THE Prince of Wales is on a collision course with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) after calling for planning reform which would give “ordinary” people the right to influence planning policy.
The Prince’s previous criticisms of modern architecture have included his description of the extension the National Gallery as a “carbuncle” in 1985 and, two years later, he commented that the Luftwaffe, at least, didn’t replace buildings it had knocked down with anything more offensive than rubble. Now, the Prince has “starchitects” in his sights – those architects whose critical acclaim has elevated them to celebrity status.
Through his Foundation for the Built Environment, the Prince has called for a more democratic and accountable approach to planning which gives the public a greater role in shaping policy.
Described as “enquiry by design”, this approach allows residents to contribute directly to the masterplan of a new development. All very laudable, you might think. But some, such as the RIBA, are calling into question his constitutional ability to enter the debate in the first place.
“People’s planning” is not new, of course. The concept has already been introduced in Scotland last month. The new planning laws make it a statutory requirement for developers to hold design consultations with residents, prior to drawing up plans for new schemes.
I grew up in Glasgow, but have called Liverpool home for nearly 10 years. Perhaps, as a result of this, I welcome the Prince’s intervention.
Liverpool and Glasgow are both cities that have been rightly commended in recent years for their approach to planning and building design.
Architects should not simply be seeking critical acclaim, and a building is not a success simply because its design is post-modern, avant-garde or whatever else.
The test of successful architecture is whether or not a building is embraced by the communities it seeks to serve.
Liverpool has proved – before and after 2008 – that a city can grow to love radical and pioneering architectural design. I believe Prince Charles and RIBA want fundamentally the same thing and, if they work together, there will be no losers.
