Our London Programme events focus on how urban design, planning, housing, landscape, public realm, streets and transport issues are dealt with in the capital.
Subscribe to our London Programme for access to a wide range of events. For more information please get in touch.
Wed 31/03/21, Half Day
Online
Related Events: Design Review
For anyone involved in using, participating or managing design reviews to share ideas and updates.
Thu 25/03/21, Half Day
Zoom
Related Events: Focus Groups
Round-table conversation on managing markets. This small session will be an opportunity to talk to others facing similar challenges and learn from each other.
Speakers include:
22 – 23/03/21, 9.30am–12pm
Zoom
Related Events: Streets
This hands-on session is specifically tailored for highway designers and engineers to provide you with a more detailed understanding of how to design SuDS from start to finish within highways schemes.
This event will take place as two separate half day mornings - on 22nd and 23rd March 2021, from 9.30 - 12.00. Spaces are limited and the event will not be recorded so please only book if you can attend both morning events live.
This event is aimed at designers. If you are looking for an introduction to SuDS please book onto our ‘Street SuDS: An Introduction’ event 3rd March 2021.
Agenda includes:
• Design Brief for Feasibility and Concept Design
• Essential Hydraulics: Understanding the differences with conventional drainage
• Designing for Effective Maintenance
• The Use of Permeable Surfaces in Highway SuDS Design
• And more
Thu 18/03/21, Morning, 9.30–11.30am
Zoom
Related Events: Planning
These are a type of development that can require particular design and planning skills. This session will discuss how to consider and manage tall building proposals.
Thu 18/03/21, 2–4.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Planning
Planning as a profession is rooted in the promotion of public health. In this session we take a look back at why health and planning are interlinked and our current policy approach; we investigate how today’s planners can help tackle current health issues by embedding health into planning SPD’s and the evidence needed for planners to promote public health, along with great case studies.
Speakers include:
Tue 16/03/21, 2–4pm
Online
Related Events: Planning
Addressing the climate crisis and investigating how we can make the best use of resources and minimise impact on our environment. This session will look at the policy implications for authorities, the call to action and understand what is needed to develop and deliver Circular Economy Strategies.
Speakers include:
Thu 11/03/21, Half Day (AM), 9.30am–12.30pm
Online
Related Events: Intro Level Courses
Explaining the main issues involved in designing great streets and public spaces.
Speakers include:
Wed 10/03/21, 9.45am–12.45pm
Zoom
Related Events: Delivering Design Quality
How much does design quality cost? This session explores the link between quality and long-term cost savings, benefitting your business plan.
Speakers include:
Thu 04/03/21, 9.30am–12.30pm
Online
Related Events: Green City
Learn about this important way of increasing biodiversity, help clean air and improve the liveability of places.
Speakers include:
Wed 03/03/21, 9.30am–12pm
Online
Related Events: Streets
This introductory session will provide you with a better understanding of SuDS and the benefits they offer. An unmissable session for highway project managers, sponsors and funders interested in learning how we can introduce sustainable urban drainage systems in the urban realm and the key things to consider.
Speakers include:
Tue 02/03/21, 9.45am–1pm
Zoom
Related Events: Planning
Looking at what quality and design mean in the London Plan and how these policies relate to proposed changes at the national level following the National Design Guide, National Design Code and White Paper.
Speakers include:
Thu 25/02/21, 9.30am–12pm
Online
Related Events: Streets & Transport’
An in-depth look at design options for different types of junctions.
Speakers include:
Thu 25/02/21, 2–4pm
Online
Related Events: Streets
Following the rapid deployment of streetspace interventions in 2020 there has been an explosion in the use of camera enforcement for regulating traffic flow and access. In this session we will hear from a selection of boroughs that have used this technology in new or innovative ways in recent months, as well as present some horizon scanning work on how this approach might develop in future.
