my day job is messing around with cities and I’ve been doing it for quite a few
and I’ve been doing it for quite a few
and I’ve been doing it for quite a few years and over that period what I’ve
years and over that period what I’ve
years and over that period what I’ve learnt is there’s two different things
learnt is there’s two different things
learnt is there’s two different things that happened with cities there’s all
that happened with cities there’s all
that happened with cities there’s all they’re not accidents they happen
they’re not accidents they happen
they’re not accidents they happen because of people but there’s two very
because of people but there’s two very
because of people but there’s two very different processes that happen so this
different processes that happen so this
different processes that happen so this sort of process here is what I would
sort of process here is what I would
sort of process here is what I would think of as being organic it’s messy
think of as being organic it’s messy
think of as being organic it’s messy it’s irregular it happens over time by
it’s irregular it happens over time by
it’s irregular it happens over time by individuals collaborating there’s a
individuals collaborating there’s a
individuals collaborating there’s a different sort of process which we is
different sort of process which we is
different sort of process which we is also can be beautiful which is this one
also can be beautiful which is this one
also can be beautiful which is this one but it’s very different which is where
but it’s very different which is where
but it’s very different which is where there’s an imposed order on a city and
there’s an imposed order on a city and
there’s an imposed order on a city and this doesn’t happen at the same sort of
this doesn’t happen at the same sort of
this doesn’t happen at the same sort of scale it happens at a much larger scale
scale it happens at a much larger scale
scale it happens at a much larger scale and it can only happen when you’ve got
and it can only happen when you’ve got
and it can only happen when you’ve got an organization a royalty a government a
an organization a royalty a government a
an organization a royalty a government a corporation that can shape a city to
corporation that can shape a city to
corporation that can shape a city to that extent the reason I’m sort of
that extent the reason I’m sort of
that extent the reason I’m sort of giving you these sort of two polls is
giving you these sort of two polls is
giving you these sort of two polls is because I’ll talk about Birmingham and
because I’ll talk about Birmingham and
because I’ll talk about Birmingham and for me Birmingham has always been the
for me Birmingham has always been the
for me Birmingham has always been the first sort of city it’s been organic it
first sort of city it’s been organic it
first sort of city it’s been organic it grew not because we’re royalty we never
grew not because we’re royalty we never
grew not because we’re royalty we never had a world family that lived here but
had a world family that lived here but
had a world family that lived here but what we did from the beginning was grow
what we did from the beginning was grow
what we did from the beginning was grow incrementally through small businesses
incrementally through small businesses
incrementally through small businesses creative companies to the point that by
creative companies to the point that by
creative companies to the point that by about 1800 we were the most important
about 1800 we were the most important
about 1800 we were the most important manufacturing city in the world and by
manufacturing city in the world and by
manufacturing city in the world and by 1900 our population had grown 30 fold
1900 our population had grown 30 fold
1900 our population had grown 30 fold over two generations and so it was
over two generations and so it was
over two generations and so it was astonishing it was a big powerful city
astonishing it was a big powerful city
astonishing it was a big powerful city but like powerful cities often do London
but like powerful cities often do London
but like powerful cities often do London at the moment it starts to trip out it
at the moment it starts to trip out it
at the moment it starts to trip out it starts to get health problems
starts to get health problems
starts to get health problems overcrowding problems so what was really
overcrowding problems so what was really
overcrowding problems so what was really I think interesting about Birmingham in
I think interesting about Birmingham in
I think interesting about Birmingham in 1900
1900
1900 was what Joseph Chamberlain did he did
was what Joseph Chamberlain did he did
was what Joseph Chamberlain did he did some planning but it was really
some planning but it was really
some planning but it was really sophisticated keyhole surgery to the
sophisticated keyhole surgery to the
sophisticated keyhole surgery to the city it didn’t tamper with that sort of
city it didn’t tamper with that sort of
city it didn’t tamper with that sort of innate quality of the ecosystem that was
innate quality of the ecosystem that was
innate quality of the ecosystem that was there that was manufacturing and small
there that was manufacturing and small
there that was manufacturing and small businesses and small scale what he did
businesses and small scale what he did
businesses and small scale what he did he imitated it with water power systems
he imitated it with water power systems
he imitated it with water power systems education culture and so transformed the
