BW: UNCUT. IN CONVERSATION.

The UN Women UK’s charity launched a campaign to enhance our public spaces in 2020, after they identified, that over 70% of women have experienced sexual harassment in public (physical and online) spaces. Everyone working within the development industry has a duty to enhance the security of our urban environments. The space we give over to movement and play must make everyone feel welcome, no matter what age or gender, religion or capability. Here we bring together a group of individuals at the forefront of this debate to understand more about the emerging research, resources and approaches being taken in this sphere, to design better and make change happen.  Featuring:  Amelia Powell, HerCollective [https://www.hercollective.co.uk/]; Cllr Holly Bruce, Glasgow City Council [https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/];  Rachel Kirkwood, Stantec [https://www.stantec.com/en]; Mirella Ainsworth, Barton Willmore, now Stantec [https://www.bartonwillmore.co.uk/]; Jenni Montgomery, Barton Willmore, now Stantec [https://www.bartonwillmore.co.uk/] (Chair)

With Rishi Sunak now in place as Prime Minister and Michael Gove returned to DLUCH, there remains work to be done in terms of planning focus and priorities, if the Government is to ensure the development industry plays the role it can in economic recovery, our route to net zero and the growing challenge of social inequality UK wide.  Here we bring together a familiar panel of podcast voices, who have joined us previously to debate this very topic and therefore do so in this new context.  What of Truss’s plans for planning should remain? If Investment Zones go, what should the alternatives be? With the Levelling Up and Regeneration Agenda back on the table, what does this mean for the industry? Is it time for more funding into planning departments? Any move on water nutrient neutrality? How can he aid the Affordable Housing Plan?  Featuring: Tom Martin, Quatro [https://quatro-pr.co.uk/]; Zack Simons, Landmark Chambers [https://www.landmarkchambers.co.uk/]; Catriona Riddell, Catriona Riddell & Associates Ltd [https://www.linkedin.com/in/catriona-riddell-b418a322/?originalSubdomain=uk];  Matthew Dawber, Barton Willmore, now Stantec [https://www.bartonwillmore.co.uk/Knowledge/Intelligence/2022/Uncut-In-Conversation-Our-Podcast]; Iain Painting, Barton Willmore, now Stantec [https://www.bartonwillmore.co.uk/Knowledge/Intelligence/2022/Uncut-In-Conversation-Our-Podcast] (Chair)

Everyone is agreed that the same old thinking won’t solve the growing challenges across energy, water, climate change, and transport – we’re facing problems on a serious scale and we need fresh solutions.  In this episode, we hear from three recent entrants to the planning and placemaking profession, getting their perspectives on the 21st Century community and where they see the opportunities for innovation, ideas, and progressive approaches to these very real problems.   How can we design better for net zero living?  What is the way forward for water?  How should we achieve energy security and affordability?  What’s the solution for future mobility and the best way to connect people and places? Buckle up and prepare for some viewpoints from four Graduate Planners and Designers with points to make and ideas to share. Featuring our Barton Willmore, now Stantec [http://www.bartonwillmore.co.uk/] Graduates:  Sarah McKenzie; Angus Duncan; Ed Jones; and Ben Copithorne, Camargue (Chair).

Back in 2017, we hosted a survey and debate alongside the Birmingham Post, on the future ambitions for Birmingham to 2030 [https://www.bartonwillmore.co.uk/Knowledge/News/2017/Birmingham-2030-%E2%80%93-what-does-the-city-need-and-wher]. Five years on, and five years into Andy Street’s tenure as West Midlands Regional Mayor, how is the ‘capital’ of the region reflecting these ambitions and implementing change? How has the direction for the wider region changed post-pandemic? What areas of focus do we believe should now be a priority? How is the Commonwealth Games impacting the urban fabric? What should the priorities be for growth to 2050? We brought together a range of people to discuss this topic, who are working within and delivering change across the city, while we happily came together within it to celebrate all things Barton Willmore and Stantec, at The Custard Factory in Digbeth. Featuring: Rob Garratt, St Joseph Homes [https://www.berkeleygroup.co.uk/about-us/who-we-are/our-brands/st-joseph]; Charles Goode, University of Birmingham [https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/index.aspx]; Jez Collins, Birmingham Music Archive [https://www.birminghammusicarchive.com/]; Daniel Griffiths, Stantec [https://www.stantec.com/en]; Kathryn Ventham, Barton Willmore, now Stantec [http://www.bartonwillmore.co.uk/]; Robin Shepherd, Barton Willmore, now Stantec [http://www.bartonwillmore.co.uk/] (Chair)

It is fair to say the new Planning Bill is a combination of Gove and successive previous Planning Ministers’ (and there have been many) attempts at implementing the Levelling-Up agenda and perhaps rescuing the ‘Planning for the Future’ white paper. From scrapping EIA, housing need, and the duty to cooperate, to implementing changes to the development plan hierarchy, a new levy to replace CIL and S106, design coding, and infrastructure delivery strategies, it sounds like a raft of changes but what do they all mean in reality? What are the intended and perhaps unintended consequences? And how, in summary, does all this change truly help to deliver the Levelling-Up agenda? We are joined by a gaggle of passionate planners to mull it over. Featuring Iain Painting, Barton Wilmore, now Stantec;  Iain Gilbey, Pinsent Masons [www.pinsentmasons.com/];  Catriona Riddell, Catriona Riddell & Associates [www.linkedin.com/in/catriona-riddell-b418a322/];  Tom Martin, Quatro PR [quatro-pr.co.uk/];  Mary Mescall, Barton Willmore, now Stantec