Please note this event is limited to London borough and TfL officers only
Speakers include:
Wed 24/02/21, 4–5.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Planning
Children are an indicator species for cities: so says Enrique Penalosa, the transformative former mayor of Bogota. In his new book Urban Playground: How child-friendly planning and design can save cities (RIBA), leading advocate and independent scholar Tim Gill fleshes out this insight.
Join Tim and a panel of high-profile experts to discuss why - and how - we should elevate the status of children, as we emerge from the pandemic and create more healthy, inclusive, sustainable cities.
Panel members include:
Non-members please email info@urbandesignlondon.com to request a place.
Tue 09/02/21, Half Day
Related Events: Design Review
Many reviews look at similar issues. In this session we will share experiences and the type of advice given.
Speakers include:
Tue 26/01/21, Half Day, 2–3.30pm
Online
Related Events: Young Practitioner's Network
For members in the first 10 years of their careers to meet and learn from other inspiring young practitioners.
Our Urban Challenge initiative aims to bring together ideas that learn from lockdown to help make places that better fulfil long term objectives around climate protection, resource efficiency, health and equality. Join this interactive workshop on Miro to discuss and test the challenges set and the changes we want to see post lockdown.
Speakers include:
Thu 21/01/21, 9.30 - 12.00
Online
Related Events: Green City
We have ambitious planting targets. This session will look at the policy, standards, guidance and practicalities of delivering trees through development.
Speakers include:
Wed 20/01/21, Full Day, 9.45am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Housing
An update on building construction options, and current best practice approaches. This session will look at the pros and cons of different techniques and materials.
Speakers include:
Tue 19/01/21, 12.30–4.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Planning
An update on our learning from lockdown urban challenge project. Hear about proposals to change the way we think about urban structure, living local, connectivity and buildings to improve long term sustainability, health and equality aims. Find out about individual projects and ideas that could help to bring these changes to life and learn about how behaviours and attitudes to places has been changing this year.
Speakers include:
Mon 18/01/21, 9.30am–12pm
Zoom
This introductory session will provide you with a better understanding of SuDS and the benefits they offer. An unmissable session for highway project managers, sponsors and funders interested in learning how we can introduce sustainable urban drainage systems in the urban realm and the key things to consider.
Speakers include:
Tue 12/01/21, Half Day, 9.30am–12pm
Zoom
Related Events: Planning
We will consider how to use assessments to help us deal with the climate emergency and threat to biodiversity.
Speakers include:
Wed 06/01/21, 10–11.30am
Zoom
Analysing why design quality matters and how it relates to other priorities such as public health, well being, resource efficiency and economic resilience.
Wed 16/12/20, AM, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Green City
This session will look at the various tools available to help us understand, value and manage our environment.
Thu 26/11/20, Full Day
Zoom
Related Events: Intro Level Courses
This introductory session is a must for all teams involved in designing, managing or assessing our built environment. It will set out what urban design is and why it is so important to our communities, as well as the principles behind creating great places investigating replicable and exemplar case studies. This event is a useful refresher or for those just starting out on understanding how our places work, look and feel.
Wed 25/11/20, Full Day, 9.45am–1pm
Zoom
Related Events: Delivering Design Quality
Without the right resources and culture, an organisation cannot deliver good quality results. This session will look at how to ensure you have the organisational set up to ensure you can deliver great places.
Speakers include:
Tue 24/11/20, 9.30am–12pm
Zoom
Related Events: Streets & Transport’
Learning from successful Liveable Neighbourhood projects we will discuss best practice tools and techniques that influence design such as; traffic modelling, community engagement and monitoring.
Speakers include:
Hassan Mohammad, Portfolio Sponsor, TfL
Frances Holliss, London Metropolitan University
Rachel Buck, TfL
Mark Frost Assistant Director Transport, Parking & Environmental Strategy, LB Hounslow
David Sutanto, Associate Director, Steer
Andre Neves, Principal City Planner, TfL
Ben Bost Principal City Planner, TfL
Gesine Junker, Principal Urban Design Advisor, TfL
Laura Georgescu, Urban Design Advisor, TfL
Wed 18/11/20, 9.45am–1pm
Zoom
Related Events: Planning
Small schemes with cumulative local impact will form a vital area of London’s growth going forwards. This session will consider how best to approach such projects, looking at policy, practice and borough approaches.
