AoU Journal - Here & Now - Summer 2024
Welcome to the Summer 2024 edition of the AoU's Here & Now e-journal, reflecting on 25 years of the UTF Towards an Urban Renaissance report
Welcome to the Summer 2024 edition of the AoU Here & Now online e-journal, a special edition focusing on the past, present, and future of the 1999 Urban Task Force report.
There are milestones in life and work that feel monumental and destined. Some may argue that we are experiencing one of those milestones now as we welcome Labour into government almost exactly 25 years after they were ushered in under Tony Blair’s premiership. At that time urban centres faced challenges, they were being hollowed out and losing residents to the suburbs, and pressure was mounting to provide a solution. Nowadays, urban centres and other places are facing challenges, although not this time from the suburbs but from the wider challenges of environmental degradation and social and economic stagnation.
Twenty five years ago the deputy Prime Minister - John Prescott - convened the Urban Task Force, headed by Richard Rogers to address issues of urban decay. Today there may not be a new Urban Task Force, but urban policy (especially planning and housing) his high up the agenda.
In this special issue, complete with unusually long reads we celebrate 25 years from the Urban Task Force’s report Towards an Urban Renaissance.
Looking back, we hear from members of the UTF and urbanists active at that time - Martin Crookston provides a view from inside the tent, Ian Gordon similarly provides his reflections but from outside the tent. Matt Lally and Harrison Brewer are in conversation with Jon Rouse, and David Rudlin channels his inner Prescott. In the spotlight Andreas Markides provides a personal anecdote highlighting the importance of this report on his own career.
Moving to the current day, Matt Lally examines legacy of the UTF by looking back to look forward, and Tony Reddy suggests the new Labour Government should advance the principles of the UTF through reforms to the planning system. And looking forward, Leyla Moy reimagines the question in today’s context - will she conclude the same or different recommendations?
From further afield we have the first instalments of BDP’s City Observatory papers, exploring Tokyo’s transit-oriented development and Lima’s transportation lifelines.
Then, in review, Ben Meador and Julie Plichon take an active approach in their piece from the AoU’s cycle trip to Barcelona, Harry Knibb reviews a new book ‘Eco Responsive Environments’, and finally guest philosopher ‘Harristotle’ considers transition.
We hope you enjoy this special issue full of unusually long reads. Pour the tea and turn off your phone...
The editorial team
The AoU Journal is sponsored by Space Syntax
