CIRIA's Annual Debate returns this June

CIRIA is pleased to announce the return of its flagship summer debate which will be held in London, 21 June, with this year’s theme focusing on the regeneration of our cities.

Returning for the third consecutive year the Annual Debate, sponsored by WSP, is a staple in the diary of anyone involved in the design, construction and management of cities and consistently positions itself at the forefront of insight and thought-leadership in the growing discussion around the future of our cities.

Connecting leading professionals and decision makers from across the built environment, this highly anticipated event is an opportunity to share ideas and experiences to help drive industry forward in addressing the pertinent challenges of an urban future, to balance economic growth, environmental protection and social inclusion.

This year’s debate will explore both traditional topics such as; population growth, housing, security and biodiversity loss as well as new challenges like decarbonisation, self-sufficiency and wellbeing. It will also consider; the use of land and the role of public space; the demand for housing coupled with the pressure to maximise profit; and what makes a truly successful regeneration project.

Chaired by Peter Murray, Chairman of New London Architecture and The London Society, the debate will take place on Thursday 21 June 2018 at the Royal Society of Chemistry, London, W1J 0BA from 6pm – 8.30pm. Other speakers include;

• George Ferguson CBE, Past President RIBA, first elected Mayor of Bristol,
  founding member of 100 Resilient Cities
• Dr Steffen Lehmann, Author and professor of Sustainable Architecture and Founding Director of the Cluster for Sustainable Cities, University of Portsmouth.
• Louise Brooke-Smith, Partners and UK Head of Town Planning at Arcadis, Past Global President of RICS & Member of the RTPI.
• David Symons, UK Director of Sustainability, WSP

Peter Murray, Chairman, New London Architecture said; “As the Grenfell Tower Inquiry investigates the worst building tragedy in our nation’s history the role of the construction industry will come under the spotlight. Grenfell was a regeneration project that failed and has become a symbol of a wider malaise. In this debate about the urban regenerations of our cities I will be asking the panel how the industry should be responding to the pressures created by the massive growth of cities. Why is it unable to deliver the quality and volume of housing needed to create more equal cities? Is it doing enough to deliver sustainable environments? I look forward to hearing the panel’s views on how the industry should put its own house in order and how it should be working with politicians and policy makers to deliver resilient cities for the future”.

Find out more or book your seat by visiting, www.ciria.org/debate18.  

Find out more about our 2016 Debate, Cities adaptation without mitigation is immoral  and our 2017 Debate, Sustainable Cities - Is there a future? Is it green?