education culture and so transformed the
education culture and so transformed the city without
city without
city without swinging it well I think there’s a great
swinging it well I think there’s a great
swinging it well I think there’s a great lesson in that what we need to do today
lesson in that what we need to do today
lesson in that what we need to do today what then came along and what we see
what then came along and what we see
what then came along and what we see evidence of today is Urbanists and
evidence of today is Urbanists and
evidence of today is Urbanists and planners never waste a good crisis
planners never waste a good crisis
planners never waste a good crisis you’ll notice that so the Second World
you’ll notice that so the Second World
you’ll notice that so the Second World War was too good an opportunity to miss
War was too good an opportunity to miss
War was too good an opportunity to miss that’s a map of what happened to
that’s a map of what happened to
that’s a map of what happened to Birmingham the red dots are high
Birmingham the red dots are high
Birmingham the red dots are high explosive the black ones incendiary and
explosive the black ones incendiary and
explosive the black ones incendiary and what happened was that government then
what happened was that government then
what happened was that government then for the first time we got to grips with
for the first time we got to grips with
for the first time we got to grips with doing big planning of Birmingham like
doing big planning of Birmingham like
doing big planning of Birmingham like we’ve never done before so that coals
we’ve never done before so that coals
we’ve never done before so that coals coal leaf structure that delicate
coal leaf structure that delicate
coal leaf structure that delicate structure that ecosystem got chiseled
structure that ecosystem got chiseled
structure that ecosystem got chiseled out and what we did is we stretched it
out and what we did is we stretched it
out and what we did is we stretched it we pulled it around four motorcars to
we pulled it around four motorcars to
we pulled it around four motorcars to the point that people got completely
the point that people got completely
the point that people got completely separated from the fabric of the city
separated from the fabric of the city
separated from the fabric of the city and that’s sort of carving out of that
and that’s sort of carving out of that
and that’s sort of carving out of that motorway system did two things it
motorway system did two things it
motorway system did two things it dislocated people from cars and from
dislocated people from cars and from
dislocated people from cars and from moving around the city but it also made
moving around the city but it also made
moving around the city but it also made the city so unattractive that it almost
the city so unattractive that it almost
the city so unattractive that it almost collapse and combine that with a failure
collapse and combine that with a failure
collapse and combine that with a failure of the motor industry in the 1970s
of the motor industry in the 1970s
of the motor industry in the 1970s Birmingham got to the nearest point
Birmingham got to the nearest point
Birmingham got to the nearest point towards death that any city has got to
towards death that any city has got to
towards death that any city has got to probably a fall from Detroit Birmingham
probably a fall from Detroit Birmingham
probably a fall from Detroit Birmingham City Council then did a really I think a
City Council then did a really I think a
City Council then did a really I think a really interesting thing is they
really interesting thing is they
really interesting thing is they repurposed the city in the 1980s around
repurposed the city in the 1980s around
repurposed the city in the 1980s around culture business different type of
culture business different type of
culture business different type of businesses non manufacturing so service
businesses non manufacturing so service
businesses non manufacturing so service economy and then sort of also have this
economy and then sort of also have this
economy and then sort of also have this plan of turning into a pedestrian city
plan of turning into a pedestrian city
plan of turning into a pedestrian city where we reconnect parts of the city so
where we reconnect parts of the city so
where we reconnect parts of the city so since I’ve been in the city one of the
since I’ve been in the city one of the
since I’ve been in the city one of the things I’ve been involved with is how
things I’ve been involved with is how
things I’ve been involved with is how you then reconnect and glue back the
you then reconnect and glue back the
you then reconnect and glue back the city to the shape it used to be going
city to the shape it used to be going
city to the shape it used to be going from 80 hectares back up to 800 hectares
from 80 hectares back up to 800 hectares
from 80 hectares back up to 800 hectares and that’s pretty much where we’ve got
and that’s pretty much where we’ve got
and that’s pretty much where we’ve got to today we’re on this sort of journey
to today we’re on this sort of journey
to today we’re on this sort of journey of reconnecting and repairing the city
of reconnecting and repairing the city
of reconnecting and repairing the city fabric but just stepping outside of
fabric but just stepping outside of
fabric but just stepping outside of Birmingham for a moment and looking at
Birmingham for a moment and looking at
