Join this NLA Debate to discuss the key question – To accommodate London’s growing population, should we prioritise building up or expanding out?
According to a recent report by the Centre for London, the number of homes built annually needs to double from 37,000 to 74,000 a year for 15 years to solve London’s challenges including affordability and homelessness. Among their recommendations is building on strategically defined areas of the Green Belt, with estimates suggesting that using less than 2 per cent of England’s Green Belt land could deliver between 1.7 and 2.1 million new homes.
The newly elected Labour Government has proposed to build on brownfield sites and poor-quality parts of the green belt, dubbed the ‘grey belt’. At the same time, a scarcity of available land in London has resulted in a view that our industry should strive for higher densities by building upwards. This begs the question, does London need high-rise buildings in a ‘compact city’, or gentle densification through new towns and development on land outside of its current boundaries.
Where in London should we be building up as we expand out? What typology of building should we expect on the ‘grey’ belt? Does building tall create greater density, or is a gentler approach to development equally effective?
This NLA debate asks should we build up or out? Speakers will present a case for either, with the audience ultimately voting for one side of this crucial question.
Programme
18:15
Arrivals
18:45
Welcome from Chair
Jay Morton, Director, Bell Phillips Architects
18:50
Up
William Poole, Partner, Howells
18:55
Out
Ian Mulcahey, Principal, Global Director of Cities, Gensler
19:00
Panel Discussion
Speakers above, plus:
Katy Warrick, Head of London Residential Development Research - Director, Residential Research Head Office London, Savills
Simon Pask, Residential Lead: London & South East, Drees and Sommer
19:25
Panel Discussion/Q&A
19:45
Networking
20:15
Close