Royal Institute of British Architects

Delivering the vision

RIBA London response to the draft London Plan

Cover: Iroko Housing Co-operative Haworth Tompkins Architects A: Overview of Thames Barrier Park, Silvertown Patel Taylor B: The London Eye Marks Barfield Architects C: Design for a Greater London an RIBA publication

design

for a

GREATER LONDON

Introduction
RIBA London is the RIBA region covering the capital and represents over 1,200 registered architectural practices, 7,000 architects and 2,500 students. It provides services to members in the areas of education and practice, as well as public and promotional services. In June 2001, RIBA London published Design for a Greater London containing proposals for Londons public realm. The document was prepared in conjunction with a range of other bodies, all of whom are committed to improving the design quality of our built environment. See www.designforlondon.com for full details. London bodies supporting the campaign included the Royal Town Planning Institute, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Landscape Institute, the Civic Trust, Central London Partnership, The Architecture Foundation, London Open House and locally based organisations such as the Building Exploratory in Hackney. RIBA London is delighted that so many of the recommendations made are reflected in the Mayors draft London Plan. The draft London Plan identifies the urgent need to plan for an increasing population and workforce in London, resulting from the appeal of the city to people and companies from across Britain and the world. The plan proposes a straight deal: higher density for better design. If this deal sticks, everyone wins. London deserves the highest standards of design for our buildings and, vitally, our public spaces. RIBA London strongly supports the premise of the draft London Plan an urban renaissance based on public transport and believes that it can be delivered. This paper sets out our response to the proposals of the draft London Plan and illustrates a number of projects exemplifying good urban design.
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London Region

Support for the draft London Plan

RIBA London supports the Mayors draft London Plan. It sets out an ambitious vision for London. In particular, RIBA London strongly agrees that:
London must become a more integrated, compact and

sustainable city
Intensive development should be concentrated in locations with

high levels of accessibility and capacity

There should be a more flexible approach to tall buildings, with

new strategic guidelines to allow for the creation of landmarks that enhance Londons character and skyline
World-class, sustainable design is central to the successful future

of London and must remain at the heart of the London Plan

Guidance should be produced to identify best practice in high

density, mixed use, sustainable design

The involvement of artists and the integration of artworks should

be required for all major schemes

New development should promote balanced neighbourhoods

with mixed uses and tenures, integrated with surrounding areas and communities

Open spaces must be protected and enhanced A public realm strategy must be produced to underpin

proposals to improve the look and feel of Londons buildings, streets and spaces
The 100 Spaces for London programme should be supported to

promote best practice in improvements to the public realm

Urban design statements should be a requirement of any

planning application that affects the public realm

Community involvement, competitions and a design led

approach should be a requirement for all schemes affecting the public realm
Major investment in transport infrastructure and essential
A: Trams serving the centre of Croydon Tramtrack Croydon B: Aerial photo of Notting Hill W11 traditional high density living C: Prince Regents Gate Assael Architecture D: Westminster Underground Michael Hopkins & Partners E: Peckham Library Alsop Architects

services is a vital pre-requisite to delivering the vision of the London Plan

Brownfields first is the right approach to new development

and a green-field development tax would be one way of encouraging this

The Green Belt and the Blue Ribbon network should be

maintained, protected and enhanced

Proposed changes
RIBA London proposes the following changes:

More developed consideration of the public and private sector

resources required for implementing the London Plan

More detailed information on the programme for delivering

B
A: Chronos Building, Mile End Road Proctor Matthews B: Raines Dairy Allford Hall Monaghan Morris Architects C: Merrill Lynch Building Swanke Hayden Connell Architects D: Lloyds Register of Shipping Richard Rogers Partnership

improved public transport infrastructure and services in advance of housing and other development
A clear definition of affordable housing and a more flexible

approach to its supply, responsive to specific local circumstances

Detailed analysis and guidance on the implications of high

density, mixed use schemes.

A clear policy statement on the incentives and enforcement

measures to ensure investment in high quality design.

Support for a London Architecture Centre and local built

environment education centres (Exploratories)

Support for Local Planning Departments (training, resources,

guidance) in the delivery of the Plan

The basis for these proposed changes is concern that:

Delivery is dependent on funding from central government and
private sector contributions but there is no detailed analysis of what and how much can be achieved

The long lead times for some infrastructure projects may prevent
early development within some of the key Opportunity Areas.

The private sector requires clarity and transparency in

negotiating development agreements. Current obligations may impede the level of development required to fulfil the plan. Affordable housing targets need to account for actual patterns of land values, trading positions, site assembly issues and other local constraints

High density, mixed use schemes risk becoming the social and
environmental failures of tomorrow without high quality design and management that can produce compact spaces and harmonious communities

High standards of design cannot be achieved without a clear

expression of the deal being offered to developers: higher density and quicker decisions for better design

C
A: The Surgery, Hammersmith Guy Greenfield Architects B: Millennium Bridge Foster and Partners C: Ecology Park on Greenwich Peninsula English Partnerships

High standards of design require a dedicated resource

accessible to the public to promote ideas, exhibit proposals, hold debates and issue guidance

The London Plan does not engage with Local Authorities on a

borough by borough basis. Local Authorities will require additional resources and assistance to implement the Plan rapidly and effectively

