RIBA calls on London candidates to Design a Better London

With Londoners going to the polls on 3 May to choose their next Mayor and Assembly Members, the RIBA is today outlining its priorities for a better designed Capital.

Our London Mayoral and Assembly Election Manifesto, Designing a Better London, sets out 4 key policies to provide a thriving, greener and better built environment for all of London’s communities.

The Manifesto specifically calls for the next Mayor and the London Assembly to:

Commission a five-year design strategy for London

We want the Mayor to commission the Mayor’s Design Advisory Panel and Design for London to produce a five-year design strategy for the capital. We want to see this underpinned by an audit of design skills and capacity in London to ensure that Boroughs have the necessary support to deliver the strategy.

Appoint a Deputy Mayor for a lasting Olympic legacy

A Deputy Mayor for Olympic Legacy would provide leadership and direction from City Hall, ensuring that high quality design and sustainability are embedded within the London Legacy Development Corporation’s planning controls.

Transform empty spaces into local shops and community gardens

We want City Hall to encourage greater take-up of “Meanwhile Uses” across London. These enable an empty site or space to be used whilst a permanent solution is sought. An increase in “Meanwhile Uses” of empty shop sites would revitalise high streets and also give Communities the power to shape their neighborhoods by turning vacant spaces into gardens and playgrounds.

Retrofit the capital

London should be a world leader on energy performance. We want the next Mayor to commit to a 30% reduction in energy use of the Capital’s public buildings by 2020. This can be delivered through City Hall’s existing RE:FIT programme but it needs to be accompanied by a robust performance mechanism to ensure energy reduction is delivered.

RIBA President Angela Brady said:

“London is celebrated for its built heritage as well as its inspiring and innovative new buildings. We must strive for the best architectural quality on which London is famed and call on the Mayor to value quality sustainable design as a priority to ensure that only the very best gets built.

“Today the RIBA and our 12,000+ members in London are calling on all London candidates to endorse the RIBA Manifesto for London and commit to designing a better city for all.”