefully monitored and
robustly managed.
There are still tenants waiting to be rehoused on the estate in line with the Landlord Promise made by the Council that they would be rehoused on the estate. It appears that 164 will have to wait until after 2028:
933 tenants have been permanently rehoused in a new home in South
Kilburn. Approximately 200 tenants have been permanently rehoused outside South
Kilburn in a new build or an existing home around the borough in areas such as
Harlesden, Willesden, Cricklewood, Willesden Green, Kensal Rise, Kensal Green,
Brondesbury and Kilburn.
At time of writing there are 284 tenants across Austin, Blake, Dickens, Craik,
Crone, Zangwill, John Radcliffe, William Dunbar and William Saville remaining to
be rehoused. 120 of the 284 will have the opportunity to be rehoused between
2025 and 2028 in the developments under construction at NWCC, C&G and Peel.
The rehousing team is working with tenants at Austin, Blake and Dickens as a
priority for the next phase of rehousing as these blocks are in the poorest condition.
The report is franker that previously about the difficulties encountered, partly in support of the single developer proposal:
In a small number of developments however residents have experienced disruptive
build quality issues. At Granville New Homes, Franklin, Chase and Hollister
House, there have been issues with water leakage, supply of hot water and
heating, poor workmanship and use of poor-quality material. Elsewhere, at Merle
Court and George and Swift House fire safety issues with cladding has required
significant remediation works.
Multiplicity of landlords
and managing agents arising from the site-by-site development model is also
reflected in the inconsistent and variable standards of management and
maintenance of the public realm across the neighbourhood and sometimes on
opposite sides of the street. This inconsistent approach has marred the
community's experience of living, working and visiting South Kilburn.
Parts of South Kilburn
have a concentration of sites at various stages of redevelopment - sites which
are hoarded up and under construction, sites which are part or fully vacant.
There areas have been experiencing increased levels of anti-social behaviour,
fly-tipping and squatting. Alongside this is the noise, dust, vibration, and
traffic disruption arising from the construction itself.
Whilst these
are the inevitable consequences of large-scale, long-term regeneration
programmes, it presents significant disruption to the day-to-day experience of
residents and erodes their sense of safety, community and ownership.
The delivery programme as set out in the 2016 Masterplan review has been
delayed due to economic and viability challenges and recent regulatory changes
requiring extensive design amendments. Beyond the sites which are currently
under construction there is no future pipeline of new homes. For residents (tenants
and leaseholders) remaining in the existing blocks the uncertainty of not knowing
when and where they are going to move is frustrating, particularly for residents
living in overcrowded and poor quality homes.
For viability there will be an increase in the private homes quota as well as an increase in densification.
According to the 2016 Masterplan, the remaining sites can provide a
further 1,400 homes. An initial review of the Masterplan has indicated that
there are opportunities for optimisation, densification to deliver more housing
The remainder of programme will include a higher percentage of private housing
to re- balance the overall distribution of housing tenure and front loading of
affordable homes provision in the earlier phases of the programme. The level of
private housing will be critical to the viability of future phases.
There is never much discussion, and certainly
not debate, at Cabinet - that is all done in private with officers at a
private pre-Cabinet meeting, so this complex and risky proposal is
likely to go through in a few minutes. It is important that Scrutiny
Commitee (unlike in 2005) considers it at the appropriate time.
We have a regular commenter on Wembley Matters who champions the Labour Council and s/he is so over the top that it often appears to be satire, actually serving to undermine the council. At other times it has been suggested it is written using an Artificial Intelligence program.
The latest missive is in response to Philip Grant's series of exchanges regarding what he sees as a political foreward by Cllr Shama Tatler to Cabinet report about the Wembley Housing Zone development.
Out of curiosity I resorted to Artifical Intelligence and asked CHATGPT to:
Write in praise of Councillor Tatler's (London Borough of Brent) of the
Labour Party efforts at regeneration calling into question Philip
Grant's criticisms of her schemes and her alleged politicisation of the
issue. Question Philip Grant's political neutrality and condemn his
actions as enabling support for the Conservative Party
Here are the two pieces of writing. Can you identify similarities?
