A two-year pilot project is being launched in London, England – the Town Architects program – to help improve main streets and public spaces across the capital.
The program is part of the Mayor Sadiq Khan’s £1.25m Local Growth Capacity Support Programme which aims to support local growth and the design of public spaces in the city. The program seeks to create safe, inclusive, and sustainable neighborhoods and economic growth by ensuring that boroughs are better equipped and can utilize the skills of planners and architects to help shape better places in their local areas.
Khan has appointed 10 architects to support the capital’s boroughs, who have asked for greater knowledge sharing and the upskilling of existing teams as they strive to promote built development and growth. They will help to build much-needed capacity within local boroughs and will directly support chief placeshaping officers and designers to review project proposals and help develop a strategic vision for the local area.
The architects were selected from the mayor’s panel of Design Advocates to support his vision for good growth and ensure that new buildings and public spaces will benefit all Londoners by promoting equality and inclusion in the built environment. Their expertise spans a broad range of areas, including: architecture; master planning; main streets; the public realm; and design quality management.
“We are pleased to be launching this pilot scheme to promote the future development of key areas in the capital,” said Jules Pipe, the deputy mayor for planning, regeneration and the fire service. “By drawing on the expertise of the Mayor’s Design Advocates, local boroughs will have the expertise and support they need to boost design quality to improve their high streets and public spaces and promote positive neighborhood placemaking, helping to build a better and more sustainable London for everyone.”
