Fwd: [LA-F] Britain could become enormous Los Angeles-style ghetto under planning reforms, warns leading architect

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Britain could become enormous Los Angeles-style ghetto under planning reforms, warns leading architect

By Rick Dewsbury

Last updated at 12:52 PM on 14th November 2011

A leading architect has launched a scathing attack on Government planning reforms and warned that large parts of the country could resemble Los Angeles.

Lord Rogers of Riverside claims that under the plans Britain's biggest cities could merge into one enormous urban sprawl.

The respected designer said that the reforms were 'fundamentally flawed' and called on ministers to make more of an effort to improve current towns and cities.

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Metropolis: Parts of Britain could join up and come to resemble Los Angeles, pictured, according to leading architect Lord Rogers

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Capital: London could become an enormous mess with more new housing estates built in the suburbs instead of redeveloping inner-city areas

London could come to resemble the rolling ghettos of Los Angeles, where a string of urban areas of connected. Bristol could link to Bath while tranquil Devon may descend into scenes more like the south of France.

'Cities and the countryside are two sides of the same coin - we need to conserve both. The reason we want beautiful hills and scenery is because we often live in cities and see them as our safety valve and escape,' Lord Rogers told the Times.

He added: 'Cities are the engines of the economy, the heart of our culture and places of innovation. If the framework is not greatly improved it will lead to the breakdown and fragmentation of cities and neighbourhoods as well as the erosion of the countryside.'

Lord Rogers' criticisms come amid a growing backlash against David Cameron by rural voters who feel betrayed by the relaxation of planning.

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Rundown: The St Paul's area of Bristol. Lord Rogers fears that, instead of rejuvenating the city centre, suburbs could expand into neighboring Bath

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Historic and untouched: Pulteney Bridge in Bath. Encroachment from larger and more modern communities would ruin Bath's charm

The Government's bid to reduce planning laws from more than 1,000 pages to just over 50 has also sparked concern among environmental groups.

The National Trust, the National Federation of Women's Institutes and Friends Of The Earth are among those protesting against the reforms.

Until now the fears over the plans had been limited to the countryside. Lord Rogers is the first person to voice concern about the effect upon major cities.

The architect, who designed the Millennium Dome, the Lloyds Building and the Pompidou Centre in Paris, said that regions needed regeneration not more building.

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Planning warning: The respected architect, Lord Rogers of Riverside

He said Britain could 'very easily' become like the Californian city of Los Angeles with 'rust belts and towns joining each other'.

Cities such as Birmingham and Milton Keynes, Bristol and Bath would also begin to merge into the unsightly metropolises. 

Lord Rogers said that, although the south of France was 'once heavenly', it had become a 'nightmare' - following decades of uncontrolled planning that has 'trashed' the area. The same could happen in British beauty spots such as the Lake District, Cornwall and Devon.

He said planning was not about 'short-term finances', as the negative impact could be felt for hundreds of years. Sacrificing the country would not even begin to kick-start the economy but would leave lasting scars.

The architect called for derelict buildings in rundown areas to redeveloped in order to bring life back to cities.

He added: 'We need well-run cities that are well-built, well connected, compact, with great transport, without sprawl, with a good poor-rich mix, good public spaces, good design, varied shopping, mixed living and working. It hasn't changed much since 6,000 years ago.'

'We need well-run cities that are well-built, well connected, compact, with great transport, without sprawl, with a good poor-rich mix, good public spaces, good design, varied shopping, mixed living and working. It hasn't changed much since 6,000 years ago'

David Cameron was told last week that coalition moves to roll back planning restrictions are 'contradictory and confusing'.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, an influential Commons committee warned reforms that will introduce a 'presumption in favour of sustainable development' are 'unsatisfactory' and vulnerable to legal challenges.

Ministers claim the new rules are a vital part of plans to kick-start economic growth but campaigners, including the National Trust, fear they will allow the countryside to be carved up.

The Environmental Audit Committee has called for a clearer definition of the wording in the new national planning policy framework (NPPF).

Joan Walley, who chairs the committee, said: 'As it currently stands, the new planning policy framework appears contradictory and confusing. It pays lip service to sustainable development without providing a clear definition, potentially leaving future planning decisions open to legal challenges.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2061260/Britain-Los-Angeles-style-ghetto-planning-reforms-warns-Lord-Rogers.html#ixzz1dgUhfERB

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