ARTICLE ONE
Councillor Tatler's
tireless efforts in the regeneration of the London Borough of Brent stand as a
beacon of progress and community empowerment. With steadfast dedication, she
has spearheaded initiatives aimed at revitalizing neighbourhoods, improving
infrastructure, and enhancing the quality of life for residents. Her vision
extends beyond mere development; it encompasses inclusivity, sustainability,
and social cohesion.
Despite her commendable endeavours,
Councillor Tatler has faced unwarranted criticism from individuals like Philip
Grant, whose motives seem questionable at best. Grant's disparaging remarks and
attempts to politicise the issue not only undermine the genuine progress being
made but also reveal a disturbing lack of concern for the welfare of Brent's
diverse populace.
Grant's purported
neutrality crumbles under scrutiny, as his actions appear more aligned with
partisan agendas than with the genuine interests of the community. By echoing
critiques that serve to benefit the Conservative Party, he betrays a disregard
for the fundamental principles of impartiality and integrity.
In contrast, Councillor
Tatler's approach remains resolutely focused on the betterment of Brent,
transcending party lines in pursuit of meaningful change. Her leadership
exemplifies a commitment to serving the people above all else, fostering a
sense of pride and optimism among constituents.
As we navigate the
complexities of urban renewal, let us rally behind leaders like Councillor
Tatler, whose passion, integrity, and unwavering dedication illuminate the path
toward a brighter, more prosperous future for all residents of Brent. Grant's
politicisation of the issue only serves to hinder progress and perpetuate
divisiveness, making it imperative that we reject such divisive tactics and
unite in support of genuine, community-driven regeneration efforts.
ARTICLE TWO
As a passionate Labour supporter and an avid
follower of Councillor Tatler's tireless dedication to our community, I must
express my wholehearted support for her invaluable contributions to Brent
Council.
It's disheartening to see Philip Grant's attempts to undermine the vital role
Councillor Tatler plays in providing clarity and context through their Cabinet
Member Forewords.
Grant's narrow focus on political content overlooks the broader picture of
Councillor Tatler's commitment to transparency, accountability, and inclusive
governance. The Cabinet Member Forewords serve as a crucial bridge between
policy decisions and the community, shedding light on the Labour Party's vision
for a fairer, more equitable society.
Grant's insistence on dissecting every word of these forewords in search of
supposed political bias misses the mark entirely. It's abundantly clear that
Councillor Tatler's motivations lie in championing the interests of all Brent
residents, regardless of political affiliation. Her unwavering dedication to
serving the public interest is evident in every aspect of her work.
Furthermore, Grant's suggestion of reviewing the inclusion of Cabinet Member
Forewords reeks of political manoeuvring rather than genuine concern for good
governance. It's a thinly veiled attempt to undermine the Labour Party's
influence and stifle progressive policies that aim to uplift the most
vulnerable members of our community.
Residents need to stand in solidarity with Councillor Tatler and reject
attempts to discredit their invaluable contributions. We must continue to champion
transparency, accountability, and social justice in Brent Council, with
Councillor Tatler leading the charge towards a brighter, more inclusive future
for all. This is a really important year for Labour and you are either with us
or Tory enablers.
In August last year, South Kilburn residents received issue 1 of South Kilburn Regeneration News. A welcome sign that we might be kept informed of progress, despite the fact that `issue 1' came after regeneration has been going on for nearly 20 years, and in those preceding years there has been no attempt to let us know what is happening.
Rumours abound that the regeneration has hit the rocks and is stalling. Nothing seems to have happened with the Carlton Vale Boulevard scheme.. The medical centre promised for 2015 has yet to materialise, and in the meantime the building in which the Kilburn Park surgery was based has been declared unfit for use and then sold off. Rumours say the new medical centre will be opened early next year, but no information has been circulated, no explanation for the lateness or whether this medical centre will actually be up to the standard originally promised. A further rumour is that developers are pushing for an even smaller proportion of social housing than in earlier stages, with a preference for expensive market flats, would, if true, mean that any idea that this addresses the housing crisis is a bad joke.
