I was destined to Oh level at that point in time
Oh level at that point in time
Oh level at that point in time is critical to get French said he could
is critical to get French said he could
is critical to get French said he could get into University
get into University
get into University my parents were determined that I should
my parents were determined that I should
my parents were determined that I should pass the route map for that was to send
pass the route map for that was to send
pass the route map for that was to send me on a French exchange I arrived in
me on a French exchange I arrived in
me on a French exchange I arrived in Leon
Leon
Leon at age 15 and was picked up by Pierre
at age 15 and was picked up by Pierre
at age 15 and was picked up by Pierre that was his name and his father and
that was his name and his father and
that was his name and his father and driven to their home in Mecca and within
driven to their home in Mecca and within
driven to their home in Mecca and within the first day my first cultural
the first day my first cultural
the first day my first cultural experience was to be taken to a field
experience was to be taken to a field
experience was to be taken to a field just outside McCall where a new station
just outside McCall where a new station
just outside McCall where a new station had been built where the TGV the new
had been built where the TGV the new
had been built where the TGV the new French high-speed rail line had just
French high-speed rail line had just
French high-speed rail line had just been newly constructed Pierre’s father
been newly constructed Pierre’s father
been newly constructed Pierre’s father had an extraordinary interest in this
had an extraordinary interest in this
had an extraordinary interest in this trade line slightly amusing and
trade line slightly amusing and
trade line slightly amusing and encouraged me to listen to the line the
encouraged me to listen to the line the
encouraged me to listen to the line the line sang when the train approached a
line sang when the train approached a
line sang when the train approached a cootie litter he said to me somewhat
cootie litter he said to me somewhat
cootie litter he said to me somewhat excitedly and you can probably tell that
excitedly and you can probably tell that
excitedly and you can probably tell that I only just passed French au level what
I only just passed French au level what
I only just passed French au level what was extraordinary about that and in
was extraordinary about that and in
was extraordinary about that and in reflecting upon that was that pS father
reflecting upon that was that pS father
reflecting upon that was that pS father had an extrordinary pride in what had
had an extrordinary pride in what had
had an extrordinary pride in what had just arrived on his doorstep it had put
just arrived on his doorstep it had put
just arrived on his doorstep it had put his town on the map but it had also
his town on the map but it had also
his town on the map but it had also given him a great sense of pride he was
given him a great sense of pride he was
given him a great sense of pride he was part of something national as well as
part of something national as well as
part of something national as well as local if I was to ask you the question
local if I was to ask you the question
local if I was to ask you the question and it may well indeed affect you as
and it may well indeed affect you as
and it may well indeed affect you as it’s affected me if somebody was to tell
it’s affected me if somebody was to tell
it’s affected me if somebody was to tell you that a new rail Lane line was going
you that a new rail Lane line was going
you that a new rail Lane line was going to arrive within 500 metres of your town
to arrive within 500 metres of your town
to arrive within 500 metres of your town or village one would you be happy to
or village one would you be happy to
or village one would you be happy to would you take of guests within 24 hours
would you take of guests within 24 hours
would you take of guests within 24 hours of arriving at your home to stand at the
of arriving at your home to stand at the
of arriving at your home to stand at the station and wonder how marvelous it was
station and wonder how marvelous it was
station and wonder how marvelous it was I fancy the answer is probably no
however the question is why do we feel
however the question is why do we feel like that I think culturally we are
like that I think culturally we are
like that I think culturally we are fearful of change and change leads to a
fearful of change and change leads to a
fearful of change and change leads to a number of fears and more often than that
number of fears and more often than that
number of fears and more often than that that can be related to a fear of the
that can be related to a fear of the
that can be related to a fear of the unknown and a fear of lack of
unknown and a fear of lack of
unknown and a fear of lack of information so
information so
information so position that the UK now faces is that
position that the UK now faces is that
position that the UK now faces is that there are many projects coming forward
there are many projects coming forward
there are many projects coming forward we are now at a period of time in our
we are now at a period of time in our
we are now at a period of time in our history perhaps the first time since the
history perhaps the first time since the
history perhaps the first time since the Victorian area era and certainly
Victorian area era and certainly
Victorian area era and certainly probably since cold war since war
probably since cold war since war
probably since cold war since war post-war reconstruction where there is
post-war reconstruction where there is
post-war reconstruction where there is massive change in development and in
massive change in development and in
massive change in development and in infrastructure planning so a lot of
infrastructure planning so a lot of
infrastructure planning so a lot of development of this type is emerging and
development of this type is emerging and
development of this type is emerging and becoming part of our society and culture
becoming part of our society and culture
becoming part of our society and culture I honestly believe that part of the
I honestly believe that part of the
