Bhakti Depala, Head of Planning Delivery for City of London reflects on our latest webinar exploring how women are shaping public spaces and influencing planning processes to prioritise accessibility and safety in urban areas.

There is little research on relationships between young girls and women in public spaces, and a common question which came up amongst the panel members was - are young girls and women being designed out of public spaces?

Dr Julia King, a policy fellow at LSE Cities, presented her ‘Make space for girls’ initiative. Julia highlighted that 74% of women feel worried for their safety in London, and youth facilities and public spaces do not cater well or appeal to young women due a to lack of public expenditure. When public expenditure is dispensed, it is largely on football pitches, skate parks and BMX tracks, which are overwhelmingly used by young boys and men.  

Julia highlighted that planning processes for public spaces have an age and gender problem and we need new mechanisms to engage young adults that includes women in planning. Women comprise only 14% of the built environment workforce, which compels us to think about how young women are being represented when planning for spaces. Julia shared her research experience, which is based on lived experiences. This type of targeted participatory research democratises the process, by putting people who were previously absent in the production of knowledge, in the heart of that knowledge production to make the research more relevant, resulting in more meaningful outcomes. 

Linda Thiel, Director of London Studio at White Arkitekter continued the insightful discussion by presenting her research on how we can design a city where no-one is left behind. This research, from a girl’s perspective, wanted to come to terms with why things are not working. Linda worked on creating and curating unique and bespoke consultations events. One of the examples was working with a youth theatre group, enacting a play with a script and a walking tour to relay how young girls felt and experienced the spaces they were walking through - these groups included key place makers such as planners, architects and developers. 

The design of spaces usually uses masterplans which are often outdated and we need to ensure these masterplans meet the current needs and are targeted at everyone. The creation of open spaces and public realm can be starkly changed by clever interventions. For example, designing seating in a way which can provide incidental stages for play and dance sessions, designing in indirect surveillance for young girls and women to see and be seen, or the use of good lighting, colour and art in creating an atmosphere where people can comfortably ‘hang out’ is equally appealing. 

Romy Rawlings, Commercial Director Vestre, provided insights into how we can think about urban furniture, and the impact gender has on the selection of furniture we make. Romy advocates that we should create arenas for everyday social democracy, value diversity and eliminate prejudice which allows the creation of social meeting places where people of all backgrounds can come together. 

There is a need to think about how we share and negotiate public spaces to provide choices for all –especially for vulnerable members of our society i.e. wheelchair and buggy use (as a higher percent of women are carers). 

Engagement which is representative of young girls and women we are designing for, by truly meaningful engagement, not about tokenistic consultation requirements, tick boxing and building confidence amongst under-represented groups.

Research which is led by those with diverse lived experiences - putting people who are absent in the production of knowledge in the heart of that knowledge production to make the research relevant and provide a more meaningful outcome.

Create norms for working toward inclusive design - public space design solutions should be designed to work better for everyone - which means design girls into public spaces without designing out boys.

Increase balance in the planning/placemaking profession by promoting it as a profession that is for all.