Delivering the London Plan

RIBA London is keen to help deliver the London Plan. RIBA London can assist the GLA in the following ways:
Access to a large pool of design talent through its 7,000 architect

members and links to schools of architecture

Training and education through CPD courses, examiner

LIZ WALDER

workshops, conferences, exhibitions, site visits to examples of best practice, courses for local authority councillors and officers

B
A: Hampden Gurney Church of England Primary School Building Design Partnership B: Presentation of lead plaque to Thames Barrier Park, an RIBA award winning project in 2001 The park was designed by Patel Taylor with Group Signes as the design team. Pictured are (LtoR): Andrew Taylor (Patel Taylor), Tim Griggs (London Development Agency), and Stephen Robinson (RIBA London) C: Neighbourhoods by Design RIBA London exhibition, 9 May 2002 D: Heron Tower KPF Architects proposed City of London skyline

Identifying and analysing case studies (affordable housing; mixed

use design; high density development; public realm improvements; transport interchanges)
Identifying and implementing public realm improvement sites, as

a partner to the Mayors 100 Spaces for London programme

Preparing supplementary guidance on a range of design topics Developing model formats for urban design statements and

standards for planning applications

Organising the competitive selection of designers for projects Hosting conferences, seminars, debates and exhibitions on

relevant design topics

Lobbying central government for early commitment to realising

the vision of the London Plan

HAYES DAVIDSON

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Achieving results
There are three programmes of activity relevant to the delivery of the London Plan to which RIBA London can contribute.

Design Directions
RIBA London proposes a series of short Design Directions that extract generic findings from exemplary projects in the following categories:
High density living e.g. how to address planning issues

(privacy, loss of light etc) and create delight and pride in the design and lifestyle of high density developments; how density should be measured; how to accommodate continuing demand for cars
The local urban realm e.g. how to achieve successful

developments, with guidelines and checklists for best practice in planning, designing, funding, management and maintenance
Mixed use, mixed tenure environments e.g. what works, what

doesnt and why; how can design overcome potential problems and produce united, successful solutions
Transport interchanges e.g. review of successful urban design

around interchanges; analysis of major interchanges to see where improvements are necessary
Tall buildings e.g. how successful clusters work; how tall

E
A: Talkback Productions Buschow Henley Architects B: The Barbican Chamberlin Powell and Bonn (1970) a successful high density, high rise design C: Lillington Street Gardens, Pimlico Darbourn and Drake (1961-1971) a successful high density, low rise design D: Camelot Street Housing, Old Kent Road (1970) a failure of city cramming E: Thamesmead Housing (1970) a failure of social integration

buildings meet the ground; how to address issues such as overshadowing, safety, technical standards It is proposed that, wherever possible, case study material should be drawn from London, to increase relevance and access for further inquiry. The RIBA has a significant archive of material relating to scheme proposals, built projects, design analyses and urban strategies from across the world. The London Plan should draw from lessons of the past and can use this resource to inform current proposals.

100 Public Spaces: making space for Londoners

RIBA London would like to partner the Mayors Architecture and Urbanism Unit in delivering the 100 public spaces project. In particular, RIBA London could assist in the following ways:
Using the resources of London architects to generate further

B
A: Landscaped open space at Bamber Green, Kings Cross Tibbalds TM2 B: Regeneration of Seven Dials, Covent Garden Civic Design Partnership C: Emslie Horniman Pleasance Playground Studio E Architects / Julian Harrap Architects

sites and projects for selection by the Architecture and Urbanism Unit, using the criteria set out in the Making Space for Londoners publication
In collaboration with the Architecture and Urbanism Unit, working

with the boroughs to agree sites to be taken forward

In collaboration with the Architecture and Urbanism Unit,

providing administrative support to get projects underway

Contributing to the panel of experts who will review

specifications and designs

Contributing to the Architecture and Urbanism Units overall

public realm strategy

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Planning on Design
RIBA London proposes to develop a modular design training package for planners and is in discussion with the GLA, CABE and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on jointly delivering such a programme. The package could comprise:
Training sessions; covering site context, building design
A: Design education Building Exploratory in Hackney B: New Pym House Burrell Foley Fischer LLP C: Roadshow exhibition The Architecture Foundation

considerations, achieving accountable design, overcoming planning issues, suggestions for how to incorporate design review into the planning process, etc
Session papers, with abstract case study material Contact points for further advice

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Partners for London

RIBA London will be an active partner in delivering the vision of the London Plan. We are keen to work with the GLA and other bodies for the long-term benefit of London.

E
A: Banners at South Bank Lifschutz Davidson B: V&A Spiral Studio Libeskind C: World Squares for All Foster and Partners D: BedZED project Bill Dunster Architects E: Murray Grove Apartments, Hackney Cartwright Pickard Architects

This document has been put together by Simon Foxell of The Architects Practice and Bill Bailey of Bailey Consultancy in conjunction with Stephen Robinson and Liz Walder of RIBA London

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RIBA London a region of the RIBA 66 Portland Place London W1B 1AD Tel 020 7307 3681 Fax 020 7307 3788 Email riba.london@inst.riba.org www.riba-london.com
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September 2002