This year saw London finally surpass its pre-war population peak. The metropolitan area of Greater London is now home to 8.6 million people, with little sign of the growth slowing down over the next few decades. The population increase has led to pressure from a number of quarters for London to be allowed to expand into areas currently protected by the Green Belt, with thoughts also turning to how to densify the suburbs. Yet even after the “Urban Renaissance” of the last thirty years, which revitalised the city centre – in part by redeveloping vast swathes of former industrial land – many brownfield sites still lie empty, unused and awaiting development.
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What we need is a new approach to brownfield sites, one that is creative, imaginative and, vitally, driven by research into the economy, demographics and the urban fabric of surrounding areas.
Timeline.
5 October 2015, Deadline for submissions
w/c 12 October 2015, The chosen four teams informed and detailed brief circulated
Mid-October 2015, Meetings for each team with the RA
16 November 2015, First public crit
February 2016 Second public crit
26 April 2016 Press launch and opening reception
27 April – 29 May 2016 Exhibition of the four projects and programme of events