Birmingham for a moment and looking at the wider context what you start to see
the wider context what you start to see
the wider context what you start to see when you look at what the world’s doing
when you look at what the world’s doing
when you look at what the world’s doing is two things are happening one is that
is two things are happening one is that
is two things are happening one is that the population of the world is getting
the population of the world is getting
the population of the world is getting more urban seventy percent of the
more urban seventy percent of the
more urban seventy percent of the population now are urban they’re not
population now are urban they’re not
population now are urban they’re not rural and this is where I show my age
rural and this is where I show my age
rural and this is where I show my age when I was born in the first circle
when I was born in the first circle
when I was born in the first circle there was only three billion people on
there was only three billion people on
there was only three billion people on the planet today this over seven and a
the planet today this over seven and a
the planet today this over seven and a half if I live to mic
half if I live to mic
half if I live to mic normal life expectancy it’ll be 9
normal life expectancy it’ll be 9
normal life expectancy it’ll be 9 billion that’s in my lifetime a
billion that’s in my lifetime a
billion that’s in my lifetime a three-fold increase in world population
three-fold increase in world population
three-fold increase in world population that’s never happened before never
that’s never happened before never
that’s never happened before never happened so what are the implications of
happened so what are the implications of
happened so what are the implications of that on cities cities are facing a
that on cities cities are facing a
that on cities cities are facing a really tough job at the moment because
really tough job at the moment because
really tough job at the moment because they’re having to deal with a lot more
they’re having to deal with a lot more
they’re having to deal with a lot more people and also with climate change
people and also with climate change
people and also with climate change there’s more pressures on cities than
there’s more pressures on cities than
there’s more pressures on cities than ever before so there’s two options to
ever before so there’s two options to
ever before so there’s two options to outcomes for how cities can accommodate
outcomes for how cities can accommodate
outcomes for how cities can accommodate that growth here’s a slide that shows
that growth here’s a slide that shows
that growth here’s a slide that shows two two opportunities one is vote by the
two two opportunities one is vote by the
two two opportunities one is vote by the way these are at scale these drawings
way these are at scale these drawings
way these are at scale these drawings the one on the left is Atlanta which has
the one on the left is Atlanta which has
the one on the left is Atlanta which has got exactly pretty much the same
got exactly pretty much the same
got exactly pretty much the same population as the one on the right
population as the one on the right
population as the one on the right Barcelona the difference is huge look
Barcelona the difference is huge look
Barcelona the difference is huge look how much space Atlanta takes of now when
how much space Atlanta takes of now when
how much space Atlanta takes of now when I started my career there was still
I started my career there was still
I started my career there was still rumblings that suburban loose separated
rumblings that suburban loose separated
rumblings that suburban loose separated communities with access to green meat
communities with access to green meat
communities with access to green meat was the right thing to do I think pretty
was the right thing to do I think pretty
was the right thing to do I think pretty much now we swung round and got come
much now we swung round and got come
much now we swung round and got come full circle what we now realize is
full circle what we now realize is
full circle what we now realize is there’s all sorts of problems with low
there’s all sorts of problems with low
there’s all sorts of problems with low density huge problems with low density
density huge problems with low density
density huge problems with low density first of all it uses lots of fuel you
first of all it uses lots of fuel you
first of all it uses lots of fuel you need a car to go everywhere the second
need a car to go everywhere the second
need a car to go everywhere the second one is that it’s socially disconnected
one is that it’s socially disconnected
one is that it’s socially disconnected people from other people that’s the only
people from other people that’s the only
people from other people that’s the only graph I’m going to show today you’ll be
graph I’m going to show today you’ll be
graph I’m going to show today you’ll be relieved to hear but what it shows is
relieved to hear but what it shows is
relieved to hear but what it shows is any just been published and the vertical
any just been published and the vertical
any just been published and the vertical Skelly’s your waist circumference in
Skelly’s your waist circumference in
Skelly’s your waist circumference in centimeters and along the bottom is
centimeters and along the bottom is
centimeters and along the bottom is residential density so what it proves is
residential density so what it proves is
residential density so what it proves is actually the further you push people
