London needs to build, yet many new developments are controversial and run into community opposition - in relation to height, design quality, affordable housing provision, impact on local services and a host of other issues.

READ a summary of the day’s discussions here

Against this background, this conference brought together community representatives, campaigners, developers, planners and politicians to discuss how we can address public concerns about new development, promote better practice by planners and developers, and foster more constructive relations overall.

It’s been a long time since Londoners came together to take a good systematic look at the public’s role in the planning system. With the Mayoral election only nine months away, we examined how to encourage better participation, planning policy reforms and a more engaged public debate.

On the day, we discussed:

How have public attitudes towards and involvement in development changed and what is driving these changes?
What are the issues that generate most public concern? How can these be better addressed?
What are we talking about when we talk about public participation? Who should participate and why? What could developers and planning authorities do better?
How can the public best be engaged in strategic planning at the pan-London, borough and neighbourhood level?
How we create more positive relations between local communities and developers?
What role can new technology and new democratic processes play in strengthening public engagement?