Lessons Learnt - Design for London

1.1 wHy tHis study?
This study is set in the context of efforts to
ccommod te London’s growing popul tion within
the city’s ound ries, while tr nsforming it into
prosperous, more environment lly responsi le
nd live le city through cre tive, c reful nd
integr ted ur n design. The study w s commissioned
y Design for London to explore how
im gin tive yet pr ctic l designs nd policies
could deliver ppropri te residenti l intensific
tion in town centres nd their edges. It is n
independent rese rch document nd should not
e interpreted s endorsed or dopted policy, ut
it could inform future policy development on the
p rt of Government, the Gre ter London Authority
f mily nd Loc l Authorities, presenting possi le
options to en le growth nd pu lic re lm
enh ncement eyond current policy fr meworks.
It ims to stimul te de te out ur n ch nge
mongst the uilt environment community nd
the pu lic.
Though set g inst r pidly ch nging m rket
context, with profound implic tions on housing
delivery, the study concentr tes on policy
f ctors which currently ct s constr ints to
delivering incre sed c p city nd etter qu lity,
nd identifies policy ch nge which might e
required to ring out future development. We
h ve focused on seven south London loc tions,
ll of them without m jor ongoing pl nning
nd development projects, which re ro dly
represent tive of the diversity in London’s town
centres. They re mostly second ry town centres
outside centr l London ut with good pu lic
tr nsport ccessi ility, which h ve seen rel tively
limited intensific tion in recent ye rs. The study
tests the ide th t these intermedi te centres,
which now often f ll outside the prim ry focus of
pl nning nd regener tion ctivity, c n contri ute
signific ntly to sust in le housing development
8 HOUSING INTENSIfICATION IN SEVEN SOUTH LONDON TOWN CENTRES AND THEIR EDGES
in south London, nd th t this c n dd to the
vit lity nd qu lity of such pl ces. The study
should inform the de te out pl nning nd
development in Outer London.
for e ch of the seven loc tions, the study
presents three ur n design scen rios th t
illustr te options for future developments. These
scen rios re illustr tive nd conceptu l. They
do not seek to m ke det iled propos ls for
immedi te ch nge. They re, however sed
on the o jectives of good qu lity town centre
intensific tion, ttr ctive nd sust in le homes
for different demogr phic groups nd cre ting
ro der enefits to the pu lic such s improved
pu lic re lm nd soci l infr structure.
This study will e relev nt to those involved in
current de tes out pl nning ch nge in London
nd to the wider pl nning nd development
pr ctitioners who seek to cre te good qu lity
rchitecture nd ur n design in London nd
other metropolit n re s. Whilst the document
should not e re d s GLA or M yor l policy, we
hope it will inspire ll st keholders to strive for n
im gin tive, m itious ppro ch to intensific tion
in future policy development, re fr meworks
nd individu l projects.