Speakers include:
Tue 17/11/20, 2–4.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Focus Groups
This session will look at how we plan for, design and deliver useful public spaces in new developments. We will start by unpacking new research on what people want from public space by Max Farrell of the LDN Collective and Tony Leach and Dr Meredith Whitten of Parks for London before discussing the challenges faced in delivering these aspirations. We will then present ideas on how these challenges can be met in the future and use case studies to illustrate where best practice has already achieved great spaces.
Speakers include:
Thu 12/11/20, 9.45am–12.45pm
Zoom
Related Events: Housing
An update on the GLA’s London Plan Guidance, with exercises to help explain how to apply it.
Speakers include:
Wed 11/11/20, 9.30–11.30am
Zoom
Related Events: Planning
Following last week’s publication of the Place Shaping Capacity Survey, Matt Ruddy will join us and present the key findings: how prepared local authorities are for implementing local plans, where skills are lacking and what impact Covid has had on which skills they need. The survey includes interesting data about number and types of projects reviewed, and shows an encouraging and up to date overall picture of Design Review in London.
Thu 22/10/20, Half Day, 2–4pm
Zoom
Related Events: Young Practitioner's Network
For members in the first 10 years of their career; to meet and learn from other inspiring young practitioners.
In this session we will be looking at the Planning White Paper proposals and what skills and experience young planners may need in order to successfully apply them.
Speakers include:
Non-members wishing to attend please email us to reserve your place.
Wed 21/10/20, 9.30am–12pm
Zoom
Related Events: Streets & Transport
We will look at what people think of the bus service, the impact of Covid 19 and current projects and emerging ideas to help create a better-connected bus network and more reliable and welcoming service with improved journey times.
Speakers include:
Tue 20/10/20, 9.30am–12pm
Zoom
Related Events: Councillor's Network
How does the planning white paper affect Councillors? A round-table discussion on the potential impact of Planning for the Future in our neighbourhoods and the role of the planning committee.
Non-members wishing to attend please email us to reserve your place.
Fri 16/10/20, 9.30-11.30 & 13.30-15.30
Zoom
Related Events: Streets
Changes to London streets are helping prevent a car dominated recovery and are supporting people to walk, cycle and enjoy using their local streets. Now we need to think carefully about how to consolidate, change or remove these changes. This session will look at how best to move to the next stage, hearing ideas from TfL, with opportunities for delegates to discuss and respond.
Agenda
09:30 Update – what has been happening to streets this year? Joe Lewis – TfL, Giulio Ferrini & Ben Addy – Sustrans
10:30 How have the changes been working? – Lessons from monitoring, Rachel Buck – TfL
Comfort break
11:00 How has engagement been going? Kerry Meehan/Peter Fletcher/Iain Killingbeck – TfL
11:30 Challenges faced and lessons learnt, Paul Lavelle and Laura Georgescu, TfL
Lunch break
14:00 A future strategy
15:00 Discussion and break out rooms
Thu 15/10/20, 09:45-12:00 & 13:30-15:00
Zoom
Related Events: Delivering Design Quality
A look at tools and techniques that can help ensure projects deliver quality in planning, urban design and project management.
Speakers include:
Jane Briginshaw, Design England
David Morton, Senior Associate, HTA Design
Kathy MacEwen, Design Review Consultant
David Birkbeck, Chief Executive, Design for Homes
Chris Twinn, Founder, Twinn sustainability Innovation
Julie Godefroy, Sustainability Consultant
Susie Diamond, Founding Partner Inkling LLP
Ronan Leyden – Head of Sustainable Places, Bio-Regional
Negar Mihanyar, Associate Director, Hawkins Brown
Lewis Hubbard - Developer Infrastructure Coordination Lead, GLA
Kruti Patel, Metropolitan Workshop
Wed 14/10/20, 9.30–11am
Zoom
This session will focus on how to create robust planning applications, to help quantify, assess and mitigate development impacts on the Underground, Overground, DLR, Trams, Buses and TfL Rail. Delegates will learn techniques to ensure that new planning applications support the Mayor’s Transport Strategy and comply with the new London Plan.
