Uses of Thames Gateway Framework

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Uses of Thames Gateway Framework

• Professor Anne Power
• 7th June 2004

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Housing pressures in London

• House price rises
• Economic growth
• High levels of migration
• Rate of household formation
• Demands for higher standards
• Loss of council housing

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Housing does not stand alone

• Location and links
• Social life, community, services, transport and
  work
• High quality, attractive, well-connected and
  well-serviced homes at affordable prices

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Framework for TG

• Strategic issues for successful delivery
• Supply of housing in London tight, expensive
  Demand for housing in TG variable, lower value
• Existing stock needs regeneration
• Decent Homes Standard
• investment options
• polarisation of social housing
• Mix of incomes, tenures and uses
• peripheral estates or social inclusion
• Designing mixed income, mixed use
• technical expertise
• design skills
• investment in infrastructure
• environmental protection
• flood prevention

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A strong clear framework but

• Many local plans, schemes and approaches
• Different forms of delivery
• Varied strategies

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Our goals

• Work out from the city and existing centres
• Increase the attractions of the London TG
• Use infill sites and conversions
• Renovate and modernise existing homes
• Avoid ghettoisation of poor and vulnerable people
• Avoid a big bang, big brother approach
• Minimise environmental impact and energy use
• Value the natural assets

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Scenario planning

• Short-term to 2006 will not meet our
  aspirations
• Medium-term to 2012 regeneration, integration,
  environmental protection, higher density, public
  transport, more mixed uses, smaller, better
  designed flats, communal facilities, public
  spaces
• Longer-term to 2030 imperatives to save energy,
  reduce waste, cut water and land use conserve
  environmental resources

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Three Scenarios

• Current scenario modest overall target for
  homes suburban style private estates low-cost
  environments
• sprawl, poor transport/social provision
• Debateable scenario higher densities
• more ambitious housing targets
• investment in physical and social infrastructure
• Optimal scenario high density, urban
• land as resource
• necessary infrastructure
• environmental remediation
• high environmental, transport, building standards
• viable, attractive, urban communities

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Current government policy

• Housing and urban policy
• Neighbourhood renewal
• Transport
• Sustainable development
• Energy efficiency
• Crime and anti-social behaviour
• Liveability

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Recommendations

• Start from existing communities
• Advocate up-front investment in physical and
  social infrastructure
• Plan for higher density, more mixed use, more
  integrated communities
• Build and renovate homes to the highest possible
  eco-standards
• Invest in high quality urban design
• Protect and reinstate the natural environment

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Measures of sustainable communities

• Planning, design, density and layout
• Minimising energy use and environmental impact
• A viable local economy and services
• Community organisation and neighbourhood
  management

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Ways forward

• Opportunities for image change
• Remediation and infrastructure
• Tried and tested urban design
• Social cohesion and ethnic change
• Urban environment
• Action planning for the London Thames Gateway
• Vision for the future

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Action planning in the London Thames Gateway
local authorities

• Adopt a regeneration approach to development
• Adopt highest environmental standards
• Identify adequate resources for local action
  plans
• Focus strategies on new image for the London TG
• Undertake detailed local capacity studies
• Develop pilots as design and management models
• Examine infrastructure and social needs
• Set out steps for achieving higher CPA rating
• Work out deliverable targets for 2004, 2005, 2006

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Use framework as

• Leverage on government
• Standards for private sector
• Open door to local communities
• Ahead of the game
• Quick start
• Many actors/contributors
• Local authority role

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Outline of the report

• Volume one framework for developing housing in
  the London Thames Gateway
• Volume two critical strategic issues strong
  focus on local delivery, housing, social, urban
  and environmental challenges
• Volume three materials, evidence from the
  boroughs, and work of other organisations