Urban Design London

Tue 11/04/23, 10am–12.30pm
Palestra

Working with Barratt homes to consider design approaches to meet new fire safety requirements for tall buildings.

This event will take place in-person.

Thu 30/03/23, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Building Homes

This session helps you draw lessons to feed into future development, evaluating both homes and the places they help create.

The agenda includes:

• Understanding how work on lessons learned has developed in recent years and how integral it is to the housing development sector.
• Exploring how to develop a strategy for gathering and embedding lessons learned.
• Learning from case studies of how organisations have designed, gathered and evaluated housing development.
• Understanding how we can make lessons learned count for our communites now and into the future.

Wed 29/03/23, 9.30am–12.30pm
Palestra
Related Events: UDL In-Person

Join us on our site visit where we will look at different approaches to the delivery of green infrastructure. Setting off from Palestra we will take in SuDs schemes in Bankside before we cross the Millennium Bridge to St. Paul’s where we will consider the success of different planting specifications. We will walk through the City taking in Aldwych and the Strand before finishing at Somerset House.

Your host for the morning will be Howard Gray from Green Blue Urban.

Note: Please ensure you are committed to attend this in-demand event before you book a place. If you would like to book onto this event, please email us to join the waiting list.

Tue 21/03/23, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Urban Futures

Why it is hard to change established approaches and suggestions on how best to move thinking along.

Thu 16/03/23, 10am–12pm
Zoom
Related Events: Understanding London

Considering London’s social diversity, how this has shaped the city and how best to celebrate our cultural richness in the future.

The agenda includes:

• Understanding how the many social groups inhabiting London over time have shaped the world city we experience today.
• Learning from case studies explaining how groups have shaped green spaces, the urban realm and regeneration.
• Exploring how to support our rich cultural diversity through place shaping going forwards.

Thu 16/03/23, 2–4pm
Zoom
Related Events: LoTAG at UDL

A review of best practice in modelling and monitoring scheme and policy effectiveness in an era of uncertainty.

Please note this event is limited to London borough and TfL officers only.

This event has been kindly sponsored by LoTAG and SYSTRA.

Agenda

14.00 Welcome & Overview, (Mark Frost, Fern Consulting Ltd)

14:10 National picture: Predicting the future in an era of uncertainty - approaches and tools, Tom van Vuren (Veitch Lister) & Malcolm Neil (Systra)

14:40 Modelling and monitoring scheme impacts – emerging best practice in London, Laura Putt (TfL)

15:00 Monitoring LTNs in Islington – the good, the bad and the ugly, Ayanda Collins (LB Islington)

15:20 (TBC)

15:40 Discussion

16.00 Close

Tue 14/03/23, 10am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Green London

Looking at trends towards a retrofit landscape and the impact this is likely to have on the built environment, considering how best to measure, assess and deliver buildings that are water and energy efficient.

Thu 09/03/23, 10am–1pm
Zoom
Related Events: Place Tech

Considering the types of data built environment practitioners might wish to use and how to gather, collate and map - using them for plans, strategies, design and programmes.

Agenda:

10.00 Welcome & Overview – How can data help create great places?

• Where is the activity focussed and where does work still need to be done? May-N Leow, DLUHC

10.20 Demystifying data – The who, what and where

Who is producing useful data, what are the different types and where can we access it?

• Silviu Pirvu, MEGA Optimal Cities
• Dr Chlump Chatkupt, Placemake.io
• Q&A

Comfort break

• Sandy Kidd, GLAAS
• Ananya Jaidev, GLA
• Paul Downey, DLUHC
• Q&A

Comfort break

11.40 How can we work with data?

Looking at the know-how – how data can be gathered, collated and mapped so that it is useful for the end application, learning from case studies.

• Euan Mills, Blocktype
• Carmel Huntley, Watford BC
• Simon Nielsen, TfL
• Q&A

Comfort break

12.20 Exercise & feedback discussion

• Short exercise using Slido, looking at types of data delegates would find useful, Led by UDL

12.35 Using data across the sector

• How can data help the sector to work well as a whole? Where do the opportunities lie and what is happening to allow this to be achieved? Milan Bogunovic, DLUHC

13.00 Close

Thu 02/03/23, 10am–12pm
Zoom

Outline planning permissions provide some certainty to developers, encouraging them to invest in the early work behind buildings being created.  But outline applications give very little certainty of the quality and impact of what will be built for communities and local authorities. In this roundtable session we will discuss the pros and cons of both types of application, current trends in their use and how best to handle them.

Tue 28/02/23, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Practical Planning

Some planners seem to be having a hard time managing not only casework within limited public sector resources, but also dealing with an increase in intimidatory behaviour and tactics from applicants and developers. This session will discuss the experience of planners and the impact on their mental health when dealing with applications through the planning process and what we can do about it.

Thu 23/02/23, 10.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Place Design

Explaining the range of design tools you might come across and explaining how they fit together, for example how design codes relate to masterplanning and policy plans.

Agenda

10.00 Welcome & Overview, Paul Dodd (UDL)

10:10 Integrating design review into local planning processes, Deborah Denner (Frame Projects)

10:40 Preparing planning guidance for high density living, Lucia Cerrada (LB Tower Hamlets)

11:10 Break

11:20 Coding for large housing sites, Joe Williams (Metropolitan Workshop)

11:50 Coding and development management, Diego Grinberg (Hawkins Brown)

12.30 Close

Wed 22/02/23, 10am–12pm
Zoom
Related Events: Building Homes

Covering the practicalities of home delivery – reviewing design, setting up partnerships, procurement and managing relationships.

The agenda includes:

• Learning about the key challenges for housing delivery with an overview of the tools and approaches which are used to bring development in within time, cost and quality requirements.
• Understanding how and where the design is developed through the delivery process from inception to completion, learning about the key points where the design is influenced and changes can be made.
• Using partnerships – exploring what to look out for, setting clear objectives for the scheme and evaluating your partners. Practical tips and pitfalls to avoid and support available to help.
• Exploring how to get the best from procurement, the key points where the process needs to be shaped for both design consultants and contractors and how to do this.
• Learning from the delivery journey using case studies, with particular focus on managing the relationships to achieve success.

