{"id":764180,"date":"2024-11-22T09:06:05","date_gmt":"2024-11-22T09:06:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/?p=764180"},"modified":"2024-11-22T09:06:05","modified_gmt":"2024-11-22T09:06:05","slug":"we-cant-build-quality-homes-without-good-design-and-placemaking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/news\/opinion\/we-cant-build-quality-homes-without-good-design-and-placemaking","title":{"rendered":"We can\u2019t build quality homes without good design and placemaking"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whatever you think of the Office for Place, which has been scrapped by the new government<\/a>, its central purpose made a lot of sense: to champion good design and placemaking. You can\u2019t build the number of long-lasting, quality homes the UK needs without focusing on both.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shoddy homes without integrated infrastructure will fail residents and communities. We need to think in terms of whole places \u2013 which is where planning comes in. A pity then, that the planning system is in such a parlous state, plagued by backlogs, delays and uncertainty.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are big moves in the offing in the government to try and improve matters \u2013 among them the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to be introduced next year and the major reworking of the National Planning Policy Framework. But what could make the biggest difference \u2013 now?<\/span><\/p>\n

In her excellent news feature<\/a> about what could help fix this broken planning system, Anna Highfield asked those at the planning coalface what needs to change. Unsurprisingly, up-to-date local plans were high on the list. So was the issue of capacity in planning teams. And it\u2019s about hiring planners strategically. <\/span><\/p>\n

As Pooja Agrawal, CEO of Public Practice, which places built-environment professionals in local planning departments, says: \u2018To truly achieve the ambitious housing target of 1.5 million homes to a high quality, we need more senior-level people with masterplanning skills, delivery experience and low-carbon technical knowledge.\u2019 (Skills architects have in spades!)<\/span><\/p>\n

Up there on the ideas sheet, too, was making \u2018yes\u2019 the default planning response for smaller developments. That\u2019s about a culture shift to unlock housing opportunities \u2013 current approaches are stifling innovation and development on small sites with existing, strong public transport links. \u2018Fundamentally, what we need is more certainty for smaller developers,\u2019 says Russell Curtis, founding director of RCKa.<\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps most importantly, we need to give planners and planning the respect they\u2019re due. As Anna writes: \u2018Online \u201charassment and abuse\u201d of planners is one of the main issues facing the profession, the RTPI reported last year, with nearly a quarter of planners either \u201cregularly\u201d or \u201coccasionally\u201d targeted on social media because of their role. It\u2019s no wonder they feel browbeaten.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

A broken planning system hurts architects, developers, communities \u2013 and, ultimately, all of us. The issue of culture is pertinent here. Good planning is a public benefit and it should be welcomed \u2013 even celebrated \u2013 as such. An effective planning system will support, encourage and enable quality architecture and development.<\/span><\/p>\n

We need joined-up places, which, like Alex Ely\u2019s Urcadia concept, focus on connection to nature, sustainable growth and positive design. We need joined-up working approaches, too. Time to hug a planner!<\/span><\/p>\n

The November edition of the AJ is out now. Subscribers can read the digital edition here<\/a>, or copies of the printed magazine can be purchased\u00a0here<\/a>. An AJ subscription is better value \u2013\u00a0click here<\/a>\u00a0to view our packages.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Whatever you think of the Office for Place, which has been scrapped by the new government, its central purpose made a lot of sense: to champion good design and placemaking. You can\u2019t build the number of long-lasting, quality homes the UK needs without focusing on both. Shoddy homes without integrated infrastructure will fail residents and …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2185,"featured_media":764185,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[745],"tags":[101396,65565,1489],"yoast_head":"\nWe can\u2019t build quality homes without good design and placemaking<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Good planning is a public benefit \u2013 an effective planning system will support, encourage and enable quality architecture and development, says Emily Booth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/news\/opinion\/we-cant-build-quality-homes-without-good-design-and-placemaking\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta 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