Speakers include:
Mon 12/10/20, 9.30am–1.20pm
Zoom
Related Events: Planning Housing Streets
This is the first event in our 4-part Urban Challenge initiative through which we hope to highlight and support ideas to change the way we design, manage our built environment.
Our key-note speakers will set out the main urban challenges facing us as we emerge from the Covid era.
We will also hear about new research and evidence explaining how we used urban areas during lockdown and our attitudes to the buildings and places around us.
Lastly, we will introduce our challenge groups – which will develop and test ideas over the course of this initiative. There will be 4 groups looking at town centres, living local, buildings and city structures.
Challengers
Philip Graham, GLA
Alex Williams, TfL
Joanna Averley, MHCLG
Scene Setters
David Christie, TfL
Prof. Matthew Carmona, UCL
Ben Page, Ipsos MORI
Fanny Blanc, LSE
Prof. Ken Gibb, UK Collaborative Centre for Housing
Max Farrell, LDN Collective
If you are not a member and wish to attend please email us to reserve your place.
Thu 01/10/20, Full Day
Zoom
Related Events: Housing
From older persons housing to co-living for young professionals we will look at a range of lifestyles and the types of buildings and environments each might need.
Tue 29/09/20, Half day PM, 2–4.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Planning
An opportunity to discuss the implications of the White Paper: Planning for the Future for London
Speakers Include:
Thu 24/09/20, Full Day
Zoom
Related Events: Streets & Transport
This session will consider the new national Cycling and Walking Plan and unpack LTN1/20, the revised national guidance on designing for cyclists. Given that Government funding will only be available where cycle infrastructure design is in line with the guidance, this training will benefit all those involved in cycle schemes.
Wed 23/09/20, 2–4.30pm
Palestra
Related Events: Design Review
An opportunity to discuss the implications of the White Paper on Design Review
Speakers include:
Thu 17/09/20, 9:45 - 12:30 & 13:30 - 15:30
Zoom
Looking at the fundamentals of designing great homes and neighbourhoods.
Speakers include:
• Eleni Sathi, Associate, Hunt Thompson Associates
• David Birkbeck, Design for Homes
• Mellis Haward, Archio
• Mark McGechan, Director, RM_A Architects
• Paul O'Neill, Director, Bryden Wood (Architects)
Learning outcomes:
• Understand the key characteristics of good housing design
• Looking at three levels of development:
1. Wider - Being able to relate a development to the wider neighbourhood – knitting the development into the wider context
2. Site - Understanding how parts of a development work together – outside spaces, semi private and private spaces, tenure/mixed use and housing types plus common areas inside buildings
3. Home - Identifying aspects of good design in the home environment.
• Examining two case study examples looking at all levels
• Breakout discussions on all three aspects and learning from key feedback (suggest look at Housing Design awards videos and drawings).
Wed 16/09/20, 9:30 - 12:00
Zoom
Related Events: Streets & Transport
Streets are used for movement but they are also important places for people to enjoy. This session will showcase recent streetscape projects from around the UK that demonstrate best practice in integrated design.
Tue 15/09/20, 9:30 - 12:00
Zoom
Related Events: Planning
An important part of pro-active planning, as promoted in the recent Government Planning White Paper. We will consider how to create appraisals that have real impact and could help you with future zoning work.
Speakers include:
• Fabrizio Matillana, LB Enfield• Hugo Nowell, Director, Urban Initiative Studio
• Jane Manning, Director, Allies and Morrison
• Jon Herbert, Director, Troy Planning + Design
• Rachel Jones, LB Kingston
Tue 07/07/20
Zoom
This introductory session will provide you with a better understanding of SuDS and the benefits they offer. An unmissable session for highway project managers, sponsors and funders interested in learning how we can introduce sustainable urban drainage systems in the urban realm and the key things to consider.