actually the further you push people
actually the further you push people apart up to a point the further they are
apart up to a point the further they are
apart up to a point the further they are living apart from each other from shops
living apart from each other from shops
living apart from each other from shops and from the city and from the city core
and from the city and from the city core
and from the city and from the city core the more unhealthy and obese they can
the more unhealthy and obese they can
the more unhealthy and obese they can become because quite it’s very simple
become because quite it’s very simple
become because quite it’s very simple there’s more reliance on cars and so
there’s more reliance on cars and so
there’s more reliance on cars and so people don’t walk and cycle in the same
people don’t walk and cycle in the same
people don’t walk and cycle in the same way so it would of course be a massive
way so it would of course be a massive
way so it would of course be a massive oversimplification to say dense is good
oversimplification to say dense is good
oversimplification to say dense is good low density is bad and the certain
low density is bad and the certain
low density is bad and the certain densities we don’t want to go anywhere
densities we don’t want to go anywhere
densities we don’t want to go anywhere near but when you start and that’s
near but when you start and that’s
near but when you start and that’s another density that you don’t I don’t
another density that you don’t I don’t
another density that you don’t I don’t think would be anywhere near what we
think would be anywhere near what we
think would be anywhere near what we should be aspiring to because it causes
should be aspiring to because it causes
should be aspiring to because it causes huge amounts of waste but the sort of
huge amounts of waste but the sort of
huge amounts of waste but the sort of densities that I’m interested in are
densities that I’m interested in are
densities that I’m interested in are these sort of Goldilocks densities and I
these sort of Goldilocks densities and I
these sort of Goldilocks densities and I look at how it said that’s about 7,000
look at how it said that’s about 7,000
look at how it said that’s about 7,000 people per kilometer 10 New York’s
people per kilometer 10 New York’s
people per kilometer 10 New York’s ten almost eleven and then what’s really
ten almost eleven and then what’s really
ten almost eleven and then what’s really surprising is Barcelona’s a lot lower
surprising is Barcelona’s a lot lower
surprising is Barcelona’s a lot lower but actually more dense so just coming
but actually more dense so just coming
but actually more dense so just coming back to Birmingham what is what is our
back to Birmingham what is what is our
back to Birmingham what is what is our density at the moment well that’s what
density at the moment well that’s what
density at the moment well that’s what it is it’s half of Copenhagen it’s it’s
it is it’s half of Copenhagen it’s it’s
it is it’s half of Copenhagen it’s it’s getting on for a third of New York and
getting on for a third of New York and
getting on for a third of New York and actually if you on your journey in here
actually if you on your journey in here
actually if you on your journey in here and your journey out you can see why
and your journey out you can see why
and your journey out you can see why it’s not because actually our buildings
it’s not because actually our buildings
it’s not because actually our buildings are too low we just got too much space
are too low we just got too much space
are too low we just got too much space between the buildings and what my sort
between the buildings and what my sort
between the buildings and what my sort of suggestion is that what we ought to
of suggestion is that what we ought to
of suggestion is that what we ought to be heading towards is redefining the
be heading towards is redefining the
be heading towards is redefining the city but also taking advantage of
city but also taking advantage of
city but also taking advantage of something that we haven’t lost in
something that we haven’t lost in
something that we haven’t lost in visioning our future which is this DNA
visioning our future which is this DNA
visioning our future which is this DNA of the city which is still about
of the city which is still about
of the city which is still about innovation creativity
innovation creativity
innovation creativity entrepreneurialship is what drove the
entrepreneurialship is what drove the
entrepreneurialship is what drove the city forward I see I still experience it
city forward I see I still experience it
city forward I see I still experience it in spades this is a great city so I
in spades this is a great city so I
in spades this is a great city so I think the opportunity for the city is
think the opportunity for the city is
think the opportunity for the city is how you harness both of those things
how you harness both of those things
how you harness both of those things together the capacity to become denser
together the capacity to become denser
together the capacity to become denser more interesting coupled with that
more interesting coupled with that
more interesting coupled with that creative drive so I think there’s sort
creative drive so I think there’s sort
creative drive so I think there’s sort of three things that I would urge people
of three things that I would urge people
of three things that I would urge people who’ve got a hand in shaping the city
