Past Events 2009

LAUNCH EVENT - KINGS CROSS CENTRAL

The event started with study visits to the Brunswick centre and Kings Place, York Way, and the seminar was held at the German Gymnasium, where Janet Sutherland, JTP Cities, introduced the speakers:

Roger Madelin, Argent, gave a fascinating talk linking the heritage of the King’s Cross area to the way it is today. Roger spoke of the proposals to create a new quarter for London and the challenges within and between communities and the aim to improve social cohesion and the aspirations and opportunities available to local people. The development of Kings Cross Central will include 20 new streets, centers for leisure, retail and culture, and 2000 new homes – both affordable and market housing, with combined heat and power systems, and Code level 4 or above.

Bob West, LB Camden began by highlighting some of the issues faced in the King’s Cross area, including deprivation, and low life expectancy (11 years lower than that of Hampstead). He emphasized the importance of developments being relevant to local people and spoke of the need for places of change and opportunity, bringing strategies and investment together in deciding how best to ‘shape’ such areas, in order to create social and economic space that is integrated psychologically, environmentally and socially.

Mick Sweeney, One Housing Group, spoke of issues facing those in Kings Cross such as low social mobility, and a high proportion of people living on incompatibility benefits. One Housing group would provide the new social rent and he spoke of the ways that they would seek to build a cohesive new community

Gill Henderson, Director, Create KX spoke of the important role of culture within regeneration, and the need to acknowledge the vibrancy and creativity of communities to build on the area’s talent. There is an urgent need to identify a sense of place in King’s Cross and establish the area as a cultural landmark, celebrating its history and linking it to the future.

The Academy then held a very lively and engaging debate on New Times, New Ways ,with contributions from Pam Alexander, South East England Development Agency who introduced the debate, mentioning the need for new ways in the current economic climate.

Areas to address in the debate include:

• The impact of globalisation on what makes a quality place
• Opportunities with new technology, capitalising the carbon agenda, and places that grow sustainably
• Collaborating for success, developing trust between the public and private sector.

Trevor Beattie, Homes and Communities Agency, and Dr. Tim Williams, Navigant Consultancy both gave very stimulating presentations, encouraging new thinking and innovative approaches, and reminding participants that regeneration is about people not just places.

To learn more of this event please click here

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