Speakers Include:
Wed 01/07/20, Full Day, 9.30–11am
Related Events: Streets & Transport
We will provide an update on the Liveable Neighbourhood Programme
and introduce the Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) Programme and best practice
guidance on LTN, School Streets.
Speakers Include:
Tue 30/06/20, 9.30–11.30am
Related Events: Streets & Transport
A chance to reflect and discuss what we’ve learnt throughout our weekly ‘Managing Streets during Lockdown’ events and what this means in practice for recovery and the future.
Speakers Include:
Fri 26/06/20
Related Events: Streets
Our lockdown streets series delves into the details and looks at the range of materials and street furniture designers can specify when reallocating highway space to provide social distancing for people who walk, cycle and use our public transport system in response to the Covid-19 pandemic as we move from emergency to temporary and permanent improvements to our streets
Speakers Include:
Thu 25/06/20, 10am–12pm
Related Events: Green City
We will run through common landscaping options, where they are best used and their pros and cons.
Speakers Include:
Wed 24/06/20, 10–11.30am
Related Events: Young Practitioner's Network
We’ll be hearing from a range of industry professionals about how being creative in this period of uncertainty is supporting them and their practice.
Speakers include
Fri 19/06/20, 9.30–11am
Related Events: Streets
Considering how best to ensure changed public spaces are inclusive and inviting for all.
Agenda:
Wed 17/06/20, 10.30am–3.30pm
Related Events: Housing
We will look at the pitfalls and advantages of different housing types and under what circumstances they might work best. Do we need a re-think following lockdown?
Agenda
Changing Times - Yolande Barnes (UCL)
Homes & Neighbourhoods Lockdown Survey Results - UDL
Typologies for the Future - Phil Hamilton (Peter Barber Architects), Clare Murray (Levitt Bernstein), Euan Durston (Weston Williamson), Francis Holliss (Cass School of Architecture) & Roland Karthus (Matter Architecture)
Policy & Tools - Alex Ely (Mae Architects)
Panel Discussion: Housing Typologies in changing times
Fri 12/06/20, 9.30–11am
Related Events: Streets
Looking at the location, extent and design of new cycling infrastructure being put in now, to help prevent a car dominated recovery.
Agenda
Planning the cycle space network - Gordon Webster (TfL)
A whistle stop tour of current changes in cycle spaces - Giulio Ferrini (Sustrans)
How people are using new cycling spaces - Michael O’Hanlon and Seyi Adewole (DSDHA)
Designing new cycle spaces: junctions to delineators - Brian Deegan (Urban Movement) & Mark Strong (Transport Initiatives)
Thu 11/06/20, 10am–1pm
Related Events: Planning
Two vital skills for planners, this popular session will cover the fundamentals of negotiation and how to get consistent benefits from viability assessments. A must for everyone in the built environment.
Trainer
Simon Horton, Negotiation Mastery
Agenda
Getting Your Win
Stepping Into Their Shoes
Dealing With Deadlock
Complex, Multi-Party, Dynamic Negotiations.
Tue 09/06/20, 10am–12pm
Related Events: Councillor's Network
This network event will share latest research, guidance and best practice, with a briefing on how boroughs are managing streets to support their Covid-19 responses.
Agenda
Understanding how people use changed streets and design options to support best behaviour - Deborah Saunt (DSDHA)
Design considerations for different types of school streets - John Dales (Urban Movement)
TfL School Guidance - Rachel Buck (TfL)
National Covid-19 response guidance for local authorities, Neil Manthorpe
Brixton Town Centre & Working with BIDs - Joel de Mowbray (LB Lambeth)
Fri 05/06/20, 9.30–11am
Related Events: Streets
This session will focus on changes made in the often complex environment of our town centres and look at how deliveries and parking have been operating during lockdown and what might happen during recovery.
