most comments emerging from regional review panels relate to poor road design and that if we do not get basic principles right we will not increase quality of place. Presentations finalised zooming into the small scale, looking at how development can impact on personal wellbeing and on the population as a whole. This is particularly important in a world where societal changes driven by globalisation and communication advances are having a negative impact on the physical and mental health of the population. Noha Nasser said: “As place makers we are responsible for ensuring our public realm works to bring people together. Think about uses and activities that spark conversations and can be enjoyed by everyone.” Recurrent themes across all presentations were the need to create places with a sense of identity, and the importance of considering, respecting and embracing public perceptions, both regarding existing places and new developments. The event discussions will result in a ten point action plan for the region, covering all scales of design and planning. A team will be established to create a place-based action plan routed in ethical practice. A huge thanks to Emily Walsh, Chair of the RTPI West Midlands urban design forum and Associate Director at JMP for making this event possible. “Our BIG Midlands Meet was a great success, with over 100 people attending from a wide range of organisations. The presentations and discussions on the day have pointed to a number key things we need to do to deliver great places in the Midlands.” E. Walsh neighbourhoods to become denser, household-by-household but within a larger policy framework. Regular features include the Urban Design Library this time on Berman Marshall’s All that is solid melts into air, Ombretta Romice has chosen My Favourite Plan, and there are reviews of new books and recent urban design related events - many of which are also available to watch online - plus the always fascinating Endpiece by Joe Holyoak. Urban Design is the leading journal in its field. Each issue provides in-depth analysis of topical themes, with contributions from leading practitioners, policymakers and academics from the UK and abroad. To obtain copies, join the Urban Design Group £50 for regular membership, £30 for Students/Concessions Urban Design journal archive yet? 100+ editions now available to download free UDG volunteers working over the holiday break have completed the digitising of all available back copies of Urban Design. Well over 100 are now available to download free.
July 2016 Engage Liverpool Parks debate 19th April Placemaking for the Common Good 20th April Yorkshire Northern Urban Design London Events coming up – extensive programme some free, some charged/ £175+VAT (Free for UDL subscribers) The Principles of Good Design & the Design Process 21st April 2016 Design South East / Kent Design Event Calendar RTPI Design in the Planning System 12 May - London Place Alliance – Big Meet 5 Friday 29th April PTRC Transport Practitioners Meeting 2016 – Nottingham 29-30 June 2016 | Nottingham Call for papers open. Transport Planning Society Housing for London 14 April @ The Gallery 70 Cowcross Street Transport modelling – fact, forecast or fiction? Thursday 21st April 2016 18:00 to 20:00 Research Events good in public spaces – Dialogue series Sensing the place – experiences and wayfinding 27 April CIHT Society of Road Safety Auditors Conference 21 June 2016 RIBA Essentials of Urban Design in Planning Birmingham 14 April Weather in the City – How Design Shapes the Urban Climate Sanda Lenzholzer All urban designers, architects, planners, and highway engineers should have a knowledge of this subject. UrbanNous Catalogue available on-line Highlights include Christopher Alexander, George Ferguson, Hans Monderman and scores of others. Urban Nous is produced and operated by Fergus Carnegie for the benefit of practitioners worldwide. RICS Sherford New Town Update 27 April - Plymouth Placemaking and viability: delivering more and better quality developments. 30 June - London China Design Centre 2016 China-UK Ideal Town and Garden City Summit —Building Green, Liveable and Thriving Towns 26 April - London