Pages under construction

What is a Sustainable Community - and would I want to live there?

This was a Building Centre Trust and audacity.org event to mark Architecture Week, 23 June 2003, at The Building Centre, London. The success of the event prompted us to organise a series, titled Selling the Thames Gateway.

The Thames Gateway is the biggest development challenge in Britain today. It will be the testing ground for the plan to create Sustainable Communities - the commitment made by the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. The Thames Gateway will be the measure of the popularity and affordability of sustainable development.

Much publicised demonstration projects like BedZed or the Greenwich Millennium village provide prototypes for development. The construction industry is alive with talk of prefabrication and microflats.

Meanwhile the Mori survey commissioned by the Commission for Architecture in the Built Environment confirmed what we all know to be true - People want the living space of suburbia and large old terraces.

This seminar explores the awkward fact that when most people surveyed want gardens and car parking, planning policy and our most pioneering architects are pursuing Carbon Neutral, high density, pedestrianised urbanism as sustainable development. If popular aspirations don't matter then what does sustainability mean, and why talk about consultation?

Speakers

Michael Owens, Head of Partnership Development at the LDA

Michael Owens, Head of Partnership Development at the London Development Agency, presents the development prospects for The Thames Gateway. These are building on a strategy being developed by The GLA Group (the Mayor of London, the London Development Agency and Transport for London) and Thames Gateway London Partnership (which represents the East London Boroughs), working with Government, English Partnerships, the Housing Corporation and the NHS.

Miffa Salter, director of Urbancanda

Miffa Salter, director of Urbancanda, examines the case for public decision making in the context of the drive for higher urban densities. She focuses in particular on the challenges of selling the policy makers dream, as well as highlighting the opportunities for a more informed dialogue between public and professional.

Paul Ruyssevelt, director at Energy for Sustainable Development Ltd

Paul Ruyssevelt, Built Environment director at Energy for Sustainable Development Ltd, spoke on the prospects for Carbon Neutral development at the Thames Gateway, and how emissions reduction can be a liberating rather than a constraining experience.

James Heartfield, director of www.audacity.org

James Heartfield, director of www.audacity.org, questions whether there is too much or too little development? He considers environmentalism, and the end of social democracy's promise to house the workers.

Special thanks go to David Birkbeck of Design for Homes for chairing the event. His continued advice and support for the series is appreciated.

To find a choice of architects for your housing project click on the Design for Homes logo for Architect Search, the leading online resource of images and information in the UK. This is a service provided by Design for Homes, who champion the best of the residential industry - its consultants, homebuilders and suppliers. Their aim is to showcase good designs to housebuilders, social developers and private clients to highlight quality in the industry. Backed by a small group of sponsors they can provide services free to clients and at reduced cost to architectural practices. This is worth a browse to see the talent on offer.

This website is maintained by abley@audacity.org and all material is Copyright © 2004 Audacity Limited where not copyright of the originator.