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Wei Yang inaugurated
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RTPI calls for ‘bottomup’ approach to post-Covid high street planning
By Laura Edgar
Covid-19 has and continues to speed up changes to high streets and town centres that were already happening in the UK, according to a report published by the RTPI.
Th ere is “unlikely” to be a return to past shopping habits, warns the institute.
For this research project, nearly 4,000 comments posted under articles published on Th e Guardian website were examined using sentiment analysis and text-mining techniques.
Th e results showed that commenters believe Covid19 is speeding up changes to high streets that were already happening before the pandemic took hold in the UK in March 2020.
Many noted that the repurposing of existing buildings in town centres was inevitable and welcome, leaving city centres able to “take the blow”, adapt, and thrive again. Also, some suggested using Italian and French cities as “aspirational” city centre models, despite, the institute explained, many of these being reminiscent of more old-fashioned shopping destinations that are comprised primarily of independent retailers.
For the RTPI, the research highlights the “vital importance” of community engagement in the planning process; it could, the institute said, inform a more inclusive and ‘bottom-up’ approach post Covid-19.
Report author Professor Aude Bicquelet-Lock, deputy head of policy and research at the institute, said: “Th e Covid-19 outbreak has come at a challenging time for many high streets and town centres already suff ering from reduced footfall and has forced built environment experts and politicians alike to rethink the way we plan future towns and cities
“However, the views of the public on the topic have largely remained absent from the debate. Th is is a signifi cant absence – especially in a context where the impact of placemaking on people’s health and wellbeing has been widely acknowledged.”
Th e institute, she continues, believes that communities have a vitally important role to play in making decisions about the future of the places where they live, work or play.
“We know from our recent research with Grayling Engage [see this month’s
Some respondents suggested using Italian and French cities as “aspirational” city centre models
page 46] that people are more interested and invested in their local communities than ever before.
“As we recover from the pandemic, it is vital that we capitalise on this renewed interest to ensure that decisions are being taken that truly refl ect the needs of local communities.”
Bicquelet-Lock has presented her preliminary fi ndings from the research to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee. Th e research will also inform the High Street Task Force Resource Library and the RTPI-chaired High Streets Task Force Professional Research and Data Group.
Planning for PostCovid Cities can be found on the RTPI website: bit.ly/planner0221highstreetchanges
Wei Yang inaugurated as president of the RTPI
Dr Wei Yang FRTPI has pledged to inform and update the public on the purpose of town planning in her year as president of the RTPI.
Th e address was given at a virtual inauguration event due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic on 20 January.
Yang moved to the UK from Beijing in 1999 to study her master’s degree at Sheffi eld university. Twenty-fi rst century garden cities, she said, are her “abiding passion”. Her research on them has made her realise just how little the public knows about planning and how many misunderstandings there are about garden cities.
“So, town planners – who were we? Who are we today? Who do we want to be tomorrow?” she asked. Answering this, Yang spoke about Ebenezer Howard and his book To-morrow: A Peaceful Path to Real Reform. Watching the way Covid-19 has ravaged people's lives she said, “I was constantly thinking how Howard’s vision is as relevant for us today as it was in his day, 120 years ago”.
“During 2021, my presidential year, my fi rst priority is to readdress the name of town planners and to inform and update people on the real purpose of planning. Planning is about people. Planning is about health. Planning is about the wellbeing of our immediate environment.
“Th e spirit of the planning profession is focused, at its heart, on service to the community. I believe compassion and selfl essness are the moral foundations of our profession. Th rough my presidential year, in all that I do, I will further these qualities,” Yang concluded.
After a year-long MSc in computer-aided environmental design and completing a PhD, Yang got her fi rst planning job as an urban designer with David Lock Associates in Milton Keynes, graduating to largescale project work and managing DLA’s role as a CABE enabler. In 2011, Yang set up Wei Yang & Partners. Yang takes over from Sue Manns FRTPI and will serve as president of the RTPI for one year. Read more on page 46.
Watch the 2021 presidential inauguration ceremony here: bit.ly/planner0221-inauguration. Read Th e Planner’s interview with Wei Yang here: bit.ly/ Planner-0121-WeiYang
Prior approval requirements added to PDR for upward extensions
Another prior approval condition has been added to the permitted development right (PDR) that allows upwards extensions to be added to residential and commercial properties without planning permission in England (MHCLG).
Th e PDR was fi rst introduced at the end of August last year. Th e Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) (No. 4) Order 2020 requires a developer seeking prior approval under the PDR in relation to an existing building that is 18 metres or more in height “to provide a report from a chartered engineer or other competent professional confi rming that the external wall construction of the existing building complies with paragraph B4(1) of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/2214) to the local planning authority”.
Th is was set out in a letter from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to local planning authorities in England.
It adds that the external walls of the building “shall adequately resist the spread of fi re over the walls and from one building to another”.
In the event of a report not being provided, local planning authorities “must refuse prior approval”.
Th e amendment came into eff ect on 30 December last year.
Read the full story here: bit.ly/planner0221-priorapproval
