The RTPI Awards for Research Excellence recognise and promote high quality, impactful spatial planning research from RTPI accredited planning schools, and planning consultancies, in the UK, the Republic of Ireland and internationally.
Download the Awards Brochure to read about the winners and finalists
Place Alliance is an independent not-for-profit movement. If you wish to make a donation to help grow the Place Alliance network visit our UCL online giving page to make a gift now. Your support is truly appreciated
Updates
Latest
PLACE VALUE WIKI LAUNCHED AT BIG MEET 8 
Place Value Wiki brings together in a ‘raw’ form the range of rigorous research evidence that links the ‘quality’ and design of ‘place’ with the value added in health, social, economic and environmental terms.
As a wiki it is available to all researchers to add (or edit) their evidence in order to create a collective resource. The evidence held in the wiki is available to all to use to help make the case for investing in the quality of place. The evidence is overwhelming and irrefutable. Please use it.
You can find more about the wiki here: www.place-value-wiki.net
Many thanks for joining us at this year Summer School!
The presentations and all other documents are now available to download from here
Sign up for updates for the 2018 Summer School by emailing us at placealliance@ucl.ac.uk
NEW RESEARCH – REVIEWING DESIGN REVIEW IN LONDON
This study, undertaken throughout 2017 by Place Alliance researchers, examined a range of design review cases in London. Design review is a formal peer review process focusing on the design of built environment projects. The research findings are based upon in-depth interviews with applicants, designers, panellists, and panel managers, providing a 360-degree analysis of the diversity of design review practices across London and the benefits that flow from high quality provision.
Overwhelmingly those interviewed, from all sides, were positive about the purpose and value of design review, accepting that for a modest cost the process did improve design. For those managing, commissioning, serving on, or presenting to design review panels, the aspirations for review are clear and unified. They focus on achieving better design and placemaking than would otherwise be achieved without design review. Developers tend to be more circumspect about design review than these groups, but also accepted that the process is a necessary means to raise the standard of design.
The research revealed that generally the practice and experience of design review across London is improving, although there remain some important challenges.
THE NEW DRAFT NPPF – Consultation Meeting by the Urban Design Group – 11 April 2018
Hear about the proposals in the draft NPPF. Learn what different organisations think… including:
- Academy of Urbanism
- Civic Voice
- Place Alliance
- London Living Streets
Add your views to the debate. Book a ticket for the event: http://bit.ly/DraftNPPF_UDGevent
DECLINING URBAN DESIGN SKILLS IN ENGLISH LOCAL AUTHORITIES
A new Place Alliance report summarises the findings of a nationwide survey of urban design skills within local planning authorities and how they have changed over the last five years.
The full report can be downloaded here: http://bit.ly/PA_SkillsReport2017
URBAN DESIGN MATTERS A regular blog by Prof. Matthew Carmona of The Bartlett School of Planning on urban design issues in the UK and internationally