Mike Ball on planning delays

Went on Wednesday 11th to a seminar at which Mike Ball was presenting a study he led for a (Treasury-inspired?) agency called NHPAU, exploring the variation in time it took for planning permission to be granted for housing schemes. It transpired I had heard it before (at UCL I think) and read the report so I was a bit prepared – as was Duncan Bowie who also took part. We both made critical comments and received some tongue-lashing for our pains. But it is worth discussing as an example of hegemonic discourse having weak underpinnings. Continue reading “Mike Ball on planning delays”

Going too fast…

A week with a lot of stimulating events and exchanges, and no time to write them up and digest them. It was a good start when I returned feedback on 45 essays – which had taken me ages to prepare and was a great weight off my mind. I get faster at most things but slower at that.

Then on Monday evening the LSE had a seminar by Ian Gordon – very stimulating and data-rich as usual – in which he was trying to work out why London has such high levels of worklessness. Part of the concentration of worklessness is, of course, an illusion Continue reading “Going too fast…”

Medical research v social housing: UKCMRI

Last night the proposers of a major new medical research centre at Brill Place (King’s Cross St Pancras) showed their scheme at a meeting called by Camden Council in Somers Town, the adjoining district.  There is huge conflict about this project because the site has long been earmarked for a mix of activty including social housing and community facilities, none of which could be built if the research centre goes ahead.  It was a fraught, tense, meeting at times with objectors expressng variously frustration, impotence and rage while the proponents were very civilised and rather peeved to be seen as anything other than battling for the public interest.  It tells us a lot about the balance of power in urban decision making, the weakness of the planning system and the transformation of democratic local govenment into a neutered facilitator of the city’s transformation.  This is a quick short note to capture some reactions and I may expand it later. Continue reading “Medical research v social housing: UKCMRI”

Dreadful picture: lovely view for sale

woodberry not open space.jpg
The Woodberry Down social housing estate in Hackney, subject of a “regeneration” scheme in which blocks are demolished to make space for private developers to build flats for sale and for a “city academy” school. This sign must be a lawyer’s attempt to prevent anyone claiming that the land is public and thus inhibiting its privatisation. The site is a fine hill top with long views. I sent the picture round the pnuk list as a new year greeting and Peter Marcuse replied, saying he would use it in a lecture in Taiwan (with attribution). Nice.

Later: London Federation of Tenants is campaigning (with others) against the displacement of social rented housing to make way for owner-occupers, legitimated on the grounds of “social mix”.  See their submission about the draft London Plan. [Note added June 2011: Dr Suzy Nelson, U of Westminster, is working on a good critical account of this Woodberry Down ‘regeneration’. Watch out for it.]

London Plan: powerful critique, alternatives

Debates, discussions and solid work are building up as part of the consulltation process on Boris Johnson’s ‘Draft Replacement London Plan’ with a small but excellent group of UCL students working to support Just Space network of community and voluntary groups.  Strong and rapidly-developing set of critiques at http://ucljustspace.wordpress.co The 22 strong  submissions by groups in Just Space which came out of all that can be seen at http://justspace2010.wordpress.com

In December there was a seminar at LSE on the London Plan.  The main presentations are here.  In the mean time this is what I contributed. Continue reading “London Plan: powerful critique, alternatives”

UK housing – fixing the leaks without rocking the boat (much)

I have just been reading a report by the great and the good, The Future of Housing: rethinking the UK housing system for the twenty-first century, being the result of a 3-day seminar chaired by Richard Best and published by the “Building and Social Housing Foundation” of which I had never heard.  It came free in the post (from Coalville) and… Continue reading “UK housing – fixing the leaks without rocking the boat (much)”

Light relief: the Euston Puddle

[action at last! – December 2009 – but an ice hazard in January 2010. Serious action in February. See end of this post. For 2012 Olympic update see https://michaeledwards.org.uk/?p=1078  ]

3 September 2009: For four decades I have been commuting daily through Euston in London where I (and thousands of others) walk to and from the station through a public garden, Euston Square. Just where we all pass through a narrow gap (between railings and a wall) there is a puddle. It’s been there for decades and looks like this
euston puddle nov 07.jpg [click the picture for more shots] On 2 September 2009 I decided to report it. Continue reading “Light relief: the Euston Puddle”