A monthly lecture series that challenges conventional views of social justice, setting a provocative vision for a better, fairer world. Hosted at London’s c18th home of radical thinking: New Unity, Newington Green N16.

This month’s theme: People, place, participation: Putting community at the heart of planning and place-making

“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody only because and only when they are created by everybody.”
Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American, 1961

Even if they don’t know it, communities have a collective intelligence which brings social, economic and environmental value to designing cities and neighbourhoods. Just as the act of voting is a right, it is inherently democratic to bring people genuinely to the heart of planning and placemaking.

Post-war planning and urban renewal has often been undertaken without the involvement and support of local communities and with unintended negative consequences.  While the planning system seeks to secure sustainable development in the long-term public interest, all too often becomes adversarial and communities feel alienated from the planning process.

Charles Campion RIBA AoU, Partner at the award winning architectural practice JTP, will explain the background and theory of charrette processes, illustrated with some case studies from his new RIBA publication 20/20 visions.