I honestly believe that part of the issue connected with people’s fear is
issue connected with people’s fear is
issue connected with people’s fear is the way that these projects are
the way that these projects are
the way that these projects are communicated and the lack of story or
communicated and the lack of story or
communicated and the lack of story or narrative behind the reasons why I think
narrative behind the reasons why I think
narrative behind the reasons why I think also people fear these projects because
also people fear these projects because
also people fear these projects because of the lack of engagement with them and
of the lack of engagement with them and
of the lack of engagement with them and the lack of understanding of them and I
the lack of understanding of them and I
the lack of understanding of them and I certainly don’t think there is much
certainly don’t think there is much
certainly don’t think there is much pride welling up in people’s hearts when
pride welling up in people’s hearts when
pride welling up in people’s hearts when they think about these projects and I
they think about these projects and I
they think about these projects and I think that’s a shame some people say
think that’s a shame some people say
think that’s a shame some people say that we get the history we deserve I
that we get the history we deserve I
that we get the history we deserve I think the position probably is more that
think the position probably is more that
think the position probably is more that the future generations will get the
the future generations will get the
the future generations will get the history that we determine right now and
history that we determine right now and
history that we determine right now and we have a responsibility as members of
we have a responsibility as members of
we have a responsibility as members of society within government and as
society within government and as
society within government and as consultants of my type to make sure that
consultants of my type to make sure that
consultants of my type to make sure that legacy and that inheritance is a good
legacy and that inheritance is a good
legacy and that inheritance is a good one these projects last certainly much
one these projects last certainly much
one these projects last certainly much longer than a political cycle of five
longer than a political cycle of five
longer than a political cycle of five years they tend to last in the hundreds
years they tend to last in the hundreds
years they tend to last in the hundreds of years and as a result this I think
of years and as a result this I think
of years and as a result this I think should change the way we think about
should change the way we think about
should change the way we think about things and the value we place on them
things and the value we place on them
things and the value we place on them more often than not these projects are
more often than not these projects are
more often than not these projects are really scrutinized under one single
really scrutinized under one single
really scrutinized under one single theme which relates to economic
theme which relates to economic
theme which relates to economic efficiency operational efficiency but as
efficiency operational efficiency but as
efficiency operational efficiency but as a society is that enough and if we were
a society is that enough and if we were
a society is that enough and if we were to project 500 years ahead and ask those
to project 500 years ahead and ask those
to project 500 years ahead and ask those generations to look back is that really
generations to look back is that really
generations to look back is that really going to be enough to mark us in this
going to be enough to mark us in this
going to be enough to mark us in this period of history as being sufficient
infrastructure has many different scales
infrastructure has many different scales I think probably for most of us when we
I think probably for most of us when we
I think probably for most of us when we talk about it it’s the mega project a
talk about it it’s the mega project a
talk about it it’s the mega project a large national project that somehow
large national project that somehow
large national project that somehow spans a number of regions is centralized
spans a number of regions is centralized
spans a number of regions is centralized through government but infrastructure
through government but infrastructure
through government but infrastructure also deals with a small scale and the
also deals with a small scale and the
also deals with a small scale and the light in the everyday is a really
light in the everyday is a really
light in the everyday is a really important part of making these projects
important part of making these projects
important part of making these projects a contribution to life rather than a
a contribution to life rather than a
a contribution to life rather than a diss benefit to life going back to my
diss benefit to life going back to my
diss benefit to life going back to my own childhood the village I grew up in
own childhood the village I grew up in
own childhood the village I grew up in in Surrey started as a small rural
in Surrey started as a small rural
in Surrey started as a small rural community with a very strong estate
community with a very strong estate
community with a very strong estate behind it but with the coming of the
behind it but with the coming of the
behind it but with the coming of the rail line this little dot on the map
rail line this little dot on the map
rail line this little dot on the map grew to become possibly what I would
grew to become possibly what I would
grew to become possibly what I would call some form of a Acadian delight I’m
call some form of a Acadian delight I’m
call some form of a Acadian delight I’m certainly a lovely place to grow up
certainly a lovely place to grow up
certainly a lovely place to grow up facilitated by this wonderful rail line
facilitated by this wonderful rail line
facilitated by this wonderful rail line that extended up to Waterloo it also had
that extended up to Waterloo it also had
that extended up to Waterloo it also had a wonderful waiting station a waiting
a wonderful waiting station a waiting
a wonderful waiting station a waiting room where my now wife and I spent many