Wembley Matters has carried several reports on the disgusting state of some of the blocks which tenants have been decanted to while waiting for new flats. Word has it that the stalling of regeneration means that many who have been promised new flats in South Kilburn will not be able to move into them for years.
South Kilburn regeneration has been plagued with problems throughout, with new blocks having to have scaffold up for years while cladding is removed, heating and mould issues in many new blocks and, most notorious of all, Granville New Homes blocks costing more to put right than the original cost. And the company that botched Granville New Homes given new contracts by Brent Council! On top of which many moved into new blocks find their rents and especially their service charges rising considerably. Many of the problems associated with new blocks have been denied by Brent, and there certainly haven't been issues of Regeneration News to tell us what is going on.
No-one attempts to give South Kilburn residents a truthful account of what is happening. Raising these issues at Brent Connects doesn't get any answers, let alone a commitment to inform residents. South Kilburn Trust, supposedly overseeing the regeneration of the Carlton/Granville site never reaches out to South Kilburn residents and appears to be totally unaccountable, despite claiming to represent the interests of South Kilburn residents.. Even those few who have time and ability to trawl through - often impenetrable - Council documents are often none the wiser.
Having endured 20 years of living in a building site, compounded by Brent Council persuading HS2 to build their vent shaft in the middle of the estate (with the support of South Kilburn Trust) rather than on a empty car park near Queens Park station, and facing probably another 15 years on a building site, residents really do have a right to clear, truthful information.
Pete Firmin, chair of Alpha, Gorefield and Canterbury Tenants and Residents Association, South Kilburn
The above video was posted on Twitter yesterday revealing the state of Blake Court on the South Kilburn Estate. @DCustodians said:
Welcome to #BlakeCourtThis the airy 4th floor. Recently redecorated to a high standard by squatters.
Just needs a do not disturb sign. Tenants are a bit inconvenienced, work/school
and all but who are we to complain?
A picture of an an attempted break-in and soiled lift were also posted:
I thought it was appropriate to publish these images in the light of the Housing Report going to Brent Cabinet on Monday. The report includes a section on South Kilburn where it is proposed that some voids (empty properties) on the estate are brought into use as temporary accommodation.
The fact that only 52 of 534 properties are considered suitable is in itself telling and clearly it is not just the flats themselves that need to be suitable - safe, clean - but the surrounding 'unsuitable flats', staircases, lifts and security that needs to be considered.
Wembley Matters has revealed the £13m deficit in the housing budget caused by the rising number of homeless people in temporary hotel accommodation or expensive private rented placements. LINK The council hopes to save on the average £3,000 a night for the 52 households:
There are currently 534 void
properties across the South Kilburn regeneration site as households have either
been moved into new or alternative homes, or leasehold properties have been
bought back. Due to the increased demand for temporary accommodation and rising
hotel costs, an exercise has been carried out to assess the suitability of
South Kilburn voids for use as temporary accommodation.
However, there is a fly in the ointment. Brent Council want to avoid the 'Landlord Promise' made at the time of the South Kilburn Regeneation Ballot, applying to these households (my highlighting):
Of the 534 voids, 52 have
been identified as suitable for potential use. This is based on their condition
and the impact of using them on the regeneration programme. These are based in
John Ratcliffe, William Dunbar, William Saville, and Zangwill. Historically,
those living in temporary accommodation on the regeneration site were included
in the South Kilburn Promise (Landlord Offer), which commits to re-housing
temporary accommodation residents within South Kilburn, with the option to move
outside of the estate (with the household’s agreement) along with other
commitments. This was specifically for those impacted at the time of the
ballot. If these voids are used for temporary accommodation, this report
recommends that the South Kilburn Promise does not apply going forward. This
implications of this proposal on the 2019 ballot outcome have been discussed with
the Greater London Authority and no implications were identified.