Tue 21/02/23, 1–3.30pm

These high-level briefings will discuss current policy research and best practice from across the country. The sessions will support cabinet members, planning committee and ward members interested in the delivery of local design codes and well-designed neighbourhoods and explore the role in championing design codes and good design.

This event will be held online.

Thu 09/02/23, 10am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Understanding London

Looking at what makes London so green, and how this legacy can grow and be enhanced in the future.

Agenda

10.00 Welcome and Overview, Susan May (UDL)

• London’s Green Spaces, Christopher Laine (Historic England)
• Q&A

10:20 Parks, Present and Future, Tony Leach (Parks for London), Max Farrell (LDN Collective) & Stephen Bromberg (Lee Valley Regional Park Authority)

• Q&A

10:45 Garden Spaces and places, Mark Cridge (London National Park City) & Sue Vincent (UDL)

• Q&A
• Comfort break

11:20 Blue spaces, Victoria Boorman (GLA)

• Q&A

11:45 Maintaining Green and Blue Lifelines, Abby Crisostomo (GLA)

12:15 Wrap up and close

Wed 08/02/23, 10am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Urban Futures

Continuing our conversations looking at innovation to create approaches to city planning design and management that help us meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. Have a look at output form past challenge events here.

Agenda

10.00 Welcome and Overview, Esther Kurland (UDL)

• An update to the Urban Challenge and introduction to the Multi-Timed City, Esther Kurland (UDL)

10:20 How cities are changing, Yolande Barnes (UCL)

10:40 The role of meanwhile within cities, Petra Marko (Milk & Marko&Placemakers)

Break

11:00 Healthy, sociable, vibrant and inclusive places, Natasha Reid (Matter Space Soul)

11:20 Fearless streets and places, Nivedita Vijayan (Jacobs)

11:40 How to make the most of city centres, Lucy Minyo (Momentum Transport)

12:00 Discussion

12:30 Wrap up & close

Thu 02/02/23, 10–11.30am
Site Visit
Related Events: UDL In-Person

This visit will explore Arup’s industry-first immersive facility. It is designed to change the way designers, clients and stakeholders can experience, test and improve their designs by allowing you to understand how decisions impact the experience of a place.

Agenda

10.00 Welcome with Arup, Susan May and David Edge

10.10 Divide into Group A and B tours (40mins each)

11:30 Q&A and Finish

Wed 01/02/23, 10am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: UDL In-Person

A discussion on how we can best approach fire safety requirements for buildings.

This session will be held online.

Tue 31/01/23, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Street Design

Looking at how to create welcoming, practical, and safe spaces that take people where they want to go.

Thu 26/01/23, 5.30–7.30pm
Related Events: Networks

For members in the first 10 years of their careers to meet and learn from other inspiring young practitioners.

This event will take place in person.

Wed 25/01/23
Zoom
Related Events: Place Tech

A round-up of the way new tech is changing the way we use and manage places, looking at the opportunities this may give to curate uses, access arrangements and activities over time.

The agenda includes:

• Understanding the growing focus on place keeping, and how digitisation is transforming place management.
• Learning the different ways digital methods are being used.
• Exploring how digital tools for place management are put in place and how teams have resourced this work.
• Understanding where the trends are leading and what role we might see for place tech going forward.

Agenda

10.00 Welcome and Overview – Place Making to Place Keeping, Silviu Pirvu (MEGA & Optimal Cities)

10.20 What digital methods are being used? Christina Kimbrough (TfL)

Q&A

Comfort Break

Fredi Nonyelu (Brite Yellow) & Flora McFarlane (Viva City)

Q&A

Delegate exercise led by UDL – what are you seeing and exploring.

11.20 Next steps for digital tools and methods - How have teams put digital methods into action, and how have they resourced this work? Where are the trends are leading and what role we might see for place tech going forward?

Speaker and delegate discussion.

11.45 Wrap up and close

Tue 24/01/23, 10.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Green London

Looking at the range of building construction methods and materials available and comparing their carbon use and lifetime resource efficiency, including the importance of understanding embodied carbon.

Agenda

10:30 Welcome & Overview

10:35 Edge Policy Proposals – An Introduction, Simon Foxell (The Architects Practice)

10:45 Delivering essential infrastructure and transport, Keith Clarke (Infrastructure Advisor)

Discussion

11:05 Measuring, declaring and eradicating carbon emissions, Chris Twinn (Twinn Sustainability)

Discussion

11:25 Creating a resilient built and natural environment, Dr Richard Simmons (UCL)

Discussion

11:45 Break

11:55 Design and construction performing in the public interest, Simon Foxell (The Architects Practice)

12:15 Urban Challenge Policy Proposals, Esther Kurland (UDL)

12.30 Wrap up & Close

Thu 19/01/23, 10am–12pm
Zoom
Related Events: LoTAG at UDL

What can we deliver using our collective knowledge and how do we make it about collaboration rather than confrontation?

Please note this event is limited to London borough and TfL officers only.

This event has been kindly sponsored by LoTAG and City Science.

Wed 18/01/23, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Practical Planning

How best to present design issues at appeal looking at relevant case studies and approaches for written representation, informal hearings or enquiry appeals.

Tue 17/01/23, 10am–12pm
Zoom
Related Events: Building Homes

This session explores the practical experience of practitioners using design tools to help create great places - including design briefs, masterplans, design codes and design review.

Wed 11/01/23, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Place Design

Discussing ways in which they have shaped the delivery of good design (be it streets / housing and regeneration) and wondered whether you might like to contribute something from the perspective of the place shaping and capacity.

Tue 10/01/23, 10.30am–12pm
Zoom
Related Events: Networks

For anyone involved in using, participating or managing design reviews to share ideas and updates.