room where my now wife and I spent many
room where my now wife and I spent many happy hours waiting to catch the train
happy hours waiting to catch the train
happy hours waiting to catch the train to school it even had an open fire that
to school it even had an open fire that
to school it even had an open fire that was stoked by the Polish lady who go to
was stoked by the Polish lady who go to
was stoked by the Polish lady who go to the station every morning in the winter
the station every morning in the winter
the station every morning in the winter it was there ready so these elements of
it was there ready so these elements of
it was there ready so these elements of delights the importance of the
delights the importance of the
delights the importance of the granularity of the approach we take in
granularity of the approach we take in
granularity of the approach we take in design is a very important part of
design is a very important part of
design is a very important part of making these projects significant and
making these projects significant and
making these projects significant and material to the quality of our life I
want to run through three examples which
want to run through three examples which are perhaps contrasting we certainly can
are perhaps contrasting we certainly can
are perhaps contrasting we certainly can learn from history we can learn history
learn from history we can learn history
learn from history we can learn history but we can also learn from history the
but we can also learn from history the
but we can also learn from history the first project I want to talk about very
first project I want to talk about very
first project I want to talk about very briefly is a project that Joseph
briefly is a project that Joseph
briefly is a project that Joseph Bazalgette undertook at the embankment
Bazalgette undertook at the embankment
Bazalgette undertook at the embankment this project really demonstrates the
this project really demonstrates the
this project really demonstrates the issues connected with making investment
issues connected with making investment
issues connected with making investment work hard for a little bit more spent
work hard for a little bit more spent
work hard for a little bit more spent you get an awful lot more for your money
you get an awful lot more for your money
you get an awful lot more for your money battle Jets brief was to solve the
battle Jets brief was to solve the
battle Jets brief was to solve the cholera problem for London there was an
cholera problem for London there was an
cholera problem for London there was an operational imperative but rather than
operational imperative but rather than
operational imperative but rather than just find a route for the pie
just find a route for the pie
just find a route for the pie he established the embankment the
he established the embankment the
he established the embankment the embankment is something for those who
embankment is something for those who
embankment is something for those who live in London that we probably hold
live in London that we probably hold
live in London that we probably hold dear as a fantastic piece of civic
dear as a fantastic piece of civic
dear as a fantastic piece of civic public realm it didn’t only just find a
public realm it didn’t only just find a
public realm it didn’t only just find a route for the foul route for sewage from
route for the foul route for sewage from
route for the foul route for sewage from London
London
London when basil jet designed it he also
when basil jet designed it he also
when basil jet designed it he also designed it to take the underground
designed it to take the underground
designed it to take the underground train routes into London he doubled the
train routes into London he doubled the
train routes into London he doubled the size of the pipes because he had a
size of the pipes because he had a
size of the pipes because he had a forecast that London was going to grow
forecast that London was going to grow
forecast that London was going to grow so one in the same time he both answered
so one in the same time he both answered
so one in the same time he both answered the operational need but at the same
the operational need but at the same
the operational need but at the same time created three other possible
time created three other possible
time created three other possible benefits in addition the way we think
benefits in addition the way we think
benefits in addition the way we think about infrastructure right now tends to
about infrastructure right now tends to
about infrastructure right now tends to be single-minded every project for
be single-minded every project for
be single-minded every project for itself there is a singularity of intent
itself there is a singularity of intent
itself there is a singularity of intent and the way the economics is constructed
and the way the economics is constructed
and the way the economics is constructed around these projects the opportunity
around these projects the opportunity
around these projects the opportunity for collaboration and for the creation
for collaboration and for the creation
for collaboration and for the creation of mutual benefit is very very difficult
of mutual benefit is very very difficult
of mutual benefit is very very difficult to secure in complete contrast to the
to secure in complete contrast to the
to secure in complete contrast to the embankment and bringing us slightly more
embankment and bringing us slightly more
embankment and bringing us slightly more up-to-date this is old oak old oak is
up-to-date this is old oak old oak is
up-to-date this is old oak old oak is planned as London’s next major new
planned as London’s next major new
planned as London’s next major new development area it will be taller
development area it will be taller
development area it will be taller denser and bigger than Canary Wharf
denser and bigger than Canary Wharf
denser and bigger than Canary Wharf why do I raise this I raise this because
why do I raise this I raise this because
why do I raise this I raise this because this area of London is probably one of
this area of London is probably one of
this area of London is probably one of the most challenged in terms of the
the most challenged in terms of the