Agenda
Town Centre Needs, Steve Norris
Designing Multi-use High Streets, David Makenna
How Leicester is making streets better for people, Cllr Adam Clarke
East Street, Bristol, Michael Cowdy
The Lambeth Approach, Joel de Mowbray
Bringing high streets back at the heart of our communities, Saskia Huizinga
Tue 02/06/20, 9.45–11.45am
Related Events: Green City
Children using, enjoying and playing outside improves their health and well-being and helps them to value their environment – this is more important than ever as we live through the pandemic. We will look at how to create great places for different kinds of play.
Agenda:
On Streets: Children, play and community – Dr Wendy Russell (University of Gloucestershire)Nature of Play – Tim Gill (Author and Researcher)
Design Principles for Play in High Density Developments - Lucía Cerrada Morato (LB Tower Hamlets)
Play Projects: Principles in Practice - Richard Peckham (Shape Landscape Architecture
Urban Projects : Delivery & Outcomes - Liza Fior (MUF)
Making London a Child Friendly City - Anna Mansfield (Publica)
Play in & Beyond the Pandemic - Dinah Bornat (ZCD Architects)
Reviewing
Play – Kathy MacEwan (UDL)
Fri 22/05/20, 9.30–11.30am
Related Events: Streets
Fourth in our series on streets during the Corona Virus pandemic. This time we will look at the design options for temporary changes.
Agenda includes:
Thu 21/05/20
Related Events: Planning
Discussing what planning in London should be aiming to achieve and how this chimes with national and/or local objectives.
Speakers Include:
o Andy Higham, LB Enfield
o Jonathan Wade , Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
o Nick Calder, LB Wandsworth
o Kathy MacEwen, UDL
o Mathew White, Herbert Smith Freehills
Fri 15/05/20, 9.30–10.30am
Related Events: Streets
Third in our series on streets during the Corona Virus pandemic. This time we will look at the importance of play for children at this time, and consider how streets can be managed to support this, particularly during lock down release phases.
Speakers to include:
Thu 14/05/20, 10:00 - 11:00 + 14:00 - 16:15
Related Events: Planning
A fascinating look back into how our city has developed, while learning lessons for how we plan for the future.
Speakers Include:
Tue 12/05/20, 9.45am–12pm
Related Events: Intro Level Courses
An opportunity to learn what urban design is and the basic principles behind creating great places.
Agenda includes:
National
Design Guidance, Esther Kurland, UDL
Street design basics, Paul Dodd, UDL
Housing design fundamentals, Susan May, UDL
Wed 06/05/20, 09:45 - 11:45 & 15:00 - 15:45
Related Events: Delivering Design Quality
A practical look at ways of assessing how your organisation manages design quality and how this could be improved.
Learning Outcomes
· Provide overview of the approach to the management of design quality - what is the story so far?
· Experience in practice – from a range of organisations. What issues have arisen with quality management? How successful has it been? What practical lessons can we learn?
· What are the trends moving forwards, what practical tools are there to help? How flexible can plans be in times of organisational or wider change?
Fri 01/05/20, 9.30–10.30am
Related Events: Streets
A network meeting for those who wish to share ideas and experiences. In this session we will look forward, discussing ideas about managing streets during potential lockdown release stages
Tue 28/04/20, 10.00 am - 12.30 pm
Related Events: Streets & Transport’
Looking at different design approaches to create more equitable streets.
Fri 24/04/20, Half day, 9.30–10.30am
Related Events: Streets
A network meeting for those who wish to share ideas and experiences. Some places such as New Zealand, Oakland and New York have apparently been thinking of ways to help make streets safer and more attractive for essential journeys by active modes, and to create more space for safe exercise. We will discuss whether similar conversations happening in London.
Thu 23/04/20, Half Day
Related Events: Focus Groups
Round-table conversation on managing regeneration in central London. This small session will be an opportunity to talk to others facing similar challenges and learn from each other.
Tue 21/04/20, Half Day
Related Events: Planning
Considering ways to set out how many new homes will be needed in an area and how to help ensure these will be delivered.