A chance for those involved in Design Review to virtually meet and swap stories and ideas – what was your best review of 2022? How will NPPF changes effect DR? Are we seeing new design trends? And how to tell if applicants are playing tricks or setting traps?

This session will be held online (10:30 - 12:00).

Thu 08/12/22, 10am–12.10pm
Zoom
Related Events: Street Design

This session offers delegates practical advice on a range of street design issues and innovative construction details. Do contact us if you would like to share details from your project work. We are keen to look at aspects of lighting, street furniture, hard detailing, pocket parks and cycling infrastructure.

Agenda

10.00 Welcome & Overview

10.05 Street trees & Wayfinding, Paul Campbell (Brighton & Hove CC)

10.30 Evolution of the side road entry treatment, Ian Hingley (Urban Movement)

11.00 Detailing Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, Giulio Ferrini (Sustrans)

11.30 Designing the C9: London’s newset cycleway, Jure Hotko (TfL)

12.00 Street Furniture in London, Habib Khan (Meristem Design)

12.10 Close

Tue 06/12/22, Zoom, 9.30am–12.15pm

Exploring how boroughs can adopt FORS & CLOCS into their contracts and operations to manage work related road risk, with presentations and workshop activities to help understand the benefits of doing so and how to overcome any challenges.

The event is aimed at all boroughs, from early adopters of FORS & CLOCS who can share best practice to those looking to do more to manage work related road risk as part of their next Local Implementation Plan.

Agenda

9.45 Welcome from the Chair, Susan May (UDL)

9.50 Introduction - Why managing work related road risk is important for healthy streets and Vision Zero? Amy Pidwill (TfL)

10.05 Construction Logistics & Community Safety: an overview of the CLOCS national safety standard, Andy Brooke & Sophie Saint (South East Centre for the Built Environment Limited)

10.25 Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme: an overview of the FORS quality standard, Glen Davies (Sopra Steria)

10.45 Managing WRRR compliance at TfL, Jason Ross (TfL)

11.05 Comfort Break

11.15 Borough knowledge sharing workshop session

12.00 Feedback, wrap up, and close

12.15 Open Surgery with the SMEs

Thu 01/12/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Understanding London

A look back at how key built infrastructure projects have shaped the city and the potential impact of future projects.

The agenda includes:

• Understanding how infrastructure forms the lifeblood of London and how it links to the capital's development.
• Exploring the development of services – how these have enabled waves of development and changed the landscape of London.
• Learning about the connectivity of London – how railways, tubes, buses, streets and air travel contributed to development and how current innovation is setting a course for the future, with focus on key projects.
• Bringing the lessons of history together learning lessons for development into the future.

Wed 30/11/22, 10am–1pm
Zoom
Related Events: Building Homes

Looking at the different types of homes you may wish to see built, which are needed where and top design tips for each, including an update on small sites.

The agenda includes:

• Understanding why the right type of housing matters, learning what we mean by ‘type’ and form of development.
• Exploring the relationship between housing type and the site and wider context.
• Learning about the relationship between housing type and client groups.
• A focus on small sites and how they can provide a vital contribution to appropriate housing types and meeting the needs of a range of client groups.

Tue 29/11/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Street Design

Providing engineers with in-depth information on how to deliver sustainable urban drainage systems as an integrated aspect of highway works.

Thu 24/11/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Understanding London

A look at London’s amazing built heritage with discussions on how best to preserve and enhance it.

Agenda

9.45 Registration, Susan May

10.00 Welcome and Overview – London’s built heritage through time, Colin Thom

• How and where has London’s built heritage developed through the centuries?
• Q&A

10.25 London Legacies, Prof. Michael Hebbert

• What types of buildings and structures form the legacy of our royal, cultural and faith traditions, and how has this continued today?
• Q&A

10.50 Housing London, Dr Manolo Guerici and Prof. Gordana Fontana-Giusti

• Learning about London’s great housing heritage through time – which types of homes have stood the test of time and why, what lessons can we draw for the future?
• Q&A

11.15 Comfort break

11.30 Civic Heritage, Billy Reading

• What is the built legacy of government?
• Q&A

11.55 Past, Present, and Future Legacy, Dr Nicola Stacey and Darryl Chen

• Drawing from the richness of London’s built heritage – how this can be a living legacy?
• How can we continue to inspire and breathe life into London through the heritage we create into the future?

12.40 Close

Tue 22/11/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Green London

A look at innovative ways we can plan for and nurture green infrastructure inside and outside our homes and workplaces.

Wed 16/11/22, 9.45am–12.40pm
Zoom
Related Events: Place Tech

Exploring the best ways of using tech to get people involved, with case studies and discussions on when to choose which approaches.

Agenda

9.45 Registration, Susan May

10.00 Welcome and Overview – What does digital engagement have to offer? (6 minutes presentations)

• What do we mean by ‘engagement’?, Hana Loftus
• The government case for digitising engagement, Bridget Wilkins
• Q&A

10.45 Who is working with digital methods and which groups are they reaching? (8 minutes each presentation)

• What range of digital engagement methods can be used within planning, transport and housing teams?, Michaele Packer and Chris McKinney
• Q&A

Break

• What are the range of diverse groups who can be reached? Learning from current practice?, Sophia de Sousa

11.45 Developing and using digital tools (10 mins presentation)

• What is the process of developing digital tools – who is involved, how are tools procured and how are they funded and managed?, Louisa Facchino-Stack and Christopher Kirk
• Q&A

12.15 What do digital methods achieve for communities? (10 mins)

• What benefit does digital engagement bring to communities, and how does it contribute to thriving places in the longer term?, Chris Standish and Jack Curran
• Q&A

12.40 Close

Thu 10/11/22, 12–1.30pm
Zoom

Do we have the right support in place to help resource Local Planning Authorities to deliver growth as set out by government? What is the latest on the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, Investment Zones and the direction of travel for planning and the built environment? Join us to discuss these important topics with the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities and the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Please note this event is only open to Councillors.