the most challenged in terms of the history of infrastructure planning David
history of infrastructure planning David
history of infrastructure planning David did say I would be able to reach the
did say I would be able to reach the
did say I would be able to reach the screen but I can’t but what I will tell
screen but I can’t but what I will tell
screen but I can’t but what I will tell you and just guide you hopefully you can
you and just guide you hopefully you can
you and just guide you hopefully you can see here the wiggly line running through
see here the wiggly line running through
see here the wiggly line running through which is the Grand Union canal and a
which is the Grand Union canal and a
which is the Grand Union canal and a series of railway lines that crisscross
series of railway lines that crisscross
series of railway lines that crisscross the scene here this large area coming in
the scene here this large area coming in
the scene here this large area coming in here is the cross rail on construction
here is the cross rail on construction
here is the cross rail on construction terminal and very soon hs2 as it funders
terminal and very soon hs2 as it funders
terminal and very soon hs2 as it funders down from Birmingham will come in with a
down from Birmingham will come in with a
down from Birmingham will come in with a new station here to reach here and reach
new station here to reach here and reach
new station here to reach here and reach North Acton the challenge is massive
North Acton the challenge is massive
North Acton the challenge is massive that area will have to be decked over to
that area will have to be decked over to
that area will have to be decked over to cross over the cross rail Depot
cross over the cross rail Depot
cross over the cross rail Depot and there will be a series of islands
and there will be a series of islands
and there will be a series of islands connected by bridges as a result of the
connected by bridges as a result of the
connected by bridges as a result of the nature of the engineering the history
nature of the engineering the history
nature of the engineering the history that’s been inherited at old oak the
that’s been inherited at old oak the
that’s been inherited at old oak the change that North action that has gone
change that North action that has gone
change that North action that has gone through historically is ultimately the
through historically is ultimately the
through historically is ultimately the separation of what is commonly known as
separation of what is commonly known as
separation of what is commonly known as the Scrubs common to the south this
the Scrubs common to the south this
the Scrubs common to the south this extraordinary open space and natural
extraordinary open space and natural
extraordinary open space and natural habitat and Acton to the north this
habitat and Acton to the north this
habitat and Acton to the north this isn’t really something we want to repeat
isn’t really something we want to repeat
isn’t really something we want to repeat and it does require collaboration and
and it does require collaboration and
and it does require collaboration and forward thinking to avoid future
forward thinking to avoid future
forward thinking to avoid future challenges such as this bringing some
challenges such as this bringing some
challenges such as this bringing some right up to date I now take you to Wales
right up to date I now take you to Wales
right up to date I now take you to Wales this project is the Swansea tidal lagoon
this project is the Swansea tidal lagoon
this project is the Swansea tidal lagoon that David mentioned very briefly this
that David mentioned very briefly this
that David mentioned very briefly this project from my perspective has a very
project from my perspective has a very
project from my perspective has a very clear narrative it has a very clear
clear narrative it has a very clear
clear narrative it has a very clear vision and it’s going to do a lot more
vision and it’s going to do a lot more
vision and it’s going to do a lot more than merely generate electricity by
than merely generate electricity by
than merely generate electricity by letting the water flood through massive
letting the water flood through massive
letting the water flood through massive turbines as the tie goes out and comes
turbines as the tie goes out and comes
turbines as the tie goes out and comes in yes it does that but it does several
in yes it does that but it does several
in yes it does that but it does several other things as well it will protect
other things as well it will protect
other things as well it will protect Swansea from tidal surges it allows for
Swansea from tidal surges it allows for
Swansea from tidal surges it allows for free movement of traffic in the city
free movement of traffic in the city
free movement of traffic in the city prompting further regeneration it
prompting further regeneration it
prompting further regeneration it provides increased natural resource in
provides increased natural resource in
provides increased natural resource in terms of beaches and saltwater marshes
terms of beaches and saltwater marshes
terms of beaches and saltwater marshes and the word mitigation doesn’t really
and the word mitigation doesn’t really
and the word mitigation doesn’t really apply here the project has been
apply here the project has been
apply here the project has been developed as one single answer working
developed as one single answer working
developed as one single answer working through a series of collaborative
through a series of collaborative
through a series of collaborative endeavours to answer a series of
endeavours to answer a series of
endeavours to answer a series of problems so this project in many ways
problems so this project in many ways
problems so this project in many ways strikes the balance in my view of
strikes the balance in my view of
strikes the balance in my view of bringing forward operationally efficient
bringing forward operationally efficient
bringing forward operationally efficient infrastructure but at one at the same
infrastructure but at one at the same
infrastructure but at one at the same time connecting with local people this
time connecting with local people this
time connecting with local people this project probably from my perspective is
