Does England need a National Design Quality Unit?

Join Place Alliance & Partners for the launch of Delivering Urban Quality – Time To Get Serious pamphlet.

The pamphlet, which sets out the case for a Design Quality Unit for England, is a joint initiative of The Academy of Urbanism, Civic Voice, CPRE, Design Council, Place Alliance, Trees & Design Action Group and the Urban Design Group.

Following the work of the Building Better Building Beautiful Commission and the findings in A Housing Design Audit for England, the initiative is calling for a step change in the Government’s focus on, and attention to, design quality. As the Covid-crisis has starkly revealed, the quality of our built environment is critical to our everyday sense of well-being, and will impact profoundly on the future success of our nation. It’s time to get serious about design quality!

The launch will consist of a number of quick fire presentations followed by a discussion: 

Chaired by Roger Harrabin  BBC Energy and Environment Analyst

Speakers

• Matthew Carmona  
  Place Alliance Chair, Professor of Planning and Urban Design, UCL 
  WHY WE NEED A DESIGN QUALITY UNIT
• Sarah Weir OBE
  CEO, Design Council
  DELIVERING ON THE NATIONAL AMBITION 
• Christopher Martin  
  Urban Design Group; Co-Founder + Director, Urban Movement 
  HOW MIGHT A DESIGN QUALITY UNIT OPERATE 
• David Rudlin  
  Director, URBED, The Academy of Urbanism Former Chair
  WHAT WOULD A DESIGN QUALITY UNIT LOOK LIKE
• Andrew Taylor  
  Director Head of Planning, Countryside 
  FIRST RESPONSE: THE NATIONAL NEED
• Laura Alvarez  
  Convenor, Urban Design Group East Midlands; Senior Principal Urban Design and Conservation Officer, Nottingham City Council 
  SECOND RESPONSE: THE LOCAL NEED