Future Cities Forum

The IET
Savoy Place,
London, WC2R OBL

10am – 4pm

BBC presenter and historian Dan Cruickshank will open the forum with a talk about “Ideal homes and cities: past, present and future” based on his documentary series “At home with the British”.

Sir Simon Jenkins will close the forum with a presentation on “Remaking broken cities and monuments in Iraq and Syria”.

In between there will seven panel discussions and presentations on housing, city regeneration and smart city themes and a networking lunch. These themes include:

1. Modular housing: meeting the housing crisis
New materials and building off-site keep the costs down of new-build but will this solve the housing crisis or are the plans to create new garden villages outside cities the answer? Oxford City Council’s Director of Housing, David Edwards, will lead a discussion with Alison Brooks of ABA, John Adams, Head of Planning at Deloitte, and Oliver Novakovic, Technical and Innovation Director, Barratt Developments PLC.

2. New technology and smart cities
Are city leaders heading for trouble if they engage with technology innovation without a robust smart city vision? Milton Keynes City Council’s head of transport Brian Matthews debates with airport design expert Henrik Rothe of leit-werk / Cranfield University, Brian McGuigan of Silver Spring Networks, and City of Heidelberg adviser Simon Payne of Lambsquay Consulting of Cambridge.

3. Waterfront regeneration and the role of rail hubs as development catalysts
From container built waterfront work spaces in Swansea to the new look destination of Leeds South Bank, which cities will attract long term investment and flourish? Tom Bridges, Chief Officer Economy and Head of Regeneration at Leeds City Council will discuss vision and practicalities with Jon Kenny, Development Director of national developers CEG and Peter Neckelmann of Arup.

4. Innovation in construction
How are construction leaders pioneering new materials and techniques to reduce costs and advance sustainability? How is University research helping to create the next generation of materials? Paul Westbury, Director in charge of Engineering Excellence at Laing O’Rourke, will be joined by Andrew Orgorzalek, Director at PCKO Architects and Alby Miller, Senior Technologist in the Visualisation Team at Transport Systems Catapult.

5. R&D hub creation as a redevelopment catalyst
Can Newcastle, East London and South Wales build knowledge economies to compete with the world’s best and where will the brightest brains want to work by 2030? Laura Mason, Head of Direct Investments at L&G Capital / Legal and General discusses long term city investing with the Dean of Loughborough University London, Professor Michael Caine, and Professor Andrew Harrison of the University of Wales Trinity St Davids.

6. Public realm and the private sector
Our public spaces link neighbourhoods, anchor new developments and can raise the bar on our environmental well-being but how do investors assess the benefits? Robin Cooper, Head of regeneration at Newham Borough Council and John Reid, Design Director at developer Mount Anvil, will discuss public realm with award winning landscape architect Chris Churchman, and Arup’s Head of Landscape Design, Tom Armour.

7. Innovation in water systems research
What will it take to engage the public in vital debate over the proper maintenance and sustainability of our water supplies and how will university research help create the next generation of infrastructure? Professor Joby Boxall of the University of Sheffield is joined by Tidal Lagoon Power’s Alex Herbert, Cranfield University’s Dr Duncan Hodge and Dr David Smoker from British Water / ACO Technologies.

For further information or to book please click here.