who’ve got a hand in shaping the city
who’ve got a hand in shaping the city which includes everyone in this room to
which includes everyone in this room to
which includes everyone in this room to do one is to think about what that
do one is to think about what that
do one is to think about what that density thing is dense because I’m an
density thing is dense because I’m an
density thing is dense because I’m an architect maybe people think I just want
architect maybe people think I just want
architect maybe people think I just want to put more buildings on every site and
to put more buildings on every site and
to put more buildings on every site and fill up every site that’s not actually
fill up every site that’s not actually
fill up every site that’s not actually the case
the case
the case I also not a fan of hugely tall
I also not a fan of hugely tall
I also not a fan of hugely tall buildings because they create all sorts
buildings because they create all sorts
buildings because they create all sorts of problems at low level but density can
of problems at low level but density can
of problems at low level but density can be amazing and especially when it’s
be amazing and especially when it’s
be amazing and especially when it’s dense and messy Messi’s great I’d
dense and messy Messi’s great I’d
dense and messy Messi’s great I’d imagine 19th century Birmingham was very
imagine 19th century Birmingham was very
imagine 19th century Birmingham was very messy that people would live work play
messy that people would live work play
messy that people would live work play in the same buildings we don’t
in the same buildings we don’t
in the same buildings we don’t necessarily have the opportunity to that
necessarily have the opportunity to that
necessarily have the opportunity to that because we’re regulated I think the
because we’re regulated I think the
because we’re regulated I think the other one is big and small we get lots
other one is big and small we get lots
other one is big and small we get lots of big planning we’ve got the big city
of big planning we’ve got the big city
of big planning we’ve got the big city plan we’ve got the big railway set hs2
plan we’ve got the big railway set hs2
plan we’ve got the big railway set hs2 we’ve got we’ve always done big things
we’ve got we’ve always done big things
we’ve got we’ve always done big things very well in Birmingham even hs1 the
very well in Birmingham even hs1 the
very well in Birmingham even hs1 the canal system was pretty good but I do
canal system was pretty good but I do
canal system was pretty good but I do think that um this small thing is so
think that um this small thing is so
think that um this small thing is so important in what I do it’s so important
important in what I do it’s so important
important in what I do it’s so important by small it’s the granular messy
by small it’s the granular messy
by small it’s the granular messy stuff that you can’t really plan but
stuff that you can’t really plan but
stuff that you can’t really plan but actually makes a city worth living in
actually makes a city worth living in
actually makes a city worth living in going to so what are the sort of things
going to so what are the sort of things
going to so what are the sort of things that are small that would make a
that are small that would make a
that are small that would make a difference well whilst we’ve got sort of
difference well whilst we’ve got sort of
difference well whilst we’ve got sort of the big city plan I think we critically
the big city plan I think we critically
the big city plan I think we critically need a cycle Network which means it’s
need a cycle Network which means it’s
need a cycle Network which means it’s safe to move around the city the other
safe to move around the city the other
safe to move around the city the other thing I think we need to do is to stop
thing I think we need to do is to stop
thing I think we need to do is to stop regulating people who occupy a house or
regulating people who occupy a house or
regulating people who occupy a house or a small building and saying you can only
a small building and saying you can only
a small building and saying you can only live in it you can’t work in it you
live in it you can’t work in it you
live in it you can’t work in it you certainly can’t have a party in it I
certainly can’t have a party in it I
certainly can’t have a party in it I mean this amount of regulation that we
mean this amount of regulation that we
mean this amount of regulation that we face in this country which we don’t
face in this country which we don’t
face in this country which we don’t realize exists you look at other cities
realize exists you look at other cities
realize exists you look at other cities and they don’t do that I mean I think
and they don’t do that I mean I think
and they don’t do that I mean I think you do need planning to stop huge bad
you do need planning to stop huge bad
you do need planning to stop huge bad things happening but my goodness when
things happening but my goodness when
things happening but my goodness when you get to small scale just let it
you get to small scale just let it
you get to small scale just let it happen
happen
happen we need to deregulate the other thing of
we need to deregulate the other thing of
we need to deregulate the other thing of sorry just on that big and small thing I
sorry just on that big and small thing I
sorry just on that big and small thing I will say one thing and this is a trade
will say one thing and this is a trade
