Pinch Yourself, You're a Planner

John Stiles, Placemaking Manager at London Borough of Brent, reminds me that we planners have come to skimp on aspiration and vision.

Shelly Rouse is a Principal Consultant with the Planning Advisory Service, an arm of the Local Government Association that supports local planning authorities.  Shelly has the impressive task of getting under the bonnets of planning services across the country. I’m not saying that the advice she gives is simple – but, to me, it is more than clear and absolutely essential.

Back in May, I had the very welcome opportunity to sit down for a chat with Oliver Lowrie, Director of architecture firm Ackrowyd Lowrie. He is also a host, along with his business partner, Jon Ackroyd, of Urban Forecast podcast.  For a couple of months, Oliver and I had been thinking about a podcast mashup - and it finally happened!Oliver gave me way too much airtime, and let me jabber on - but I appreciate it because I rarely get to be the jabberer.  We talked about the interaction between planners and architects, inside and outside the planning process; the conversations that add value to our work; where we find our work values and - dare I say - reform-ish ideas.

Andy Rutter, recently elected Chair of Young Planning Officers Society, reflects on - sure - the challenges facing new planners - but more importantly - all of the opportunities planners should grab hold of, including building networks, going to the office, keeping a keen eye on growing sectors and listening in on others' conversations.

I had the dreamy opportunity to speak with Edith Hsu-Chen, Executive Director of the New York City Department of City Planning [read: planning honcho for the entire City of New York] and Erik Botsford, Director of the Manhattan Office [read: planning honcho for the entire island of Manhattan, unless Edith says otherwise.]Warning: This recording includes immoderate flattery, self-aggrandisement (on my part), claims of New York being the greatest city and LOLs.  

Reflections from three members of the Royal Town Planning Institute East of England Young Planners: Genny Middlemast, Jessica Groome and Katie Fowler. They talk about finding planning, school while working, what effective planning looks like, things that get them down and how planning has pushed them to do what they never thought possible.

In this future award-winning episode, I record my own voice numerous times until I sound less like a fool and try to say constructive things about soft skills for planners. I dig deep and explain in roundabout ways that it's important to 1) care, 2) communicate well and 3) be human. If you listen past the waffle, you will find inspiration.

Alice Lester, MBE, Director for Regeneration, Growth and Employment at the London Borough Brent, explains how she makes everything she touches turn to gold.

For six years, Simon Wicks has been deputy Editor of The Planner, the magazine of the Royal Town Planning Institute. I asked to get his view, as a media professional, on the tensions he sees in the way planning is viewed publicly and how planners can help to reboot the conversation. Simon is a through-and-through champion of the planning profession and planners. He is interested to change the narrative and sees us at the centre of that effort.