London Mayor Launches Design Program In Response To Population Growth

London is preparing a shakeup in their building and design sector in order to cater to a growing population that is heading towards 10 million.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced the launch of his Good Growth by Design program to enhance the design of buildings and neighbourhoods for all Londoners, calling on London’s architectural, design and built environment professions to help realise his vision of London as a city that is socially and economically inclusive as well as environmentally sustainable.

London currently requires space for 46,000 new jobs and will need to build 50,000 new homes a year just to keep up with demand, as well as build the social infrastructure to support both.

“My vision for London is a city that enables all Londoners to reach their potential, a city that is inclusive and a city where growth brings benefits to communities,” Mayor Khan said.

“We must embrace London’s rapid growth with both hands and take this chance to use good architecture and planning to make a real difference to the lives of Londoners.

“This is a chance to learn from past mistakes, some of which are still dotted across our city, and blight the lives of the communities that live in them.”

To support the Mayor’s ambitions and ensure development across London is high-quality, inclusive and sustainable, 50 Design Advocates will work with City Hall and councils on the program.

The advocates include celebrated architects Sir David Adjaye OBE and Sadie Morgan, as well as fashion designer Wayne Hemingway MBE.

The Good Growth by Design program will:

• Set new standards after rigorous design reviews.

• Increase capacity by launching a new social enterprise - ‘Public Practice’ - that will place talented designers and planners in local authorities for up to a year, plugging the skills gap and creating a sense of common endeavour in enhancing London’s built environment.

• Support diversity by pushing the firms that City Hall commissions to do much more to tackle the under-representation of women and people from minority groups in the built environment professions.

• Use open procurement processes such as design competitions to seek the highest standards for public projects.

• Lead by example, with the Greater London Authority being champions of good growth by advocating best practice to support success across the sector.