will say one thing and this is a trade secret doing big stuff is easy big
secret doing big stuff is easy big
secret doing big stuff is easy big master plans big buildings have a lot
master plans big buildings have a lot
master plans big buildings have a lot easier small stuff to do at that sort of
easier small stuff to do at that sort of
easier small stuff to do at that sort of granular interesting messy stuff to
granular interesting messy stuff to
granular interesting messy stuff to happen is far more tricky and that’s why
happen is far more tricky and that’s why
happen is far more tricky and that’s why it’s very hard to achieve but when he
it’s very hard to achieve but when he
it’s very hard to achieve but when he does it makes a bigger impact on the
does it makes a bigger impact on the
does it makes a bigger impact on the city the third one is this thing called
city the third one is this thing called
city the third one is this thing called leadership and I’m not gonna call it
leadership and I’m not gonna call it
leadership and I’m not gonna call it government I’m not going to call it
government I’m not going to call it
government I’m not going to call it local authorities I’m just good because
local authorities I’m just good because
local authorities I’m just good because leadership is bigger than any of that
leadership is bigger than any of that
leadership is bigger than any of that and it’s the hottest topic in what I’m
and it’s the hottest topic in what I’m
and it’s the hottest topic in what I’m doing at the moment nobody’s really
doing at the moment nobody’s really
doing at the moment nobody’s really having a heated debate about the shape
having a heated debate about the shape
having a heated debate about the shape of cities or where they’re gonna get
of cities or where they’re gonna get
of cities or where they’re gonna get bigger that’s inevitable what is a hot
bigger that’s inevitable what is a hot
bigger that’s inevitable what is a hot topic is who shapes them and what sort
topic is who shapes them and what sort
topic is who shapes them and what sort of governance we have I’ve got a few
of governance we have I’ve got a few
of governance we have I’ve got a few thoughts on that one is to get the best
thoughts on that one is to get the best
thoughts on that one is to get the best out of cities in the future I think we
out of cities in the future I think we
out of cities in the future I think we need more agile ways of decision making
need more agile ways of decision making
need more agile ways of decision making at the moment you talk to a planner from
at the moment you talk to a planner from
at the moment you talk to a planner from elope any local authority quietly and
elope any local authority quietly and
elope any local authority quietly and they’ll tell you how dull and slow and
they’ll tell you how dull and slow and
they’ll tell you how dull and slow and miserable the planning process is
miserable the planning process is
miserable the planning process is because it’s about legislation it’s
because it’s about legislation it’s
because it’s about legislation it’s about stopping things happening what is
about stopping things happening what is
about stopping things happening what is great incident should do more this is be
great incident should do more this is be
great incident should do more this is be agile and have a vision and lead things
agile and have a vision and lead things
agile and have a vision and lead things rather than controlling them the other
rather than controlling them the other
rather than controlling them the other one is open I think the best governments
one is open I think the best governments
one is open I think the best governments and the best organizations cities such
and the best organizations cities such
and the best organizations cities such as Amsterdam Vancouver engage
as Amsterdam Vancouver engage
as Amsterdam Vancouver engage universities citizens businesses and so
universities citizens businesses and so
universities citizens businesses and so they work to the power of those other
they work to the power of those other
they work to the power of those other businesses and they multiply their
businesses and they multiply their
businesses and they multiply their capacity because they’re not doing on
capacity because they’re not doing on
capacity because they’re not doing on their own the other thing is despite
their own the other thing is despite
their own the other thing is despite mobile phones despite our ability to
mobile phones despite our ability to
mobile phones despite our ability to text and communicate immediately to the
text and communicate immediately to the
text and communicate immediately to the people running this thing today we seem
people running this thing today we seem
people running this thing today we seem prevented or impossible to effect
prevented or impossible to effect
prevented or impossible to effect planning in the same way we should be
planning in the same way we should be
planning in the same way we should be able to do that and then the third one
able to do that and then the third one
able to do that and then the third one is brave I think we do our leadership
is brave I think we do our leadership
is brave I think we do our leadership whoever it is and I it will include us
whoever it is and I it will include us
whoever it is and I it will include us needs to be braver in doing two things
needs to be braver in doing two things
needs to be braver in doing two things one is being brave enough to set a long
one is being brave enough to set a long
