Planners to lead Northern Powerhouse debates to focus on people and places
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) will hold a series of round tables in six Northern cities starting next week to create a set of shared ambitions to make places work better for people, with infrastructure investments that improves quality of life.
Businesses, academics, local government, civil society groups and other organisations are invited to take part to help develop a collaborative and pan-Northern approach to tackling issues such as demographic change, health, the future of town centres, rural and coastal communities, jobs and skills, graduate retention, and barriers to good growth.
The RTPI and think tank IPPR North launched a Blueprint for a Great North Plan in 2016 after consultation with more than 400 Northern businesses and local leaders.
The blueprint calls for a collaborative approach around key Northern assets, with “people and place” being one of these.
Bob Wolfe, RTPI project chair, said: “The distinctiveness and diversity of the North reside in its people and places, history and built heritage, natural beauty, and culture.
“From this position of strength and opportunity, we want to highlight these assets and problems associated with them in the ongoing debate around the Northern Powerhouse, and show how a holistic way of looking at, and planning across the North can deliver the widest benefits.
“Transport and infrastructure are clearly important building blocks, but they need to be knitted into how people want to live – now and in years to come.
“Our project will add much-needed insight into people’s needs and aspirations to inform big, vital decisions ahead.”
The first three round tables will explore demographic change, in Bradford, on January 14, followed by housing quality and affordability, in Newcastle the following day, while commerce, jobs and the fourth industrial revolution will be the focus for the third debate, in Manchester, on January 16.
Three further round tables will follow in the last week of January, focusing on rural and coastal communities (Blackpool), the future of town centres (Sheffield), and key Northern assets (Darlington).
Each round table will be delivered by leading consultancy Peter Brett Associates with support from academics at Newcastle University and volunteers from the Institute.
The RTPI will share its findings and recommendations at a major conference on People and Place, which will be held in Spring 2019.
To register interest in attending any of these workshops, please email manchester@peterbrett.com
