Press Release

Derry hosts Urban Design and Climate Change Conference

Tuesday 9th October 2007

The city will play host to an urban design and climate change conference, entitled 'Designing for Life' at the Guildhall this Thursday, 11 October.

The event is organised by the Royal Town Planning Institute Northern Ireland Branch with the support of Derry City Council and is aimed at looking at 'Urban Design' balancing the implications of urban growth with the need to address the implications of Climate Change. David Waterhouse, presently seconded to the ‘Department of Communities and Local Government’ in London, will deliver this perspective.

David Worthington, Chair of NI Branch of the Royal Town Planning Institute, speaking ahead of the event said: “I am delighted to be hosting this exciting and challenging conference which will explore the latest thinking in Urban Design within the context of Climate Change. This is a particularly relevant conference given the current context in NI and the potential for major growth.”

The Mayor, Alderman Drew Thompson said the city was delighted to host such an important event. “This is an important and timely conference for the city, which has its own unique history, associated with an architectural and planning importance which has already proved its own sustainability over many centuries.”'

The conference will be chaired by Wendy Austin and will bring together leading experts in the fields of Urban Design and Climate Change, to explore issues related to space, form and movement to see how they can be treated holistically and achieve current sustainability objectives. These wide ranging topics will be explored by Johnathan Smales, Director of 'Beyond Green' which is committed to looking at how to apply sustainable principles to housing, regeneration, lifestyles, place making, design and communications and Paul Murrain, Professor of Urban Design at Greenwich University, who sees urban forms as man-made eco-systems!

The realisation and implementation of this holistic vision requires key stakeholders to come together in a more integrated public-private sector framework and this will be explored by Matthew Carmon, Professor of urban Design at the Bartlett School of the Environment.

The conference concludes with a real life local example of the planning and design of a large urban extension as seen from the experience of the public sector, which will be delivered by Mary MacIntyre, the Divisional Planning Manager in the Northern Division of Planning Service.

There are a few places still available for the conference, which can be booked through the Northern Ireland branch of the RTPI in Carrickfergus, telephone (028) 93359494

Ends

Notes to Editor

Photo Opportunity

The Mayor, Alderman Drew Thompson will meet with guest speakers and organisers of the RTPI (NI) Urban Design and Climate Change Conference on Thursday 11 October, at 9.15am at the Guildhall.

Ends

For additional information contact:

Press Office

return to previous page