Is architecture in crisis?
Martyn Evans in an article published in Building Design writes “There is a growing sense among younger architects that the profession they trained so hard to join may not offer a viable long-term career. Institutions like RIBA must step forward to challenge the norms that have led us here”.
He points out that architects are often asked to redraw, rework and rethink schemes multiple times as funding assumptions by developers shift or costs rise. However, fees rarely stay at the same level as the original job.
Architects should rejoice that Britain’s latest new towns aren’t new towns at all
By Ben Derbyshire, chair at HTA Design, former RIBA president, and President of the London Forum.
I don’t generally play for laughs, but I got one anyway at Design West’s Arnolfini conference on Labour’s then-new housing plans when I urged the audience not to hold their breath waiting for the twelve promised new towns. We still haven’t finished the ones Richard Crossman began in the 1960s. As it turns out, we needn’t have worried because of the seven finally [more…]
What’s happening in the Old Kent Road?
The Old Kent Road was designated by the Mayor in 2016 as an Opportunity Area.
It is the subject of two videos by Urban Design Learning which provides support to local authorities on design and examines development schemes.
In one video, Colin Wilson introduces Southwark Council’s Old Kent Road Action Plan. In another video he explains the issues in regeneration of an area with existing clusters of small businesses, some thriving, and the council’s ambition to add employment as well as housing.
Additional rules for Neighbourhood Forums
Those involved in neighbourhood planning should know that there has been a relevant decision of the First-tier Tribunal Information Rights (the FTT).
The FTT ruled that a Neighbourhood Forum is a public authority for the purposes of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR).
In a blog, James Maurici KC explains the Tribunal’s reasoning and the implications for neighbourhood planning groups which will be obliged to make available any environmental information they have.
Design Planning Practice Guidance
The consultation on a new design guidance ended in March 2026.
In a presentation to the Urban Design Group, reported by Building Design, David Rudlin considers what the guidance got right – and where it went wrong.
He is is founding principal of Rudlin & Co and visiting professor at Manchester School of Architecture and a co-author of High Street: How our town centres can bounce back from the retail crisis, published by RIBA Publishing.
Here is a summary of his views on the proposed Design PPG.
![Between skyscrapers and semis [GLA]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Between-skyscrapers-and-semis-REPORT01.jpg?resize=1191%2C1684&ssl=1)
Mid-Rise housing
London is missing out on the benefits of mid-rise housing, and clearer planning policy is needed, according to a new report from the London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee published in March 2026.
Chair of the committee, James Small‑Edwards AM, said:
“Mid-rise housing offers the liveable, human‑scale density that residents want and that our city needs. Our recommendations set out practical steps to support higher-quality development, rebuild trust with communities, and ensure the next London Plan provides a stronger, more strategic approach to meeting London’s housing needs.”
![Crews Hill Station [Photo: Enfield Society]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Crews-Hill-station-1024x614-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C614&ssl=1)
New Towns consultation
On 23rd March 2026 the Government issued a consultation on the New Towns draft programme, including Crews Hill and Chase Park in LB Enfield and Thamesmead in LB Greenwich. The consultation ends on 19th May 2026.
Consultations were commenced also on fees for planning applications, the types of applications that may have to be referred to the Secretary of State and a policy paper on the implementation proposals for streamlining infrastructure planning.
In a blog by the lawyer Nicola Gooch of Birketts, links to those announcements are [more…]
![GSK House, Great West Road Brentford [photo: by Thomas Nugent]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GSK_House_Brentford_from_the_air.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
Golden Mile development
Hounslow council has unveiled a £7.5bn masterplan to build up to 14,000 homes along a stretch of the Great West Road in west London.
Set to be built over the next 15 years, the Golden Mile London plan is aiming to position this part of the capital as a leading creative and tech innovation district.
The launch of the programme follows Hounslow council’s approval of Hadley Property Group’s redevelopment of the former GSK headquarters at 980 Great West Road.
The source of this story is Building Design.
Demo on affordable housing crisis
National Planning Policy Framework consultation response
We’ve responded to the December 2025 NPPF consultation, which closed on 12th March 2026. This substantial piece of work, contributed to by many subject matter experts, is posted in the ‘what we’ve said‘ archive as usual, and directly linked below for your convenience. It is now fully indexed for searching too.
We are critical of some of the new decision making policies.
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Chief Planning Officer’s newsletter
The latest newsletter by Chief Planner of MHCLG, Joanna Averley, was published to local authorities’ planning officers on 18th August ...
Grants available for local projects
The London Friends of Green Spaces Network has published a seven page document on the availability of grants for local ...
Planning in London, Issue 138, Jul-Sep 2026
Issue 138 of Planning in London, the journal of the London Planning and Development Forum, has been published, covering the ...
![TBM 'Florence' [Photo: HS2 ltd]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/HS2-Florence.jpg?fit=1501%2C1000&ssl=1)
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