The first week of 2012 is over. Having now consolidated resolutions which almost certainly won’t be maintained, it seemed like a good time to reflect on the previous year and also make some predictions and observations on the issues likely to impact the industry in the year ahead.
With the possible exception of the world ending in 12 months time, 2012 is set to be an exciting year for the development scene. Nowhere is this more relevant than in London, which will see the completion of the Olympic Park and ongoing regeneration of the Stratford area of East London for the games in the summer supported by a host of transport projects such as the new station facelifts at Blackfriars and London Bridge both coming online during the year. Couple this with a diamond jubilee celebrating the 60th year of Queen Elizabeth’s reign and the hangover from last years royal wedding, and it will be interesting to see just how well the city and its infrastructure hold-up to a heavy year in the spotlight.
The completion of landmark schemes currently in the pipeline such as the Shard at London Bridge later in the year will mark an end in the trend of high-rise development in London with the City’s head of planning Peter Rees stating in October last year that a move away from the recent skyscraper boom will prelude a change in direction in development which will be “moving towards refurbishment of older buildings”. In an age where austerity is the watchword, this would certainly seem to be the logical move, however it still seems to feel a little like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. That said, this move may prove preferable to developers given the risk, expense, funding issues and long turnaround associated with new high-end schemes and will hopefully encourage utilising the existing building stock in a more sustainable way.
With continuing financial uncertainties underpinning both government and private sector spending, last year also brought sharply into focus the restrictions which are increasingly imposed by market conditions on ideology in matters of planning, and those effecting attitudes to regeneration. Given the current nature of the political and economic climate, it is likely in my opinion that the balance of responsibility for promoting and delivering successful and meaningful urban regeneration will inevitably begin to shift away from being solely the role of the public sector, as governments cut spending and funding, resulting in an increasing involvement in the process by private business.
So what’s changed? It certainly seems apparent that this year will have little choice but to follow in much the same vein as the previous one, as the economic situation continues to develop, so too will the reaction from both the market and governement to issues within the industry (although hopefully not at the expense of design and environmental considerations).
In London on the other hand, things appear on the face of it to be getting into full swing. However to stretch the metaphor further, 2012 may just turn out to be like the last big New Year’s party before the dreaded start of a new job the next day – lets just hope the headache isn’t too bad in the morning.
The Built Environment Review 