Sir Stuart Lipton has called for an umbrella built environment body to be formed to help drive more “cohesive policy” and tackle “significant social changes”, warning that if urgent action is not taken, the industry will “keep building the slums of tomorrow”.
In an exclusive interview with BE News, the Lipton Rogers co-founder and former chairman of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, said: “Unfortunately, we have a group of organisations that don’t really work in a cohesive way. We have London First, the RICS, the RIBA, the BPF and many others, but there should be a built environment [body]. Likewise, the development industry doesn’t have a cohesive policy. We need to work together to produce a better product at less cost.”
He accused secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities Michael Gove of failing to communicate with the industry and stifling growth. “Mr Gove is a very bright, smart man, but he has not yet produced one indicator of growth,” he said. “I haven’t seen any vision and I have seen no attempt from him to talk to the industry, which wants to help and do the right things.”
The lack of leadership and failure to address endemic problems in the planning system were having devastating consequences, said Lipton: “We keep building the slums of tomorrow, without mixed use and local amenities. Why on earth do we build hospitals out of town? We know why. Because it’s less costly to build on greenbelt. It’s all short termism.”
The industry needed to recognise and respond to the “significant social changes” that had taken place, particularly during the pandemic, he said. “Peoples’ live/work conditions have got to change to encourage them to feel comfortable in their new work world,” he added. “That’s really significant. It’s what I call factory farming versus free range. This all needs time.”
Lipton called for strong civic leadership, citing the impact of Sir Richard Leese and Sir Howard Bernstein in Manchester. “Georgia Gould, the brilliant leader of Camden Borough Council, could, with a careful masterplan, rebuild the area north of Euston Road, which has old, outdated housing,” he said. “If this area of 10,000 homes was redeveloped to a higher density, it could provide a mix of tenancies with affordable intermediate and commercial rentals and sales. With links to Cambridge and three major stations, what better place for growth? Will Gould take up the challenge?”
To read the full interview with Sir Stuart Lipton, click here.
