This issue of NLQ features two practices which have made quite an imprint on the capital over the years.

 BDP has been practising its quiet brand of capable regeneration for decades, moving on from being purely a multidisciplinary practice offering a team for any job to specialising in sectors, working and collaborating with other firms, and producing a wide range of work, from its Leighton House refurbishment to reshaping Oxford and Regent Streets for life during COVID and beyond.

 Then there is LDA Design, another major force whose latest work at the Strand at Aldwych builds on pushing landscape and public realm elements to the fore on projects like Battersea Power Station and a series of transformative pocket parks across the capital. Louise Rodgers gets to grips with what makes the firm tick.

 Both practices are, in their own ways, doing much to help progress a new London, and NLA’s push for a New London Agenda to drive such sustainable growth is the subject of an essay on London’s centre by Greg Clark, viewpoints from people across the built environment, New Londoner of the Year Nicky Gavron’s full speech at the awards, and Yolande Barnes latest column.

 We take an in-depth look at RHE’s Gramophone Works in our main building review, Joe Morris writes about the ‘background’ quality of Morris+Company’s Featherstone Building, Sheppard Robson’s Dan Burr sings the praises of Spitalfields, and New London Sounding Board chair Sadie Morgan answers the questions in this issue’s Coffee Break feature.

 The New London Agenda will need collaboration between disciplines, sectors and between public and private sector organisations across the capital, such as those featured this issue, if we are to achieve the ultimate aim: a better, more liveable city for all.

 Enjoy the issue!

David Taylor
Editor

FEATURES
New Londoner of the Year 16
Nicky Gavron’s full speech at NLA’s Annual Lunch
Top of their game 22
David Taylor gets under the skin of BDP
The new teams 32
Louise Rodgers meets people and place connectors, LDA Design
New London Agenda Special 46
Greg Clark pens an essay on Central London and NLA’s New London Agenda
Building reviews 66 | 80
The Gramophone Works and the Featherstone Building get the building review treatment

REGULARS
Need to know 4
The quarter — our summary of all the key news events this term
Viewpoint 8
We ask: what is the most important issue the New London Agenda should address?
Murray Mint 14
Beauty in buildings — Peter Murray on new thoughts on the ‘B’ word
Opinions 38 | 44 | 53
Opinions this time on business rates, errors in construction, and Opportunity London
Columnist 50
Yolande Barnes’ take on ‘everything everywhere, all at once’
Coffee break 86
New London Sounding Board chair Sadie Morgan answers the questions
My London 128
Sheppard Robson’s Dan Burr sings the praises of Spitalfields

PLUS...
 Portfolio 6
IF_DO and Lakwena’s electrical substation wrap at Brent Cross Town
From the team 30
NLA’s Benjamin O’Connor sets out plans for the London Centre, coming soon
NEW Letter from the boroughs 40
RBKC leader Elizabeth Campbell on becoming ‘the best council’
Q&A 42
What’s it like working abroad? Two Maccreanor Lavington staffers on life in Rotterdam
Best of the web 54
White Arkitekter partner Michael Woodford on the practice’s healthcare projects
Briefing notes 56
Our regular round-up of conferences and events at NLA
Technical explainer 84
Max Fordham’s Bill Watts offers the lowdown on decarbonisation
Market essay 90
Long-termism, by Gerald Eve partner Lloyd Davies and associate Oliver Al-Rehani