project probably from my perspective is
project probably from my perspective is characterized by something I would like
characterized by something I would like
characterized by something I would like to call enlightened self-interest the
to call enlightened self-interest the
to call enlightened self-interest the concept that by doing good to others you
concept that by doing good to others you
concept that by doing good to others you will also benefit if infrastructure
will also benefit if infrastructure
will also benefit if infrastructure projects as they move forward can be
projects as they move forward can be
projects as they move forward can be more self enlightened and take this
more self enlightened and take this
more self enlightened and take this approach than I think we’ll be in a much
approach than I think we’ll be in a much
approach than I think we’ll be in a much better place so what do we learn
better place so what do we learn
better place so what do we learn from this project this project takes us
from this project this project takes us
from this project this project takes us to a point where I believe there is a
to a point where I believe there is a
to a point where I believe there is a positive legacy to be left the client in
positive legacy to be left the client in
positive legacy to be left the client in this particular instance is entirely
this particular instance is entirely
this particular instance is entirely driven by creating positive legacy but
driven by creating positive legacy but
driven by creating positive legacy but the position that this project now sits
the position that this project now sits
the position that this project now sits in is that at the moment government is
in is that at the moment government is
in is that at the moment government is not willing to sanction the movement of
not willing to sanction the movement of
not willing to sanction the movement of this project moving forward
this project moving forward
this project moving forward it has planning permission it’s been
it has planning permission it’s been
it has planning permission it’s been through an independent review by Charles
through an independent review by Charles
through an independent review by Charles Henry appointed by the government but at
Henry appointed by the government but at
Henry appointed by the government but at the moment the government can’t see or
the moment the government can’t see or
the moment the government can’t see or doesn’t seem to have the mechanics to be
doesn’t seem to have the mechanics to be
doesn’t seem to have the mechanics to be able to make a judgement on a project
able to make a judgement on a project
able to make a judgement on a project that not only produces electricity the
that not only produces electricity the
that not only produces electricity the single-minded object but actually a
single-minded object but actually a
single-minded object but actually a project that starts to deliver more than
project that starts to deliver more than
project that starts to deliver more than that so we have a problem with the way
that so we have a problem with the way
that so we have a problem with the way that these projects are examined what we
that these projects are examined what we
that these projects are examined what we seem to be unable to do is place value
seem to be unable to do is place value
seem to be unable to do is place value on place community and amenity and these
on place community and amenity and these
on place community and amenity and these are very important values that need to
are very important values that need to
are very important values that need to be added to the simplicity of economics
be added to the simplicity of economics
be added to the simplicity of economics and going back to my earlier point as a
and going back to my earlier point as a
and going back to my earlier point as a generation in the future looks back
generation in the future looks back
generation in the future looks back should all our projects be merely
should all our projects be merely
should all our projects be merely operationally and economically efficient
operationally and economically efficient
operationally and economically efficient surely there must be something else so I
surely there must be something else so I
surely there must be something else so I leave you with one final thought as a
leave you with one final thought as a
leave you with one final thought as a number of the guests have today and it’s
number of the guests have today and it’s
number of the guests have today and it’s clearly part of the tutoring we have had
clearly part of the tutoring we have had
clearly part of the tutoring we have had my question is we all will leave a mark
my question is we all will leave a mark
my question is we all will leave a mark in history somewhere like it or not that
in history somewhere like it or not that
in history somewhere like it or not that can be as globally as on society a
can be as globally as on society a
can be as globally as on society a culture at a mega scale but it might be
culture at a mega scale but it might be
culture at a mega scale but it might be right down to the small scale to a
right down to the small scale to a
right down to the small scale to a family to a community to an individual
family to a community to an individual
family to a community to an individual child my question is for all of us is
child my question is for all of us is
child my question is for all of us is what is our individual legacy and how do
what is our individual legacy and how do
what is our individual legacy and how do we leave that legacy in a positive place
we leave that legacy in a positive place
we leave that legacy in a positive place now and feel that we’ve been able to
now and feel that we’ve been able to
now and feel that we’ve been able to contribute to either society or or
contribute to either society or or
contribute to either society or or family so I leave it there and I have 33
family so I leave it there and I have 33
family so I leave it there and I have 33 seconds left and I think we’re done
seconds left and I think we’re done
seconds left and I think we’re done thank you very much indeed
thank you very much indeed
thank you very much indeed [Applause]
”
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