Future of London

Unsure about inclusive language? Check out this online event on LGBT identities from our sister organisation Future of Greater Manchester. Pride in our Work is a 90-minute introduction to LGBT identities, which will include up-to-date terminology, pronouns and why it’s important to get them right. The webinar is delivered by The Proud Trust and will give participants the confidence to be proactive LGBT allies, including what changes could make the workplace more inclusive. There will be an opportunity to discuss how to apply this learning to different areas of work and events. Monday 16 September, 11am to 12:30pm Register now: https://buff.ly/3WPJIft We’ll share the Zoom link with confirmed participants. #FutureOfGreaterManchester #LGBTQ

When a new member of your team from a different cultural background turns up on their first day, will you know what to do? This is the question posed by our Elaine Cleland-Awity in a new podcast designed to increase diversity in the housing sector. Elaine runs Future of London's Emerging Talent Programme, which creates opportunities for career-starters from ethnic minority backgrounds into the sector. The podcast was produced by The Housing Forum, as part of their "Build Your Future in Housing" campaign. We are delighted to support this important initiative that connects school leavers and skilled workers with employers to promote careers in housing. This important campaign was launched to address the acute skills shortage in the sector and encourage employers to recruit people from more diverse backgrounds. For Elaine, creating an inclusive organisational culture is key, which is why ETP offers training to both recruits and their managers during paid work placements. "It's about how your behaviours and your responses can impact other people," says Elaine in the podcast. "When the new person turns up for work with all their training and they've been told what to do, it's important you're also coming to the table knowing what to do.” "That means understanding their cultural beliefs, their perspective. It means not going to the pub for every social. There are things you can do to make your organisation more inclusive. That's why we also train managers to be ready to support them." The Emerging Talent Programme launched in 2022 and has just celebrated its second graduation. Contact Elaine Cleland-Awity if you are interested in offering paid work placements in London's built environment sector. We recruit and train candidates and support managers to develop their EDI awareness. Thanks to The Housing Forum for inviting us to join the podcast, the other participants Sasha Bayly Simmonds of O’Neill & Brennan UK and Justin Finlayson of United Borders, and Danielle Buckley of Wates Group for expert chairing. #FutureOfLondon #EmergingTalentProgramme #BuildYourFutureInHousing

We got some terrific placemaking jobs with Design South East, PRD and the exciting director role for Local London . Check them out in the link below. Apply here: https://buff.ly/3Q2NsXD #FutureOfLondon

How can cities protect vulnerable people from the impact of climate change? Involve them in urban design and adaption, concluded our expert panel. To launch our Climate Resilience and Equity programme, we brought built environment professionals and community-based organisations together. They discussed ways to support homes and neighbourhoods so they can bounce back from extreme weather events. Climate hazards such as flooding, heatwaves and droughts are already increasing, and their impact may fall unfairly on the groups most vulnerable to climate change. For Andrew van Doorn OBE of HACT, retrofit investment creates the opportunity to support people’s well-being as well as improve their homes. “How do we make sure that people have as much opportunity for sustainable living as the buildings they inhabit?” Without involving communities, there’s a risk that climate initiatives won’t chime with the way people experience the impact. “There’s often scepticism of government schemes from those worst affected so we’re working with cities to involve these groups early in the design stage,” said Jazmin Burgess of C40 Cities. Dorréll Gayle-Menzie of Community Design Collective, a group of residents recruited by Peabody to work on the Thamesmead regeneration programme, believes community involvement gives people a voice who might not be initially motivated by climate action. “Residents' voices should be heard, again and again, in an iterative process. This creates respect for local design.” Designing for climate change can offer other benefits, says Camilla Siggaard Andersen of Hassell. “Community resilience can be strengthened through well-designed indoor and outdoor public spaces that are not only safe and accessible, but also climatically comfortable.” Some of these are practical solutions such as shutters widely used in continental Europe but less readily adopted in the UK. “Cost is usually the perceived barrier against better shading design but fundamentally it’s a cultural issue,” said Dr Tom Dollard of Pollard Thomas Edwards. Get it right, however, and the impact on communities will be significant, according to Dr Phil Askew of Peabody. “People who are involved in their place can play a key role in dealing with the effects of climate change”. Find out more about our Climate Resilience and Equity programme, including registering for our annual conference, via the link in the comments below. Thanks to all the speakers and participants at the programme launch. Our Climate Resilience and Equity programme is supported by Arup, Countryside Partnerships, Mount Anvil, Pollard Thomas Edwards, Potter Raper and Trowers & Hamlins. Thanks also to programme steering group for shaping the project. Becci Taylor Patrick Devlin Rhianna Wilsher Nicola Tilbury MRICS Tom Beardmore Rob Krzyszowski Dr Tom Dollard Laura Murray Jacob Heitland Main image: Granary Square, Kings Cross (Damien Walmsley via Flickr) #FutureOfLondon #ClimateResilienceEquity

