Abercrombie achieved this some fifty years ago. The development control system needs to champion design initiatives, and positively encourage developers and volume builders. If we want good quality we need to set stronger design policies. Exhortation to developers to follow 'good practice' is not enough. Most good schemes result from enlightened landowners - whether development corporations, private companies or the Prince of Wales, who may impose a masterplan or development agreement.
Elsewhere developers are mainly concerned with the lowest quality for the best cash return.
Let's see the strengthening of development briefs, the introduction of urban design briefs, principles and guidelines by local authorities, and the requirement for developers to provide urban design statements as part of their applications. Maybe that way we can raise the quality of their product. Finsbury Avenue development designed by Arup Associates created a balanced environment of office buildings around a public square and linked to this is Broadgate, shown to the left, also by Arup Associates. This provided an important new public space as its focus, with a central arena used for events in the summer and ice skating in the winter Encourage an integrated approach by Local Authorities To do this we need to work in a more interdependent way. The professions have divided up the environment and jealously guard their territory.