Agenda

12.00 Welcome & Introductions, Cllr. Sue Vincent (UDL) & Anna Rose (PAS)

12.15 Levelling Up Update, Joanna Averley (DLUHC)

12.30 Planning to Level Up, Richard Blyth (RTPI)

12.45 Questions & Discussions

13.15 Championing Good Design, Cllr Dr Tumi

Hawkins (South Cambridgeshire District Council)

13.25 Next Steps & 21st February Meeting Agenda

13.30 Close

Wed 09/11/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Practical Planning

How to manage the sometimes-conflicting demands of the planning system including top down housing targets alongside bottom up community and character driven plans and proposals, co-design and community review panels.

Tue 08/11/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Place Design

Explaining the importance of understanding the context for any scheme, looking at how design approaches should vary and how toolkits for small sites can help.

Agenda

10.00 Welcome, Paul Dodd

10.10 Planning with Context: A Policy Overview, Alan Smithies

10.40 Designing with Context: Context Analysis Studies, Victoria Hinton

11.10 Break

11.20 Small Sites: Becontree Estate, Mellis Haward

11.50 Tall Buildings: Keybridge Vauxhall, Alfredo Caraballo

12.20 Historic Environments: Hackney Gardens, Charles Jabre

12.50 Close

Thu 03/11/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Practical Planning

A practical look at dealing with these tricky processes including successful, and perhaps not so successful case studies, how best to convert retail to residential, all considering design criteria as set out in the GDPO.

Agenda

10.00 Welcome and Introduction

10.10 Deregulation and Planning: Permitted development, Dr Ben Clifford (UCL)

10.35 What Planning Authorities need to consider, Ahsan Ghafoor, (PIN)

10.50 Prior Approvals in London’s planning system, Peter Kemp (GLA)

11.35 Borough experiences, Jonathan McClue (LB Camden) and Chris Stacey (LB Croydon)

12.30 Close

Wed 02/11/22, 9.45am–12.30pm
Related Events: Place Design

Helping you understand how you can visually present your ideas in succinct and creative ways to aid discussion and interpretation of place. This is a practical session and you will be helped to produce your own drawing. 

This event is in-person, please remember to keep us updated if your plans change, to help us plan catering or allow fellow members to take your place.

09.30 Welcome & Refreshments

10.00 Introduction

• Why draw?
• Tools & techniques
• How we see
• Some rule

10.30 Sketching in perspective

• Single point perspective
• Two-point perspective

11.30 Composing a sketch / Urban sketching

12.30 Close

Tue 01/11/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Urban Futures

Fresh ways at looking at shared, active, and sustainable movement of people, goods, and information.

9.30 Welcome and Urban Challenge update

9:45 Next generation road users charging

• Addressing the Triple Challenge of air quality, climate emergency and traffic congestion through road user charging, Maryam Shakiba
• Complementary measures to support potential future road user charging, Rachel Buck
• Discussion

10.30 Tea break

10.45 Innovations that council work with RUC

• Services and the City – how RUC could impact service models, Ben Reason
• Neighbourhood service hubs and other logistics innovations, Ian Brooker
• Responsive Bus Schemes and future Mobility Hibs, Mark Anderson
• Cargo bike deliveries, Charlie Couve
• Discussion

12.30 Close

Tue 01/11/22, 10am–12.30pm
Palestra
Related Events: UDL In-Person

Understanding the different aspects of evaluating Net Zero Carbon home design for planners and clients with practical application for your day to day work, in partnership with the London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI).

Led by LETI representatives Chris Twinn, Principal, Twinn Sustainability Innovation and Zoe Watson, Sustainability Specialist, Levitt Bernstein and facilitated by Penelope Tollitt.

9.45 Registration

10.00 Welcome and Introduction to Net Zero Carbon Home Design

• Why do we need to ensure development meets Net Zero Carbon requirements? Exploring what we need to look from a planning and client perspective, Chris Twinn and Zoe Watson
• Q&A

10.45 Workshops

• Delegates have the choice of three groups to explore how net zero carbon design is achieved:

Group 1 - Masterplan/design code

Group 2 - Design review, desktop review forums

Group 3 – Desktop review of scheme drawings

Facilitated by Chris Twinn, Zoe Watson, and Urban Design London

Comfort break

11.30 Feedback and Discussion

• Learning insights from the different groups and discussing how to apply these to our day to day work.
• Looking at sustainability expertise, both what people are currently doing, the pros/cons of in house verse external expertise and how to approach procurement.

Facilitated by Chris Twinn and Zoe Watson

12.15 Wrap up and close

Thu 27/10/22, 9.15am–2pm
Palestra
Related Events: Street Design

Outlining the key principles behind creating healthy, welcoming, and accessible streets that promotes physical and mental wellbeing.

This event is in-person, please remember to keep us updated if your plans change, to help us plan catering or allow fellow members to take your place.

Agenda

09.15 Welcome & Refreshments

09.30 Cool Wall for Streets

10.00 Street Design Principles Applied, John Dales (Urban Movement)

11.00 Comfort break

11.15 Climate Resilient Streets, Emilie Leclerc & Rhys Williams (Civic Engineers)

11.45 Introduction to the Healthy Streets Check, Oliver Davey (Urban Movement)

12:15 Lunch break

12:45 Exercise: Healthy Streets Check in Practice

13:45 Round Up

14:00 Close

Thu 20/10/22, 10am–12pm
Zoom
Related Events: LoTAG at UDL

With funding and space constrained, how do we deliver a renaissance for the most accessible and affordable form of transport?

We’ll be working through TfL’s Bus Action Plan to understand how London Government can best work together to support improvements to bus services across the capital, identifying how we can avoid a vicious circle of decline and instead drive up patronage and all the benefits this would bring.

This event has been kindly sponsored by LoTAG and City Science.