The rational[e] for the promise
not applying going forward to temporary households, is largely based on these
households bypassing the choice-based lettings scheme, where other households
have waited for years for family sized accommodation. Additionally, these
households will not have been impacted by the regeneration scheme in the way
those involved with the ballot.
This proposal does create a
risk that temporary households will need to be decanted elsewhere, most likely
away from the estate, when blocks are due to be demolished. Plus, there will be
two tiers of temporary accommodation on the site, those who are eligible for
the South Kilburn Promise and those who are not. This risk however is balanced
by the immediate reduction in pressure for the Council as moving 52 households
out of their current temporary accommodation and into South Kilburn would save
the Council approximately £3,017 a night based on the
average nightly rate paid and subsidy loss currently being covered by the
Council. The use of these void properties has wider benefits to the overall
wellbeing of households currently facing homelessness, many of whom are having
to be placed outside of the borough which ultimately affects schooling and
work.
There is another pitfall in that the council is required to consult on any change in its Lettings Policy in order to amend the Landlord Offer.:
To amend the South Kilburn Promise (Landlord
Offer) for new temporary accommodation tenants, the Council is required to
amend the Local Lettings Policy (allocations scheme) which requires
consultation. The Council is currently seeking legal advice on how to consult
and once obtained, this will guide officers to carry out the relevant
consultation ahead of any decision being finalised.
The council had to open up bidding for council properties to homeless people after a legal judgement in 2021-22 when a teenager took them to court. LINK That was the last change in the lettings policy. It is likely that South Kilburn residents, especially those waiting for accommodation on the estate, presently in accommodation outside the area, in temporary accommodation or decanted temporarily while waiting to be permanently housed in new build will be very wary of any change in the South Kilburn Promise. If it can be done once for one group, could it be withdrawn later for another group?
This will depend to some extent on residents perception of progress on the whole South Kilburn Regeneration. A letter to Wembley Matters in November outlined the problems in terms of delivery and impact on those waiting to be rehoused. LINK
There are ongoing problems with defects to properties with L&Q one of the most notable and the ongoing Granville New Homes debacle where the cost of remediation is now put at £25m (against that budget gap of £13m) having been purchased for £17.1m by the council. Still no news on any council move for compensation from the builder. LINK
A veteran observer of the South Kilburn scene was asked for their view by Wembley Matters in the light of the latest news:
If the council were were to hold another ballot, would all those in temporary accommodation still vote yes if they were told they would not be getting a new home in South Kilburn for at least 10 years and that some of them would have to move into old blocks waiting to be demolished while they wait.
Although there are 730 households in temporary accommodation, we do not know how many of them have a South Kilburn connection but at the last consultation the ones that had it were promised a new home soon if they voted yes.
There are 370 secure council tenants waiting for a new home today and we will find out soon the exact numbers in each of the 7 blocks left and when they might be decanted.
But the next batch of new homes are for secure council tenants from both Craic and Crone Court and there are none for those in temporary accomodation. Of course the council could change their allocation policy to favour those in temporary accommodation but this is most unlikely.
There should be some more new homes available in 2029 which were for those in phases 7 and 8 but now they might go to those currently in temporary accommodation. I am not sure how many new homes will be available but there will be fewer than 100 and by then because of possible financial issues, many of the homes could be sold, or become shared ownership homes.
But with only 70 new homes available in 2029 and around a 1000 households expecting to get one of them, most of them are going to be disappointed.
I wonder if Osbornes Law will be interested in the new proposals?
Brent Council are resending the Hereford &
Exeter site, along with the Craik Court-Crone Court -Zangwill House (CCZ) site back to planning, as the new buildings
will need second staircases.
The CCZ site was due to be completed by 2029 but it
will now be much later.
This has a knock-on effect, as all those tenants
and some of those in temporary housing will now face longer waits for a new
home.