From improving public health to reducing the impact of climate change, nature offers solutions to many urban challenges, according to our expert panel. As part of our “Making the Most of... what we've got” series, Future of London brought together researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers at Kew Gardens to explore why cities are turning to nature-based solutions. They discussed the need for collaboration between developers, scientists and local authorities. Supporting natural ecosystems requires scientific precision so developers must integrate academic knowledge into new projects. “We need to think carefully about maintaining our urban forest environment now and into the future,” said Dr Philip Stevenson, Head of Trait Diversity and Function at Kew. "It’s about planting the right trees, in the right place, at the right time." Ealing Council (London Borough of Ealing) is attempting to do just that with an ambitious programme creating ten new parks, including a regional park that will create a green corridor through the borough. “It’s about making nature a political priority through leadership, setting clear targets and putting our money where our mouth is,” said Deirdre Costigan, formerly the Cabinet Member for Climate Action, who has since been elected to Parliament. The panel agreed that improving access to nature can increase public awareness of the benefits, including the importance of tackling climate change. But it's not straightforward because different people want different things from nature. Dr Meri Juntti, Associate Professor of Environmental Governance at Middlesex University, explained: “Benefits don’t just flow from nature to people… they are realised through engagement.” As 80% of Londoners don’t have access to private green space so we must ensure their local shared spaces meet their needs, said elizabeth Connelly, Senior Landscape Construction Manager at Peabody. She highlighted the fact that young people often feel unwelcome in public greenspaces. Ultimately, we need a culture shift, to recalibrate our understanding of what nature in an urban environment looks like. Nature is at its healthiest when it can be messy and changing with the seasons. Future of London believes that communities should be involved in creating strategies so residents are more invested in stewarding nature. Thanks to Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew for housing the event. Thanks also to Arup, Montagu Evans, Mount Anvil and Potter Raper for supporting the Making the Most of… What We’ve Got series, which also looked at retrofit and public assets. Read all the event write-ups with the link in the comments below. Main image: Woodberry wetlands nature reserve in Stoke Newington, Hackney #FutureOfLondon

Our Leaders Plus cohort pitched ideas for reclaiming the streets, from women’s safety to engaging young people and community co-design to greening the city. So who won the audience vote? In a new format for our leadership presentations, the Leaders Plus cohort switched from individual Pecha Kuchas to teamwork for their final presentations. We felt team projects embedded the collaborative learning that runs through the course. Here are their fantastic Proposals for London... >> Reclaiming London’s streets with green "hub" infrastructure projects supporting interconnected, smaller green "spokes" within and across local authority boundaries. >> Front-loading consultation on the safety of women and girls to formulate planning policy and the design of public spaces. >> A city-wide London Youth Place Panel to champion and change the built environment by engaging and co-designing with children and young people. >> A new plan-making tool which uses technology and community engagement to create co-designed public realm plans to be delivered alongside new or infill developments. All the presentations were brilliant but the audience voted their favourite as the green hub-and-spoke model from Kevin Cressy, Lily Kwong and Sam Margolis. Ben Johnson, Claire O'Brien, Petronila Osodo and Robyn Prince were voted the most feasible idea for planning for women's safety. You can read about all proposals and see photos from the event in the link posted in the comments below. Thanks to new friends Turner & Townsend for generous event hosting, including a great introduction from director Steve Perkins who leads on local and central government. Thanks to Urbancanda for continuing to deliver first-class leadership modules and to Related Argent for supporting the London Leaders Plus programme. Thanks also to Rhianna Malcolm for welcoming the new members of our alumni network. Congratulations to all the Leaders Plus graduates Polly Barker Graham Callam Sarah Considine Kevin Cressy Hannah Gibbs Ben Johnson Lily Kwong Angela Latty Chris Lyons Sam Margolis Claire O'Brien Petronila O. Robyn Prince Jen Shillingford Yoana Tulumbadzhieva Finally thanks to all the mentors for supporting the candidates Dr Phil Askew Mark Baigent Ken Baikie Virginia Blackman Barbara Brownlee Tracey Downie Matthew Essex Claudette Forbes Caroline Harper Gerry Hughes Alexander Jan Rob Krzyszowski John Lumley David Lunts Ed Watson Joanne Woodward #FutureOfLondon #LondonLeadersPlus

Ealing Council turned unused garages into a community hub that has become a "sanctuary" for Havelock residents during the estate's long-term regeneration. Find out how. Our Future London Leaders recently went on a field trip to find out how this meanwhile use project on the Havelock estate in Southall has transformed unused garages and undercrofts into a community space. At Open Havelock, Peabody and Ealing Council (London Borough of Ealing) have incubated community spirit and local enterprise during the ongoing regeneration of the estate. Open Havelock includes a multi-purpose room, workshop spaces, children’s play spaces, a community kitchen, and storage facilities for the local canoe club. The spaces are available to local operators at very affordable rates. The recent boom in new-builds in Southall following the completion of the Elizabeth line left local residents feeling left behind. The subsequent pause of the Havelock regeneration project compounded that feeling. “Open Havelock was essential to show the local community that we were not leaving them behind, ” explained Kitty Eyre, Senior Project Manager at Ealing Council. During the visit, the future leaders group learned about the transformative power of meanwhile projects in urban regeneration. By embracing temporariness as an opportunity not a limitation, Open Havelock has reinvigorated community spirit and resilience in Southall. Thanks to the project team who provided such an absorbing visit: Emma Hanbury, Helen Mulgan and Serena Horgan of Peabody alison crawshaw, the architect for the project Kitty Eyre and Abel Archundia Espinosa of Ealing Council (London Borough of Ealing) Read the field trip write-up by following the link in the comments below. Main image: Lewis Ronald #FutureOfLondon #FutureLondonLeaders