Agenda

10.00 Welcome and introductions, Tom Cunnington and Mike Cawston (Transport for London)

10.05 Context and scene setting, Panel

10.25 A faster, more efficient bus network, Panel

10.45 Connectivity and supporting growth, Panel

11.05 Decarbonisation and environmental outcomes, Panel

11.25 Safety and security/inclusive customer experience, Panel

11.45 Summary and close, Tom Cunnington and Mike Cawston

Panel

Dominic West, London Borough of Hackney

Alex Smith, Head of Campaigns, London Travel Watch

Agathe De Canson, Principal Policy Officer, London Councils

Simon Lusby, Technical Director, City Science

Thu 13/10/22, 10am–12.30pm
Related Events: UDL In-Person

For the visit we will tour this Housing Design Awards winning scheme with designers RMA Architects. We will explore how the development responds sensitively to the surrounding context with a mix of apartment blocks and a housing terrace along a new street.

Agenda

10.00 Introduction with UDL and RMA Architects

10.30 Tour of the scheme, Mark McGechan (RMA Architects)

• Project design, planning and delivery process including the liaison developed between the architects, the GLA and LB Newham.
• The scheme in context – access, views, spatial relationships, height and massing, nature, boundaries, features and materials.
• Spatial and place making relationships within the scheme – storage, facilities, outside spaces and recycling/refuse. We will include particular focus on the place making qualities and practical working of the new street.
• Internal design – common parts, privacy, daylight, visual connection, aspect, storage and ventilation.

12.00 Finish

Tue 11/10/22, 10am–12pm
Site Visit
Related Events: Networks

During this morning session, we will be visiting the Design District in Greenwich, on a site visit. We want to welcome anyone in the first 10 years of their careers to meet and learn alongside other inspiring young practitioners.

Agenda

10.00 Meet outside NOW Gallery on Peninsula Square by North Greenwich Tube Station

• Masterplan Discussion on the Roof Top
• Walkabout: Ground Level and Buildings, Alex Howard (Design District London)

11.00 Open Discussion & Networking

11.30 Close

Thu 06/10/22, 9.45am–12.40pm
Zoom
Related Events: Building Homes

Considering how to achieve outcome focussed design that will help you deliver homes, including working with the community through co-design and community design panels.

The agenda includes:

• Why working with residents is so central to enabling sustainable long-term communities.
• How residents can shape development through the various stages from planning to inception to post-handover.
• Understanding practical ways of working with residents and where to get help, learning from case studies.
• How you can overcome barriers including funding, resource and cultural barriers to achieve better places for the long term.

Agenda

10.00 Welcome and Introduction – What is outcome focused design and how does it relate to residents? Katie Lea (Place Studio) & Sarah Jones-Morris (Landsmith Associates)

10.30 Shaping the approach and Q&A - Exploring how residents can shape development through the various stages from planning to inception to post-handover.

• Planning perspective, Laura Alvarez (Nottingham City Council)
• Project perspective, Tom Mitchell (Metropolitan Workshop) & Mary Hutchison (PRP)

11.00 Comfort break

11.10 Working with residents – Understanding practical ways of working with residents and where to get help, learning from case studies including co- design and community design panels.

• Different approaches and help available – Perspective from The Glasshouse Community-Led Design, Sophia de Sousa (The Glass-House Community Led Design)
• Community design panels case study – Dacorum Borough Council, Tony Burton (Consultant)

Comfort Break

• Working with residents at Thamesmead, Nicola Murphy-Evans (GLA) and Kate Batchelor (Peabody)
• Co-design toolbox, Mellis Haward (Archio)

12.15 Overcoming the barriers - What can stand in the way of working with residents to achieve great long-term outcomes? How you can overcome barriers including funding, resource and cultural barriers to achieve better places for the long term.

• Catherine Greig (Make:Good)
• Delegate exercise on Menti led by UDL – what are you seeing?
• Speaker and delegate discussion

12.40 Wrap up & Close

Thu 29/09/22, 2–4pm
Zoom
Related Events: LoTAG at UDL

How do we maximise the benefit of a scarce public resource in the face of a perceived private right to use?

Please note this event is limited to London borough and TfL officers only.

This event has been kindly sponsored by LoTAG and SYSTRA.

Agenda

14.00 Welcome & Introduction

14.10 Challenges and opportunities ahead for the kerbside, Sharon Kindleysides (CILT)

14.20 Applying economic evaluation tools to inform kerbside optimisation, Andrew Potter (Parking Perspectives)

14.30 Unlocking the potential of the kerbside through technology and innovation, Neil Herron (GRID Smarter Cities)

14.40 Freight franchising – a review of the emerging opportunities and constraints in optimising last mile delivery, Lucy Egglestone (Eunomia)

14.50 Kerbside and the climate emergency – Lambeth’s emerging kerbside strategy, Alexis Fuller (Systra) and David Wilson (LB Lambeth)

15.00 Panel Debate with all the Speakers & Q&A

16.00 Wrap up & Close

Wed 28/09/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Street Design

Unpacking the principles behind designing streets and spaces to encourage those who can to cycle.

Agenda

9.30 Welcome and Introduction, Paul Dodd (Urban Design London)

9.40 Introduction to cycling design principles and

guidance, Lucy Marstrand-Taussig (TfL)

10.15 The Healthy Streets Check for Designers, Tom Wilson (TfL)

10.45 Comfort break

11.00 Design toolkits, Mark Artis (TfL)

11.45 TfL project and programme update, Mark Artis (TfL) With a funding settlement now in place Mark will outline TfL ambition for cycle infrastructure in London.

12.00 Lessons from abroad – Flourishing Molendinar – Connecting the Northeast of Glasgow, Mark Solley (Civic Engineers) and Sinead Gilmour (Civic Engineers)

12.30 Close

Mon 26/09/22, 11am–12pm
Site Visit

Join us on our tour of UCL’s Person Environment Activity Research Laboratory. PEARL is a unique facility to explore the ways in which people interact with their environment. It is a massive space in which researchers can create life-sized environments – a railway station, high street, town square – under controlled conditions, to examine how people interact with the environment and each other.

This event is in-person, please remember to keep us updated if your plans change, to help us plan catering or allow fellow members to take your place.

Wed 14/09/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Green London

An overview of how we can best plan for, deliver, and maintain trees and plants including within our streets, gardens and parks.