The CCZ project is in phase 6 which now means that
phases 7 & 8 will now be pushed several years forward beyond their
schedules.
Previously the council always said 'the whole 15 year (?)
South Kilburn Regeneration would be completed by 2029' but that date now looks
unachievable.
Also, the SK budget is facing financial
difficulties but for now the budget has not been changed but the council are
reducing their overall Capital programme by 25% (£103M.) covering the rest of
this year and 2024/25.
We will find out the costs of the SK Regeneration
at the meeting in February 2024 when the council sets their budgets for the
future years.
The increased costs of the SK regeneration are the result
of the higher interest rates that the council have to pay for their borrowing,
together with high inflation causing increases in the cost of building
materials and higher labour costs.
It now looks like the 72 council homes on the NWCC
site due in 2025 may be the last ones for some time and I expect that the
allocations have already been made, as all the needs assessments have all been
completed.
That leaves approximately 370 tenants and those in
temporary housing having to wait for several more years before they will be
offered a new home in SK.
Nobody seems to be bothered about this but the Peel
site LINK has only 42 homes
for social rent out of a total of 308 new homes. That is roughly 15% instead of
the usual 50:50. So far 38 of the 42 are already occupied with the remaining 4
homes not available until 2026.
The Peel site is the largest one of all the SK
sites but has the lowest number of social homes available. Many of the new
homes are both for private sale as usual but there are also several shared
ownership properties.
The 72 homes on the NWCC site will be available in
2025 with allocations given in 2024, although as I understand it the possible
tenants have already completed their needs assessments. NWCC is Neville House,
Winstanley and some of Carlton House and the Carlton Centre
This might be of interest to the tenant you
featured in Wembley Matters on the 4th October LINK.
However, it seems that anyone in SK needing a 4 bed
or higher have been offered new homes in both Stonebridge and Wembley.
All
the remaining tenants and those in temporary housing wish to remain in South
Kilburn, as their children attend school there, although some of them have been
offered a new larger home in both Stonebridge & Wembley, However, this
causes further allocation problems for Brent over who should get priority for a
new home.
The Queen's Park Cullen House site will probably
need to go back to planning, as the current one was approved as far back as
2016 with the tenants decanted in 2014.
However, the council still do not own the site.
They have been trying since 2019 to purchase the Falcon Public House but
Londonewcastle will not sell it. Londonewcastle built all the new blocks in
Albert Road and may be holding out to win the contract for the Cullen House/Queens
Park site, but the council do not want them. So will Cllr. Butt get his way or
will he be disappointed?
This is the key site, as Cllr. Butt said it would
mark the new gateway to SK with several up-market stores in the ground floors with
flats above them,
Countryside say because they are developing the
Health Centre on the Peel site, they had to reduce the number of social homes
to make it viable for them.
Back in 2004 I seem to remember there was NDC money
set aside to fund two health centres (and not just one) but the funding was
'borrowed by the Primary Care Trust' and would be made available when the
health centres were to be developed
But of course, the Primary Care Trust' closed down
and passed its assets to the Brent CCG who themselves have now closed down and
are now in the super CCG (8 CCG's)
So, I assume the money has long gone and that is
why we are having to rely on Countryside to build it and the Council to provide
the revenue to run it.
These proposal are due to go to Planning during the Autumn. The Council's website states:
The redevelopment site comprising of Masefield
House, Wordsworth House, and Dickens House, as well as Kilburn Open Space and
Carlton Vale Infant School forms part of the South Kilburn regeneration
programme.
What will
be delivered?
The proposals for this site are being designed by
award winning architects Karakusevic Carson Architects and include 5 new
mixed-tenure housing blocks, and a new two-form entry primary school.
Two of the new blocks will front the newly-reinstated Percy Road in line with
the Council’s masterplan aspiration. The proposals also include housing blocks
along Malvern Road. These have been designed in an urban villa style to
complement existing villa blocks in the area, including on Malvern Road.
