What if the residents of a street could collectively decide to build more homes on it - and share directly in the benefits? That's street votes. In our new paper with @labourtogether.bsky.social we set out how community-led street votes could help Steve Reed build 1.5 million new homes.

I join a delightful supper at the invitation of Pat Brown MBE & Muyiwa Oki PRIBA to discuss ideas on ‘Collaboration for Design Leadership’. I came away more conviced that the solution lies in creating a meaningful relationship between the consumers and the producers of the built environment.

I'm to chair a joint meeting on housing organised by London Forum & The London Society on May 13th at 6.00pm at UCL Room G03 26 Bedford Way, London WC1H OAP Tickets here: londonsociety.org.uk/event/talk-t... See my piece Housing Today and Building Design. www.bdonline.co.uk/opinion/coun...

My interview with Carlo Navato for his #CuriosityDividend now on Spotify. Here's what the blurb says: A wonderfully erudite, engaging and deeply thoughtful man, Ben shares his principles for good architecture and Placemaking. See what you think! eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...

I’m proud but sad to share the obituary of my late brother in law who died after a short illness just after Christmas, ‘a gift of being able to elucidate buildings for professor and novice equally’ A tragic loss to our family and to the wider heritage fraternity. www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

10 years of Historic England celebrated at UK House of Lords last evening. The reception hosted by Lord Neil Mendoza & Duncan Wilson CBE, was an opportunity to reflect on our development supporting heritage-led & people-centered regeneration since the separation from English Heritage a decade ago.

A visit last week by Historic England commissioners to Derby City Council was a great opportunity to reflect on the changing role of our organisation in supporting the challenges for a local authority at the heart of the nation's economy and defence.

I’m proud to have become a Trustee of @savetoreuse.bsky.social SAVE Britain's Heritage in its #50thAnniversary year!

This year marks SAVE's 50th anniversary and tomorrow we are announcing a national programme of activities to celebrate. Can you tell where we are going⁉️

Full House! Pretty much all the measures set out in the planning & Infrastructure Bill on: Planning Committees Nature Restoration Fund Compulsory Purchase Reform Development Corporations Strategic Planning Nationally Significant Infrastructure Clean Energy are promoted in my 2023 book #HomeTruths!

Catch me discussing reactions to the Infrastructure & Planning Bill with Kait Borsay on Times Radio at 7.30 this evening.

Lest anyone doubt football is now the national religion, here’s its place of pilgrimage - Manchester United new ground at Old Trafford by Foster & Partners - processional route, spires and all.

If you love #modernism, you’ll love being part of our team of volunteer gallery assistants. Recruiting now for the 2025 season.

Nice gable!

“The property tells the story of Imogen Holst’s contribution to British music and highlights her connection to the Aldeburgh Festival, which continues to enrich our cultural landscape today.” Duncan Wilson CBE, Historic England. Hear, Hear! www.bdonline.co.uk/news/cadbury...

Good to see this piece recognise the pioneering work in the 80s on #CommunityArchitecture of my own practice amongst others. These days I’m still extolling the virtues of #PeopleCentredRegeneration and the skills and resources needed by Local Authorities. www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/opinion...

I shall be chairing a London Forum of Amenity and Civic Societies and The London Society event on April 23rd, aiming to leave us all much better informed about the shape of housing growth in London. Keynote Speaker Jules Pipe Deputy Mayor of London. Tickets: www.londonforum.org.uk/events/the-n...

At HTA Design LLP we’ve spent years working with housebuilders, pushing for better design, greener public spaces, and improved building aesthetics, proving that good placemaking and profitable development can go hand in hand. My piece in Building Design this week: www.bdonline.co.uk/opinion/bett...

Even with the welcome additional £350m funding for social housing almost half of the government’s plan for increased supply of new homes is going to be delivered by speculative housebuilders. I write in Housing Today on the implications for delivering quality. www.housingtoday.co.uk/comment/bala...