Wed 07/09/22, 10am–12.30pm
Site Visit
Related Events: Networks

For anyone involved in using, participating or managing design reviews to share ideas and updates.

Agenda:

10.00 Meet at Abbey Wood Station and hear from:

• Public Realm Designer, Ian Hingley, Urban Movement
• Station Designer, Jan Kroes, Fereday Pollard
• Design Client, Declan Costello, Crossrail Ltd. (previously)

11:30 Return to Abbey Wood Station to tour South

Thamesmead with Phil Askew, Peabody

12:30 Wrap up & Close

Mon 18/07/22

Fri 15/07/22

Thu 14/07/22

Wed 13/07/22, 10am–12pm
Zoom
Related Events: LoTAG at UDL

Alternative and innovative funding approaches for sustainable transport schemes and initiatives.

Please note this event is limited to London borough and TfL officers only.

Tue 12/07/22, 10am–12pm
Related Events: UDL In-Person

We will be hearing both client and architect perspectives of this innovative Housing Design Awards shortlisted mews housing scheme on a highly constrained site, providing a community of courtyard homes with a shared garden at their centre.

Fri 08/07/22, 11am–1pm
Site Visit
Related Events: UDL In-Person

During the year we will visit exemplary housing as well as street and public realm projects. The locations will be decided nearer the time.

Thu 07/07/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Practical Planning

Looking at how development finance works and its impact on planning delivery.

Wed 06/07/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Place Tech

An introduction to the range of tools available, when each might be most appropriate to use and how to go about obtaining or creating 3D resources.

Agenda

10.00 Welcome & Overview – Which 3D models and desktop tools can help us do better?

• What are the problems with current planning practice that could be improved? Exploring where the current need is and what can help.
• Exercise on Menti to identify the different areas where tools are needed and what people are looking for, Led by UDL

10.30 Approaches to help.

Evaluating tools – understanding opportunities where can tools provide clarity but also the potential limitations and distortions. What tools are appropriate for different uses and audiences? Learning from consultants, the GLA and authorities who have obtained and created 3D models and desktop tools, including live demonstrations.

• Tools for infrastructure, David Edge
• Tools the GLA would recommend, Alan Smithies
• Q&A

Comfort break

• 3D parametric capacity calculator, Louisa Facchino-Stack, Dr Walid Omeir & Paul Oesten-Creasey
• Q&A 11.30 Taking next steps
• Understanding the market, the players and funding sources, learning what action to take towards the use of 3D technology, Gareth Sumner
• Q&A

11.50 Speaker and delegate discussion

12.15 Close

Thu 30/06/22, 12–1.30pm
Zoom

Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) may be presented with design codes drawn up by developers and/or landowners, prior to setting their own local design code policy. How can LPAs ensure quality, compliance, influence and effective decision making in the process. Are there unintended consequences in developer led design codes and can they fit with LPA led, policy based area wide codes required by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill?

Agenda

12.00 Welcome

12.05 Introducing the issue: Adrian Penfold

12:15 Making it work - examples:

• Jo Clark, Countryside Properties
• James Scott, Urban & Civic
• Laura Alvarez, Nottingham City Council
• Trovine Monteiro, Cambridge Combined Planning Service

13:00 Q&A / Discussion

13.30 Close

Wed 29/06/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Urban Futures

Emerging building typologies and ways to design and deliver them including approaches to re-use and retrofit.

Agenda

10.00 Welcome

10.05 Introducing the issues

• Why thinking afresh is helpful, Sarah Allen
• The importance of flexible building use, Frances Hollis
• The impact of new building regulations on building types and designs, Adam Selvey
• The Living Report – research into future housing and city living, Kyle Buchanan

11.20 Comfort break

11.30 Considering how we use space; a student’s perspective, Tom Ushakov

11.45 Examples and new best practice

• Manchester co-living, Mark Sidebotham
• A new type of neighbourhood, Helen Arvanitakis
• Design for informal home based work, Richard Brown

12.30 Close

Tue 28/06/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Building Homes

Understanding how land is bought, how housing projects are funded and who delivers developments.

Agenda

10.00 Welcome & Overview – The what, how and where of the housing market

• Overview of the housing market and how affordable housing is developed, looking at housing need, supply and demand, reviewing current trends, Rukaiya Umaru (David Lock)
• Q&A

10.30 Land opportunity explained

• Exploring how and where land is bought, and how this affects the scope for development and affordable housing over time, Chris Buckle (Savills)
• Q&A

Comfort break

11.00 The viability question

• Exploring how and where land is bought, and how this affects the scope for development and affordable housing over time, John Wacher (GLA)
• Q&A

11.25 Players in the process

• Learning about the different players in housing development, the various business drivers and how these relate to local authority and community priorities, Mark Baigent (LB Redbridge)
• Q&A

Comfort break

11.55 Focus for action

• Bringing it all together – understanding the key areas where focus is needed to unlock the right amount of high-quality homes into the future, Alexis Harris (GLA)

12.30 Wrap up & Close

Tue 28/06/22, 2–5pm
Palestra

This session will be held in-person.

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill published this May marks a potential flood of changes to the way planning works, and how design quality is viewed within the system. What impact might national Development Management Policies have? How would the new Infrastructure Levy differ in practice from the current system? What implications could there be from pulling the teeth of the rolling 5 year housing land supply policy? What does digitising planning mean and what could it hold in store for day to day planning practice? And what does all this mean for London?

To help us all get our heads around all this and more we have organised a face to face UDL event for our London programme members – in our old haunt- the conference rooms at Palestra.

Thu 23/06/22, 2–4.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: LoTAG at UDL

Exploring the relative roles of the public and private sector in delivering a borough wide charging network, and the policy challenges of providing universal and equitable access to charging without privatising the kerb.

Please note this event is limited to London borough and TfL officers only.

