Urban Design and the British Urban Renaissance

Are Britain’s cities attractive places in which to live, work and play? Asking that question, this is a critical review of how the design dimension of the Urban Renaissance strategy was developed and applied, based on expert academic assessments of progress in Britain’s thirteen largest cities. The case studies are preceded by a dissection of New Labour’s renaissance agenda, and concluded by a synthesis of achievements and failings. Exploring the implications of this strategy for the future of urban planning and design, this is a must-read for students, practitioners of these subjects and for all those who wish to improve the quality of the British urban environment.

John Punter is Professor of Urban Design in the School of City and Regional Planning at Cardiff University. With a wealth of experience in the field, he has written extensively on design review practices around the world. He is a Director of the Design Commission for Wales and Co-Chair of its Design Review Panel.

1. An Introduction to the British Urban Renaissance John Punter Part 1: The English ‘The Core Cities’: An Introduction 2. Birmingham: Translating Ambition into Quality Joe Holyoak 3. Manchester: Making it Happen Michael Hebbert 4. Leeds: Shaping Change and Guiding Success Lindsay Smales and Rachael Unsworth 5. Sheffield: A ‘Miserable Disappointment’ No More? Philip Booth 6. Liverpool: A Decade of Development and Urban Design Michael Biddulph 7. Bristol: A Limited Urban Renaissance Henry Shaftoe 8. Newcastle: In Search of a Post-industrial Direction Ali Madanipour 9. Nottingham: A Consistent and Integrated Approach to Urban Design Tim Heath Part 2: London and Thames Gateway: An Introduction 10. Central London: Intensity, Excess and Success in the Context of a World City Marion Roberts and Tony Lloyd-Jones 11. Kings Cross: Renaissance for Whom? Michael Edwards 12. The Isle of Dogs: 35 Years of Regeneration, but What Renaissance? Matthew Carmona 13. Thames Gateway: The Story So Far Sarah Chaplin and Lora Nicolaou Part 3: The Celtic Capitals: An Introduction 14. Edinburgh: Catching Up with the Contemporary Leslie Forsyth and Marilyn Higgins 15. Glasgow: Renaissance on the Clyde? Steve Tiesdell Part 4: Wales: An Introduction 16. Cardiff: ‘A Reputation for Imaginative Architecture and Iconic Urban Design’? John Punter Part 5: Northern Ireland: An Introduction 17. Belfast: Re-branding the Renaissance City: from ‘the Troubles’ to the Titanic Quarter® William Neill 18. Conclusions: Reflecting on Urban Design Achievements in a Decade of Urban Renaissance John Punter