I got along to RIBA for a celebration for Charles Hind, curator of the RIBA drawings collection over the last 37 years - probably the finest collection held by any architectural institute anywhere in the world. Charles has done a wonderful job gathering the work of distinguished members.

An industry insider told me: "There was a big belief in govt that if you pulled the planning lever everything would flow, but you can't just pull one lever and expect everything to work," while another said: "Labour has got fixated thinking planning is the answer to all." Laura Keunssberg on housing

Good to see our cafe space at #HTADesignLLP decked out with just some of the display of our #WinterExhibition. This year’s show is a really encouraging record of what was a difficult year.

Riveting, often funny Loyd Grossman at #TempleBar last night. Can #CityOfLondon be the tourist destination merited by its unique history? Many ideas offered but above all a plan is needed to offer all the amenities that might sustain attractive #StreetLife, presently closed outside office hours!

Good work! www.centreforcities.org/press/centre...

Some very welcome Southwold sunshine.

No space for a street tree on your road? Think again! By working with your local authorities, we can find a way around most problems standing in the way of you sponsoring a tree outside your home 🌳🏡

New Year, new use, new life? ♻️ Know of a building near you that is empty& neglected? 🏛️👀 Nominate it for SAVE's buildings at risk register & help find a solution. 📚Find out more: bit.ly/4hfJarW 📸Scale Hall, Lancaster Andrew Marland

To an excellent round table discussion on the housing crisis organised by the very lively #NegroniTalks. Lots of great points. But if we were to overcome extreme inequity and widespread poverty we may see less of this - snapped on my way home. Bell tents outside high end furniture store, Heals.

Pursuing answers to the question to be put by Loyd Grossman at Temple Bar London on 28th Jan: ‘Destination City: Can the Square Mile become a Tourism Magnet?’ I find myself at the Sky Garden with the irrepressible Kate Davies. It’s cold and the airport-style security leaves our quest unanswered…..

Thinking about Peter Murray’s upcoming evening at Temple Bar London when Loyd Grossman will talk on, ‘Destination City: Can the Square Mile become a Tourism Magnet?’ Well, the new 1 Leadenhall is a frightful example of the way the city’s remarkable heritage is subjugated to relentless commerce:

Today I met my new colleagues as Trustee at SAVE Britain’s Heritage, and went on to enjoy the launch of our 50th year celebrations at Space House. With half a century giving new life to threatened buildings there remains much to do. @savetoreuse.bsky.social

The redoubtable Duncan Wilson CBE, who retires after a decade as Chief Executive of Historic England in nine months time, will be a hard act to follow. But what an opportunity! Pictured at the unveiling of George Harrison’s Blue Plaque. Apply here: app.beapplied.com/apply/exfbjm...

Full moon over Highbury Place

Seen in Venice Beach today

'conservation is commercially very valuable. It gives an area its character, it creates places where people want to live and work. It’s not just about preserving an old building, it’s a record. A record of the continuity of this town that we live in...' Griff Rhys Jones, @thetimes.com bit.ly/3BCWTKj

‘This is a significant milestone in the delivery of a new climate-positive neighbourhood that’s putting connection and community at the centre of its regenerative development. Milton Heights puts the existing landscape and ecology first.’ Simon Toplis HTA. www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/hta-des...

My Housing Today column this month highlights the importance of bringing more people back to live in town centres, citing experience as chair of Historic England's Historic Places Panel and at Chatham High Street Heritage Action Zone. www.housingtoday.co.uk/why-people-c...

The report of our Historic England, Historic Places Panel inquiry in Exeter is now available online: historicengland.org.uk/content/docs...

I write in Housing Today of my experience as chair of Historic England's Historic Places Panel. People are the well-spring for recreating faltering places. Most town centres would be greatly improved if more people lived there. www.housingtoday.co.uk/why-people-c...

My piece on the opportunity for living the good life in London's competing CBDs is published today in bdonline.bsky.social: www.bdonline.co.uk/opinion/if-n...

My first post on Bluesky. I’m a refugee from ‘X’ where I said goodbye to a network of more than 9k built up over years. I care about people and places.