London is not full up

 

WORKTECH 11 London    |    Sir Terry Farrell CBE, Farrell and Partners

The enigmatic architect had the unenviable task of discussing the future of London, a subject he has become rather adept at handling as one of Boris Johnson’s design advisers. He described London as the world’s greatest liveable metropolis (though he did not dismiss New York’s claim to the title). Questioning the wisdom of developments in East London when the demand for housing was in West London he advised that ‘we need to listen to what people actually want’.

Sir Terry argued that the shape of Great Britain means that logical development plans should hang off a transport spine going up the centre of the country. As such he advised against plans for a Thames Estuary airport, suggesting that a cheaper and more sensible solution would be to connect Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton with high-speed trains Sir Terry has put together comprehensive plans for the Thames Gateway reinforcing the landscape to the east of London. Here flood control and management is a key issue and worryingly it seems that the Thames Barrier is no longer up to the job.

Looking at the post-industrial changes in the capital has led Sir Terry to estimate that more than 3 million people could be accommodated by redeveloping parts of central London. ‘London is not full up’ he declared and then showed viable potential developments along the old rivers that feed the Thames in places like Park Royal and Battersea. Arguing against big, ambitious projects that could become white elephants, he explained that we need to use what we have got in an evolutionary way: ‘We need bypasses and pacemakers to the heart we’ve got’. Let us hope the city does not have a heart attack before we can agree on a plan of action.

Key points

• Central London still has housing capacity
• Go west, not east – this is where the demand is
• Create a Heathrow hub with high speed trains linking Gatwick and Luton – a better solution than a new hub

Top quotations

• On new development and redevelopment: ‘we need to listen to what people actually want’
• ‘London is not full up’

 

 

Luke Connoley at 4:10pm, 1 March 2012 in WORKTECH 11 • WORKTECH London

Tagged with: Boris Johnson • Gatwick • Heathrow • London • Luton • Sir Terry Farrell • Thames Estuary

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