Agenda

14.00 Welcome, Dominic Millen (LoTAG)

14.10 What is the borough role in delivering the transition to electric mobility?

• Heather Watkinson (City Science)
• Richard Fullager (TfL)
• Femi Biyibi (London Councils)
• Constant Mccoll (LB Hackney)
• Mark Constable (Trojan Energy)
• Jason Munro (ODS Group)

15.10 Panel Debate & Q&A

16.00 Wrap up & Close

Tue 21/06/22, 2–5pm
Zoom
Related Events: Street Design

Join us for an afternoon unpacking programmes and projects that seek to deliver safer streets and realise Vision Zero. We will cover speed limits, traffic reduction, sustainable travel planning for schools and research on commercial van safety.

Agenda

14.00 Welcome, Esther Kurland (UDL)

14.05 Vision Zero: An Introduction, Amy Pidwill (TfL)

14.15 Lowering 20mph speed limits

• Case Study: London Borough of Richmond, Nick O’Donnell (LB Richmond & Wandsworth)

14.45 Reducing traffic on local streets for safer, greener roads to protect children and people walking and cycling.

• Case Study: Sustrans, Sam Dillon (Sustrans)
• Case Study: London Borough of Lambeth - low traffic neighbourhoods, Jess Marston (LB Lambeth)

15.15 Designing streets with safety in mind, to help everyone get around safety and make active travel attractive.

• Case Study: City of London, Simon Bradbury (City of London)
• Towards Vision Zero Report, Ross Phillips (Cross River Partnership)

15.45 Comfort break

15.55 Promoting and encouraging ways to travel that pose less risk to other people on the roads

• Case Study: STARS programme and School Streets
• Julie Plichon (LB Islington)
• Carla Leowe (Westminster City Council)
• Robert Nicolas (LB Richmond & Wandsworth)

16.40 Leading by example in committing to eliminating casualties on our streets, through supply chains and fleets

• Case Study: Euro NCAP and research on new Commercial Van Safety Rating, Matthew Avery (Thatcham)

17.00 Close

Thu 16/06/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Green London

An update on policy and plans that deliver climate resilient places and reduce resource and carbon use.

Agenda

10.00 Welcome

• TfL Policy Update, Katherine Drayson (TfL)
• Diving into London’s GI Data, Katherine Drayson (TfL)

11.30 Comfort break

11.45 Green Infrastructure Guide, Pippa Henshall (LLDC)

12.15 An introduction to Green Finance, Alessandra Melis (Green Finance Institute)

12.45 Green Finance for Islington Pocket Park Framework, Ludo Pittie (WSP) & Charlotte Glazier (LB Islington)

13.15 Close

Wed 15/06/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Networks

For any Councillor who has an interest in place-making and design, these sessions share knowledge, discuss topical issues and present emerging policy and research.

Agenda

10.00 Welcome

10.10 Briefing Updates on the:

• Appealing Design Report by Prof. Matthew Carmona (UCL)
• Guidance to manage and avoid appeals by former Planning Inspector Christine Thorby (The Planning Inspectorate)
• Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill (LURB).

10.45 Discussion & Panel Questions

11.30 Final Questions & Wrap up

Tue 14/06/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Place Tech

A look at emerging approaches and how they can help you deliver better planning services, including greater inclusion and engagement.

Agenda

10.00 Welcome & Overview – Where are we and where are we heading?

• What are the trends for digitisation within planning? Looking at what practice has been developing and where tools are being trialled and embedded, Katja Stille
• Q&A
• Questions for Delegates – What are you using and what are you seeing? Led by UDL

10.40 Plan Making, Community Engagement and Development Management Experiences

• Using digital tools to proactively identify potential development sites, Alexa O’Neil
• Quantitative data-driven decision making, Dr Chlump Chatkupt
• Q&A

Comfort break

• Call for Sites and Land Availability Assessment - can digitech make it better? Antony Wallace
• How digital planning can help us better understand housing capacity, Euan Mills
• Cambridge Local Plan – moving towards digital by default, Hana Loftus
• Q&A

Comfort break

• Council collaboration on the open digital planning services of the future: An overview of RIPA and BOPS, Matt Wood-Hill
• Q&A

12.15 Next steps on the journey

• What is the path towards better outcomes using technology? Looking at what practical steps can help LPAs on the journey, Josh Hoare-Matthews
• Discussion

12.45 Wrap up & Close

Thu 09/06/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Practical Planning

An important element of the planning process for all planning teams is negotiating good design and outcomes. This session will prepare you to deliver successful outcomes.

Wed 08/06/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Understanding London

Ever popular session on the history of how London has developed, including looking at how trade, manufacturing, population changes and wars have impacted on the built city.

Agenda

10.00 Welcome & Overview – the Making of London

• What factors have led to the development of London through time? How can we understand the way the city has developed, as eco-system, hub or catalyst, Prof. Jerry White (University of London)
• Q&A

10.30 London Growth – sparks, checks and balances

• In and out – How have geography, movement, natural resources and trade contributed to London’s development? How do they continue to shape the future success of the city? Rob Whitehead (Centre for London)
• Q&A
• Comfort break

11.10 Riding the waves – How has development been affected by population growth, health crises and war? Prof. Vanessa Harding (University of London)

• Q&A

11.40 Onwards and upwards – What opportunities for the industry, house building and culture have been taken and how have these have shaped the city through time? Richard Brown

• Q&A

12.10 London of the Future

• What can we learn from the past to point the way forwards to the London of the future? Yolande Barnes (Bartlett Real Estate Institute)
• Speaker & delegate discussion

12.45 Wrap up & Close

Tue 07/06/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Palestra
Related Events: Place Design

Explaining how to read various types of plans and understand what is being proposed. We will point out common tricks used to make you look favourably on proposals and explain the most important information you should look for.

This event will be held in-person.

Thu 26/05/22, 10am–12.45pm
Zoom

Join us to discuss practical ways in which the design and management of places can help to reduce violence against women and girls. The session will include looking at examples of places people feel safe or unsafe in to help identify common characteristics we should look to avoid or help design in.