How can we prepare cities for extreme weather while making sure every community is treated fairly? Our annual conference brings together built environment experts to find collaborative solutions for London. When London’s temperature hit 40°C for the first time, it sent a stark warning that the city must urgently develop greater climate resilience. The point was underlined by the London Climate Resilience Review commissioned by the Mayor of London. “A regional delivery plan for climate resilience in London must be created collaboratively,” recommends the final report, published in July. As London’s independent network for the built environment, our conference will bring together sector stakeholders to understand the implications of the climate resilience review and consider new ways to address these challenges. *** Climate Resilience and Equity *** Tuesday 8 October in central London. Conference themes include: >> Building and neighbourhood design – from retrofit to nature-based solutions >> London and elsewhere – the pan-London response and international learning >> Health and climate resilience – equity for all London’s communities >> Public engagement – winning community support and involving young people >> Making it happen – finance, strategic planning, partnerships For updates on confirmed speakers and registration, click the link in comments below. Thanks to the project steering group Becci Taylor Patrick Devlin Rhianna Wilsher Nicola Tilbury MRICS Tom Beardmore Rob Krzyszowski Dr Tom Dollard Laura Murray Jacob Heitland Thanks also to our conference sponsors Arup Countryside Partnerships Impact on Urban Health Mount Anvil Pollard Thomas Edwards Potter Raper Trowers & Hamlins #FutureOfLondon #ClimateResilienceEquity2024

Congratulations to the graduates from the second cohort of our Emerging Talent Programme! ETP offers work placements in the built environment sector for people from ethnic minority backgrounds. We celebrated the contributions that our graduates made to their host organisations and the wider sector. “We’re missing out on critical talent by not having an inclusive industry," said our chief executive, Nicola Mathers. "At a time of housing crisis and climate emergency, we need creativity, diversity of thought and people to challenge established ways of doing things.” Rebecca Neil from graduation event hosts DP9 Limited highlighted the importance of the programme to increasing diversity in the sector and how it helped them create a more inclusive office environment. “Employers learn as much from the experience as the candidates do," she said. New graduates Fiona Rodrigues and Mariga Thoithi emphasised the importance of hands-on experience in preparing them for permanent roles in the built environment industry. The third cohort is now well into their programme. To find about becoming a host organisation for the fourth round, contact Elaine Cleland-Awity. Thank you to all of our ETP2 host organisations Altair Ltd London Borough of Camden Greater London Authority Haringey Council L&Q Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) Sanctuary Southwark Council Southern Housing London Borough of Waltham Forest Westminster City Council Yoo Capital Thank you to all organisations who hosted a training day Avison Young Clarion Housing Group Deloitte London Communications Agency Montagu Evans Thank you to our mentors Amandeep Singh Kalra Bhavna B. Cheryl Bannerman-Swaniker Christine Wood Ciara Whelehan Grace Nelson Hassan Ahmed Ilana Manuel Karen Daye Naima Ihsan Nathan Vasey Nyemu Nhembe - Holness So Sum Lee MRICS We wish all our recruits the best as their careers in the built environment continue, and we can’t wait to see the change they will enact in London. Caisha Mohamud Celdirito De Campos Fiona Rodrigues Jacques Dhillon madeleine A. Mariga Thoithi Martine Ekango Nithushan Rajaratnam Patricia Fung Preet Bhambra Riyad Kabir Sandra Moukam Syeda M. A huge thank you to our long-time supporters DP9 for hosting this special event and to our caterers Nzuri Events, a small Black-owned catering business in North London. #FutureofLondon #emergingtalentprogramme #diversity #EDI

How do we build new homes fit for climate and health? We took a trip to the Kings Crescent estate in Hackney to find out. This exemplary council scheme (and we can say that because a resident on the trip told us moving there was the best decision she ever made!) has achieved: >> high design quality >> a strong sense of community >> good sustainability credentials >> an environment where resident wellbeing is prioritised …and all within a tight budget and under pressure to deliver on affordable housing targets. Our strong takeaway from the field trip was that all of this was achieved, because of the project team. The driving force was a strong vision and commitment to principles of “dignity and generosity”. Take a look at our write-up for all the details - link in the comments below Thanks to our sponsors Impact on Urban Health Catherine Max Theo Harrison Caroline Hull Paul Karakusevic and Hajir Kheder from Karakusevic Carson Architects ; Rachel Bagenal and Dr Donna D. from London Borough of Hackney Sara Godinho and Tom Kordel from XCO2; Archika Kumar from Brent Council (previously at Hackney). #HealthAndHousingNetwork #FutureOfLondon