Leaders Plus pitch reclaim the streets ideas

Four teams from our Leaders Plus programme pitched their proposals for reclaiming the street, from women’s safety to engaging young people and community co-design to greening the city. So who won the audience vote?

For their final Proposal for London assignment, we asked the Leaders Plus cohort to combine their knowledge, passion and presentation skills in a persuasive case for change.

Taking a page from their Greater Manchester sister course, this cohort switched from individual Pecha Kuchas to group presentations. The new format shares the workload and allows them to generate and stress-test more ideas. Team projects embeds the collaborative learning that runs through the course.

The ‘Reclaim the Streets’ theme has become even more timely over the nine-month course, says Leaders Plus course director Lisa Taylor: “Reclaiming the streets can cover many issues, but right now London is working to reinvigorate and rebrand Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. We’re also grappling with violent attacks on women and the lack of voice and opportunity for young people. As to the need for city greening and cooling, one wet summer is now the exception, not the rule for climate change!”

The proposals – and the winners by audience vote

Favourite Idea: Green Hub & Spoke

Kevin Cressy – Senior Delivery Manager, TPXimpact
Lily Kwong – Senior Development Manager, LB Lambeth
Sam Margolis – Head of Transport Strategy & Projects, LB Camden

London’s streets are facing existential challenges. Green space is deficient & disconnected, biodiversity is declining, the climate emergency is gathering pace, and a cost-of-living crisis threatens personal and government budgets. Our solution, reclaiming London’s streets with green space for people and planet, is an innovative “hub-and-spoke” model. Large, green “hub” infrastructure projects will support a series of interconnected, smaller green spaces within and across local authority boundaries. Together, these spaces will generate revenue, provide our communities access to play and education, and support biodiversity and nature in and between them.

Most Feasible: Safety first – Making safety for women & girls a mandatory part of planning

Ben Johnson – Head of Planning Policy & Strategy, LB Bromley
Claire O’Brien – Head of Development Management, OPDC
Petronila Osodo – Head of Remediation – Building Safety, Notting Hill Genesis
Robyn Prince – Strategic Planning & Engagement Manager, Countryside Partnerships

A proposal for front-loading consultation on the safety of women and girls in the formulation of planning policy and guidance, and in the design of new or reimagined public spaces and developments.

Growing up in London: A youth place panel for the city

Polly Barker – Director, Prior + Partners
Sarah Considine – Head of Design Unit, GLA
Chris Lyons – Head of Land & Partnerships, Peabody
Yoana Tulumbadzhieva – Head of Area Regeneration, LB Waltham Forest

As London’s young population grows, the city faces the challenge of futureproofing its built environment. Children and young people have a right to space and freedom in the city, but research shows this has diminished over decades, with huge impacts on health, well-being and development. We propose a citywide London Youth Place Panel that will champion and change the built environment; establish better practices on engaging, co-designing and co-delivering with and for children and young people; and shape public space and developments for London’s youth. Improving the city for them will improve London for all.

Development Unlocked – a new CIC

Graham Callam – Growth Team Manager, LB Hackney
Hannah Gibbs – Deputy Chief Executive, Future of London
Angela Latty – Regeneration & Development Manager, Brent Cross Cricklewood, LB Barnet
Jen Shillingford – Development Manager, Argent

A new plan-making tool which uses technology and community engagement to create genuinely co-designed public realm plans to be delivered alongside new or infill developments. Unlocking Development also includes stakeholder training to create ‘Cityzen Champions’ who can take part in or support the creation of plans and share understanding of the development process in their communities.

Congratulations to all Leaders Plus 11 candidates and welcome to the Alumni Network!

Polly Barker, Director, Prior + Partners
Graham Callam, Growth Team Manager, LB Hackney
Sarah Considine, Head of Design Unit, GLA
Kevin Cressy, Senior Delivery Manager, TPXimpact
Hannah Gibbs, Deputy Chief Executive, Future of London
Ben Johnson, Head of Planning Policy & Strategy, LB Bromley
Lily Kwong, Senior Development Manager, LB Lambeth
Angela Latty, Regeneration & Development Manager, Brent Cross Cricklewood, LB Barnet
Chris Lyons, Head of Land & Partnerships, Peabody
Sam Margolis, Head of Transport Strategy & Projects, LB Camden
Claire O’Brien, Head of Development Management, Old Oak & Park Royal Development Corp.
Petronila Osodo, Head of Remediation – Building Safety, Notting Hill Genesis
Robyn Prince, Strategic Planning & Engagement Manager, Countryside Partnerships
Jen Shillingford, Development Manager, Argent
Yoana Tulumbadzhieva, Head of Area Regeneration, LB Waltham Forest

Thank you to all the LP11 mentors for their time, energy and insight!

Dr Phil Askew, Director – Landscape & Placemaking, Peabody
Mark Baigent, Corporate Director of Regeneration & Culture, LB Redbridge
Ken Baikie, Director of Regeneration, Winchester City Council
Virginia Blackman, Principal & National Head – Site Assembly & Compulsory Purchase, Avison Young
Barbara Brownlee, Chief Executive, Soho Housing Association
Tracey Downie, Chief Executive, Women’s Pioneer Housing
Matthew Essex, Executive Director – Place, RB Kingston
Claudette Forbes, Director, CAF Consulting
Caroline Harper, Deputy Managing Director, Be First
Gerry Hughes, Managing Director, Gerry Hughes Consulting
Alexander Jan, Chair, Central District Alliance BID
Rob Krzyszowski, Assistant Director – Planning, Building Standards & Sustainability, LB Haringey
John Lumley, Strategic Sales Director, L&Q
David Lunts, CEO, Old Oak & Park Royal Development Corp.
Ed Watson, Director, Ed Watson & Associates
Joanne Woodward, Chief Planning Officer, LB Hammersmith & Fulham

Thanks to Urbancanda for continuing to deliver first-class leadership modules and to new friends Turner & Townsend for generous event hosting and bringing several of their team from different workstreams and levels. Great to meet you!

London Leaders Plus is sponsored by Related Argent.