Panel Session

Tuesday 24th May, London: 11:20 – 12:15

Supported by Berkeley Group

How can development support social fabric? How do we trade off the tensions of place-making and the generational need for new homes? Green space versus houses? Density versus personal space? Single sites versus wider intensification?

Speakers:

• Danny Thorpe: In 2018, Councillor Danny Thorpe became Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Cllr Thorpe has responsibility for the overall political leadership, direction and vision of the Council alongside the portfolio of Community and Corporate Services. Councillor Thorpe has been a Councillor in the Royal Borough of Greenwich since July 2004. He represents the Shooters Hill ward and was appointed to the Royal Borough’s Cabinet as Lead Member for Regeneration and Transport in 2014. Councillor Thorpe became Deputy Leader of the Council in 2016 and held the Cabinet portfolio for Regeneration and Sustainability.

• Victoria Hills: Victoria Hills is Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute with over 24 years in senior roles in planning, transport, organisational leadership and development. Working for all three Mayors of London, she latterly led the UK’s largest regeneration project at Old Oak, setting up the Old Oak and Park Royal Mayoral Development Corporation.

• Fiona Fletcher Smith: In her time at L&Q, Fiona has spearheaded their £5.1 billion development programme and led an expansion into the Midlands and North West. Prior to joining L&Q, Fiona was the Executive Director for Development, Enterprise and Environment at the Greater London Authority (GLA), where she was responsible for overseeing the delivery and implementation of key strategies such as the Economic Development Strategy and the London Plan.

• Guy Opperman: Guy Opperman was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions on 14 June 2017. He served as a Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) from 17 July 2016 to 14 June 2017. He was elected Conservative MP for Hexham in May 2010.

• Chair: Nicholas Boys Smith – Nicholas Boys Smith is the founding Director of Create Streets and a Commissioner of Historic England. He is the author of many books and reports on planning, the politics of housing and the links between urban design with public support, wellbeing and long term value.