Two months ago, we welcomed Dominique Turnbull, into an internship at Tibbalds with the planning team. Dominique tell us how the experience has been for her. by Dominique Turnbull. My name is Dominique and I currently completing my post graduate degree in MPlan City Planning at the Bartlett. In my final year of my masters at University College London (UCL), I was offered the choice of working in a placement or studying abroad. I wanted to gain some experience in the English planning sector and better my professional knowledge, so I opted for the placement. Neighbourhood planning, community eng ..read more

Kieran Easton, Planning Assistant at Tibbalds, explores new creative ideas around urban problems at a recent Hackathon and reflects on the experience. It seems that for many people, including myself, the lockdown of 2020 reignited the love of cycling. The restrictions to our daily lives meant that within our allotted time, a bike offered the chance to unlock unexplored corners of our local areas, fulfil our exercise quota, and enjoy roads with less cars than ever. The experience was enhanced by the introduction of numerous temporary cycle lanes and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, and the demand wa ..read more

In light of the current consultation to allow change of use between Class E and residential uses, Tibbalds’ Associate, Richard Crutchley, looks at the impact such a move could have in his neighbourhood, involving a recently vacated unit in a terrace of shops. “When someone produces a simple solution to a complex problem, that’s the wrong solution”.  So says Gil Kerlikowske, former commissioner of the US Customs and Border Protection agency about Donald Trump’s wall.  Such words are often applicable to other complex problems. My exercise routine during the pandemic has frequently revo ..read more

Richard Crutchley and Maria Hadjinicolaou, Associates at Tibbalds, review the Forge residential scheme on a former bus garage site in east London and how it creates an attractive and legible environment. Hidden behind the vibrant Green Street in Newham in east London, lies the Forge development on the site of a former bus garage, which closed six years ago. Surrounded by two-storey Victorian houses and post-war housing estates, the new development provides a range of terrace housing as well as a strategically positioned tower. Developed by Telford Homes and designed by RMA Architects, 192 new ..read more

by Matt Shillito, Director at Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design I confess to initially feeling a little daunted, deep into the challenging summer of 2020, by the arrival of the Government’s plans to reform the planning system in England – “Planning for the Future”. The Prime Minister’s foreword promises “Radical reform unlike anything we have seen since the Second World War”, nothing less than “a whole new planning system for England” to be built “from the ground up”. For once the hyperbole might be justified – if carried through, the changes would leave almost no aspect of the current system ..read more

Adam Price is a senior planner with Tibbalds We shouldn’t have to rely on houseplants to access nature. We all acknowledge that access to greenspace, however small, is vital for our wellbeing, says Adam Price. So why do we allow conversions under permitted development without regard for garden areas? I recently read a book by Bill Bryson, portraying his return trip to the UK after several decades. Comparing the latter with the former he notes the “most dismaying loss” to our streets: front gardens. “People,” he quips, “seem strangely intent on getting their cars as close to their living rooms ..read more

Tibbalds’ Senior Urban Designer Evelyn Wong has been inspired by the lockdown to develop an idea for creating ‘community super blocks’. Evelyn initially presented this idea as part of the NLA’s #BuildBackBetter series ‘Future streets in a post-pandemic London’ on June 18th, 2020. By Evelyn Wong At the start of lockdown, there was a very noticeable difference in our neighbourhoods.   The birdsong was more audible and streets were a lot quieter.  When out and about, I would always come across a least half a dozen people walking or running, but the vehicular traffic had almost all but d ..read more

With the current unprecedented events, Richard Crutchley – Associate at Tibbalds – reflects on how Covid-19 may effect our relationship with Town Centres. The world is going through extraordinary times.  With the spread of Covid-19 across the developed world, and lockdown imposed in many countries, our perceptions of what constitutes our ‘normal’ lives have been rapidly and irrevocably changed.  Like many things in life, significant experiences shape our wider thinking, change our perceptions and alter your reactions to future events.  With most events, support comes from those ..read more

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Darren Smith, Studio & Marketing Manager at Tibbalds, reflects on our annual study trip to Cambridge in 2019. Each year, usually in September, Tibbalds invites all its staff on a social study trip. The trip provides an informal space for members of staff to socialise outside of the office while learning about the urban design, town planning and architecture of other cities and areas around the world. In the past trips have included cities such as Marseille, Liverpool, Berlin, Newcastle, Stockholm, Margate and Madrid. This year the Tibbalds annual study trip was to Ca ..read more