VIDEO | Designing a Leeds fit for the future

Improving transport connections, refreshing the gateway into the city centre, and sustainable solutions to climate adaptation were discussed at this roundtable sponsored by Civic Engineers’ Leeds studio.

An expert group of developers, contractors, designers and policy-makers debated a range of topics to explore the prospects for Leeds and the city region.

Participants

• Nolan Tucker, director, Deloitte
• Leah Stuart, director, Civic Engineers
• Daniel Roberts, development director, Glenbrook
• David Wells, director, HBD
• Ian Plant, director, AtkinsRéalis
• Helen Forman, urban design manager, West Yorkshire Combined Authority
• Patrick Norville, preconstruction director, Wates Group
• John Stonard, team leader, design and projects, Leeds City Council
• Paul Unger, Place Yorkshire, chair

Key points

• Clarity is needed around government’s latest mass transit promise to reassure developers on timetable and land implications
• West Yorkshire Combined Authority now assesses projects on carbon as well as financial grounds
• Leeds is a distinctive place and must explore how to make itself even more so through intelligent design
• There are myths and misconceptions about innovative nature-based solutions to problems in built environment, these need tackling
• Value engineering is just cost cutting by another name – if it works environmentally why is it being taken out of the programme?
• Designing around emotions and how places feel is more important than ever – recognising this, WYCA commissioned an in-depth study into women and girls’ use of parks and perceptions of danger

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