one is being brave enough to set a long distance course for where our cities
distance course for where our cities
distance course for where our cities ought to go a really bold vision don’t
ought to go a really bold vision don’t
ought to go a really bold vision don’t be brave about saying we want to be
be brave about saying we want to be
be brave about saying we want to be carbon zero we wanted to this and have
carbon zero we wanted to this and have
carbon zero we wanted to this and have some ambition about what we’re going to
some ambition about what we’re going to
some ambition about what we’re going to do with our cities without ambition we
do with our cities without ambition we
do with our cities without ambition we wouldn’t do anything Chamberlain had
wouldn’t do anything Chamberlain had
wouldn’t do anything Chamberlain had ambition the other thing we need to do
ambition the other thing we need to do
ambition the other thing we need to do is be brave enough not to control he’s
is be brave enough not to control he’s
is be brave enough not to control he’s embrace uncertainty because our cities
embrace uncertainty because our cities
embrace uncertainty because our cities are getting too big to try and manage
are getting too big to try and manage
are getting too big to try and manage them like an unruly child I think what
them like an unruly child I think what
them like an unruly child I think what we got to do is actually let it let the
we got to do is actually let it let the
we got to do is actually let it let the city actually get its own momentum and
city actually get its own momentum and
city actually get its own momentum and energy so just bringing all that to some
energy so just bringing all that to some
energy so just bringing all that to some sort of conclusion really going back to
sort of conclusion really going back to
sort of conclusion really going back to the first point what is this might what
the first point what is this might what
the first point what is this might what is the right balance between planned and
is the right balance between planned and
is the right balance between planned and unplanned between the organic and the
unplanned between the organic and the
unplanned between the organic and the master plan well I think our cities are
master plan well I think our cities are
master plan well I think our cities are certainly gonna get over the next 30
certainly gonna get over the next 30
certainly gonna get over the next 30 years a lot more complex a lot more
years a lot more complex a lot more
years a lot more complex a lot more interesting and so to sort of impose
interesting and so to sort of impose
interesting and so to sort of impose 1940s rigid planning on them seems to be
1940s rigid planning on them seems to be
1940s rigid planning on them seems to be completely the wrong thing to do my
completely the wrong thing to do my
completely the wrong thing to do my recommendation is that what we would do
recommendation is that what we would do
recommendation is that what we would do is have clear direction of travel travel
is have clear direction of travel travel
is have clear direction of travel travel at the same time deregulate and release
at the same time deregulate and release
at the same time deregulate and release the potential of cities by not actually
the potential of cities by not actually
the potential of cities by not actually trying to cage energy but to release the
trying to cage energy but to release the
trying to cage energy but to release the potential within cities and so just to
potential within cities and so just to
potential within cities and so just to finish off I mean people say what are
finish off I mean people say what are
finish off I mean people say what are your favorite set what are your favorite
your favorite set what are your favorite
your favorite set what are your favorite cities Glen and I think I’m not going to
cities Glen and I think I’m not going to
cities Glen and I think I’m not going to name any of my favorite cities because
name any of my favorite cities because
name any of my favorite cities because we’re in one but my favorite cities
we’re in one but my favorite cities
we’re in one but my favorite cities exhibit these things so all when you go
exhibit these things so all when you go
exhibit these things so all when you go into a great city
into a great city
into a great city you can tell it’s alive there’s
you can tell it’s alive there’s
you can tell it’s alive there’s something about the connection between
something about the connection between
something about the connection between the people and the place which means
the people and the place which means
the people and the place which means it’s vibrant it feels alive I think the
it’s vibrant it feels alive I think the
it’s vibrant it feels alive I think the second thing about great cities is they
second thing about great cities is they
second thing about great cities is they are not perfect yeah this idea that
are not perfect yeah this idea that
are not perfect yeah this idea that you’ve got this perfect utopian
you’ve got this perfect utopian
you’ve got this perfect utopian city’s never going to happen and so the
city’s never going to happen and so the
city’s never going to happen and so the other thing I like about cities is they
other thing I like about cities is they
other thing I like about cities is they are never finished thank you very much
are never finished thank you very much
are never finished thank you very much [Applause]
”
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