Latest News Thu, Jul 11, 2019 2:02 PM
Town halls should encourage the redevelopment of retail parks and large supermarkets into communities that include homes, shops and businesses, a wide-ranging report for the government has found.
The new “mixed use” communities should be supported by new public transport to reduce reliance on cars – and are part of plans to revisit these ‘boxland’ developments.
The proposals are contained in the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission’s interim report, ‘Creating space for beauty’.
The report examines the fundamental reasons for ugly developments and public mistrust, and also calls for communities to be given an earlier say in the development process, encouraging greater use of master-planning – rather than communities engaging in town “planning by appeal”.
Interim Chairman of the Commission, Nicholas Boys Smith said: "Redeveloping abandoned out of town retail parks and ugly old supermarkets would deliver something much more beautiful in the form of thriving new communities where people can raise a family, work or settle down.
"Our initial report sets many ways we can make our country more beautiful while fulfilling the needs of future generations who will need a roof over their head.
"We need to move the democracy up-stream from development control to plan-making.
"Beauty should not be just a property of the old buildings or protected landscapes but something we expect from new buildings, places and settlements. We need to deliver beauty for everyone, not just the wealthy. This will require, ultimately, some fundamental changes. Hopefully our report will start part of that important debate with the public and the professions.
"These are draft proposals at this stage, and we would welcome further feedback before we put a final report to the government in the coming months."
Other interim recommendations to the government include:
Responding to the interim report, Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP said: "I am determined to reach our target of building 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s, but it’s right that we do not do this at any expense – what is built must stand the test of time.
"We owe it to the next generation to not just build more homes, but to build communities people can be proud of.
"As a country, we should not shy away from talking about what building beautifully means – and this report is an important contribution to that discussion."
The Commission praises beautiful developments, including The Malings in Newcastle, which is a riverside development of 76 new homes built on brownfield land and in keeping with traditional terraced properties in the area.
The interim report has been published today and the commission intend to submit a final report to the government before the end of the year.
Commissioners want to receive further comments and evidence which will help them to prepare a final report.
Featured News
Kentec Electronics, the leading manufacturer of innovative life safety solutions, has...
By Wojciech Brożyna - MD Aluprof UK Formed in 2017, the London Energy...
BUILDING PRODUCT LIBRARY - LATEST BROCHURES
FRAMESAFE FR A2 FIRE...
By Glidevale Protect
A Guide to Aluminium...
By F.H. Brundle
Handrailing & Balust...
By F.H. Brundle
RLG600 Access Floori...
By Kingspan Data & Floo...
RHG600 Simploc
By Kingspan Data & Floo...
BUILDING PRODUCT DIRECTORY - LATEST PRODUCTS
Straightcurve® – headquartered in Australia, is renowned for high-end innovative garden edging,...
The Kingspan RLG600 raised access floor panel is intended for light office use and is capable of...
Kingspan RHG600 Simploc is the heavy grade floor system, capable of handling up to a 12kN/m2...
CONSTRUCTION VIDEOS - LATEST VIDEOS
Straightcurve® Product Range Overview - A Demonstration of Installation Ease
In progressive and dynamic business sectors, such as construction, it’s natural to be forward...
Decorative aluminium horizontal bulkheads more than 100 metres long have been supplied and installed...