Agenda

10.00 Welcome

• Introduction, Farah Benis (FFA Security Group & Founder, Catcalls of LDN)
• Safety & Health, Julia Thrift (TCPA)

10.30 Ways forward

• Improving the way we plan for safety, Dinah Bornat (ZCD Architects)
• Understanding where and why women and girls feel unsafe, Marina Milosev (LLDC)
• Safe in the City Apps, Laura Butterworth (LB Waltham Forest)

11.30 Tea Break

11.45 Workshop: What are the characteristics of places we feel safe or unsafe in? Lead by Deborah Saunt (DSDHA Architects), Olaide Oboh (Socius Development Limited) & Sophie Thompson (LDA Design)

12.45 Round up & Close

Wed 25/05/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Green London

We will consider the benefits and challenges in delivering improvements to London’s air quality and introduce research on low emissions zones and plans for road user charging.

Agenda

10.00 Welcome and Introduction

10.10 Getting the most out of urban air quality policies

for health promotion, Dr Audrey de Nazelle (UCL)

10.30 The London Plan: Air Quality Guidance, Stephen Inch (GLA)

11.00 London Ultra Low Emission Zone: Unpacked, Katherine Howatson (TfL)

Comfort break

11.45 Future Road Charging: what are the challenges and what could it look like? Oliver Draser (TfL)

12.15 Workshop

13.00 Close

Mon 23/05/22, 11am
Palestra
Related Events: UDL In-Person

We are delighted to offer this site visit kindly hosted by LB Camden and Architects Hawkins\Brown. The scheme has an innovative mix of both retrofit and newbuild and is the largest Passivhaus scheme in the UK. We will hear about the vision underpinning the scheme and discuss the placemaking, building design and energy performance.

To reserve your place, please email us at info@urbandesignlondon.com

Thu 19/05/22, 10am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Urban Futures

This session continues the fascinating Urban Challenge project we ran in 2021 looking at new ways of considering, planning, designing and managing places. This session will focus on neighbourhoods, the building blocks of towns and cities.

Agenda

10.00 Welcome & Introduction

10.10 Local Living – Creating a New Framework for Policy,

Charlie Peel

10:30 Building a New Neighbourhood – The Phoenix Project,

Jonathan Smales

10:50 Start Where you Live… ‘Unleashing Your Real IP’, Gary

Loftus

Q&A

Comfort Break

11:30 Doughnut Economics, Laura Boyle

11:50 Sustrans Research on Walkable Neighbourhoods,

Megan Streb

Q&A

12:30 Wrap Up & Close

Wed 18/05/22, PM
Palestra
Related Events: Networks

For members in the first 10 years of their careers to meet and learn from other inspiring young practitioners.

This event will be held in-person.

Tue 17/05/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Building Homes

An all-round introduction to housing design, from how a development links to the wider community through to how a home is designed.

Agenda

09.45 Registration

10.00 Welcome & Overview – Why does housing design matter?

• Understand the importance of home design and how it fits into good placemaking. Setting home design in context, looking at challenges and trends, Tom Copley (GLA)

Key characteristics of good housing design - Exploring the three key levels of housing development – relationship to the wider neighbourhood, the parts of a development and the design of the home.

10.15 Wider – Relating a development to the neighbourhood knitting the development into the wider physical, social and economic context, Esther Kurland (UDL)

• Case Study – Wider Level: Hackney Gardens, LB Hackney, Charles Jabre (DLA Architecture)
• Q&A

Comfort break

10.45 Site – How can the parts of a development work together well? Looning at types and tenures, outside and inside spaces focussing on design for people, recycling and waste, Kruti Patel (Metropolitan Workshop)

• Case Study – Site level: Beechwood Mews, LB Barnet, Phil Hamilton (Peter Barber Architects)
• Q&A

11.10 Home – Understanding aspects of good design in the home environment, Mellis Haward (Archio Ltd.)

• Case Study – Home level: Sutherland Road, Walthamstow, Kim Walker (Levitt Bernstein)
• Q&A

Comfort break

11.40 Annotation Exercise

• Practical exercise in breakout groups annotating drawings to explore learning on the three levels of design, feeding back to the wider group.

12.20 Bringing design to life

• Understand how the principles are used in practice within policy and guidance to deliver homes and places fit for London, and how these are being embedded in projects funded by the GLA, Elliot Kemp (GLA) & Alison Mayer (GLA)
• Q&A

12.45 Wrap up & Close

Thu 05/05/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Street Design

An overview of active travel policies and targets looking at why it matters and how to design places that help people to choose this way of getting around.

Wed 04/05/22, am
Zoom
Related Events: Place Tech

This session will provide an overview of how digital planning is helping to save resources and provide greater accessibility to our planning processes, including a look at the trends and innovations coming forward in the built environment.

Wed 27/04/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Practical Planning

This practical session will look at the best way to handle a variety of processes including enforcement and compulsory purchase orders.

Agenda

09:45 Registration

10.00 Welcome

10.10 CPO and Enforcement Processes, Piers Riley-Smith

Q&A

11:10 Considering design at appeal, Christine Thorby

Q&A

11:30 Round up and close

Thu 21/04/22, 1.30pm
Zoom
Related Events: Networks

During this afternoon session, we will be visiting the Design District in Greenwich to hear about how the design review of this interesting scheme has impacted on what we can see on the ground now. Anyone involved in using, participating or managing design reviews is welcome to share ideas and updates.

Wed 20/04/22, 9.30am–12.30pm
Palestra
Related Events: Place Design

Explaining what good place design is all about, the characteristics of successful places and how these relate to built environment policies and guidance. We will look at how to ensure places are fit for purpose, encourage easy movements, are accessible and have efficient use of land and resources.

This session will be in-person. Get in touch to confirm your place.

Agenda

09.30 Registration & Refreshments

10.00 Cool Wall: What do we think of as good design?

10.30 The 10 Characteristics of well-designed places

Comfort break

11.30 Walkabout: Urban Design in Southwark

12.30 Working Lunch: Design Review

14.00 Close