The exact tenure split is to be finalised during
design development, but current proposals envisage 100 new units. This includes
approximately 37 affordable units for existing South Kilburn residents.
The proposals have been carefully designed
throughout to maximise the retention of existing mature trees and to ensure
homes are all dual aspect, allowing for natural light and ventilation.
The new school will be a high-quality and
sustainable learning environment for pupils aged 3-11. The designs include
space for a nursery, specialist teaching areas for music, food/science and art,
and additional spaces for children with special educational needs. This
includes physical disability, visual impairments, and hearing impairment. The
school will also contain spaces that can be securely used by the local
community during out of school hours such as a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA). The
Council is working with local Kilburn Park and Carlton Vale Schools to see how
the schools can benefit from the new school. Future governance arrangements
will be subjected to statutory consultation with the schools and the wider
school community.
Under the same planning application, proposals are
being brought forward for the redevelopment of other parts of the South Kilburn
area. This includes an expansion and improvement of the Kilburn Open
Space.
As well as this, there will be 52 new mixed-tenure
properties (exact numbers to be confirmed through continued design development)
on the site currently occupied by Carlton Vale Infant School. This includes a
residential block of circa 37 flats facing Kilburn House on Malvern Place.
Three shared ownership units will also be in this block.
To help meet local resident’s needs, these
proposals also include 15 four-bedroom affordable terraced homes for existing
South Kilburn residents.
Wembley Matters likes to keep you informed about what is going on locally and this event at Box Park on Olympic Way may intrigue you. However with BOGOF (Buy One Get One Free) tickets at £474 including VAT you may not be rushing for the special offer. It would be interesting to know if Brent Cabinet housing and regeneration leads will be attending as some of the questions in 'Key Themes' are well worth addressing in terms of development in the borough.
From the event website LINK. (original punctuation etc)
The third annual Festival of Place is back on 6
July at Boxpark Wembley in Wembley Park, London, a stone’s throw from the
legendary stadium in Europe’s largest build-to-rent development.
Bringing together our community to discern and
imagine a positive social, equitable and environmental future for places.
Featuring fresh thinking and challenging conversations with a riot of
talks and workshops that inspire and connect our creative community of
placemakers seeking to renew our cities, designing and developing human
networks and habitats.
Special offer! Add one ticket in your basket, and
your second ticket is free! After checkout please assign both names to your
tickets (you can reassign anytime before the event)
Update your thinking. Learn. Get inspired.
Break down silos and come
together with professionals to tackle the major issues facing urban
development in an environment where it is safe to ask questions.
Gain frank insight from experts, including
authors, scientists, cultural leaders, developers, investors, scientists,
designers, community workers and city leaders.
Ideal for the whole placemaking team, from
developer to designer, investor to local government.
Participate and meet new collaborators seeking to
address the biggest challenges facing makers of place, through online
masterclasses and workshops, where you will roll your sleeves up around the
table.
Key themes for 2022
how can the design of places support public health
and reduce inequalities?
what are the key ingredients that developers and
designers can get right in order to reduce health and social inequalities
through their place interventions? we tackle the issue from several angles,
inviting economists, researchers and public health professionals to share their
insights on meaningful infrastructure and place interventions
myth-busting and greenwash: secrets and lies in ESG
investment
what are the emerging issues with the growth in investment targeting social and
environmental impact? what does good look like, and what are the challenges and
opportunities as capital is nudging place and regeneration?
regeneration without leaving folks behind
how to ensure inclusive and good growth in rapidly changing places, from
manchester to birmingham? what would a truly levelled-up country look
like?
feminist urbanism: exploring an equal city
how can the design of places promote gender equality and what research and
activism is taking place to create more equal places
putting empathy and care at the heart of places
what if we centred empathy and caring? how would our places be designed and
developed if they were focussed on nuturing empathy?
radical land reform and renewable design
how are the systems around land ownership and land value limiting our ability
to tackle the pressing challenges of our time? what can we do about it and what
are the alternatives?
