• 17 Jul 2020

RIAI and Academy of Urbanism (AoU) Seminar Series 2020: Build Better, Live Better – Delivering Affordable Homes Now

The RIAI in collaboration with The Academy of Urbanism (AoU) is delighted to be partnering for a one-day seminar to address future affordable housing challenges. The online seminars will take place on Wednesday, 2 September 2020, Session 1: 10:00-12:00 and Session 2: 14:00-16:00. 

Even before the crisis, The Academy of Urbanism had highlighted the need to rethink the delivery of affordable housing and to work towards improving the current living environments and neighbourhoods. In 2019, the Academy published a policy document on the Housing Crisis. The immediate and severe effect of the pandemic has exposed the already visible social and economic relevance of shortage in affordable homes. In times like these, a discussion with a focus on providing stable, decent-quality and affordable housing is absolutely essential.

This event will explore a range of national and local authority policies, and community-led affordable housing models from England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and Europe. Through a combination of presentations and panel discussions we seek to understand how the different regions and nations are responding to the emerging housing needs and how this will affect their current policies on housing and urban development.

Speakers

  • Toby Adam, Director, Gaunt Francis Architects
  • John Coleman, Chief Executive and Board Member, The Land Development Agency
  • Carole-Anne Davies, Chief Executive, Design Commission for Wales
  • Paul Hackett, Director, Smith Institute and Secretary, Affordable Housing Commission
  • Janice Morphet, Visiting Professor, Bartlett School of Planning
  • Sarah Newell, Senior Executive Planner with the Housing Development Directorate, Limerick City and County Council
  • John O’Mahony, Director, O’Mahony Pike
  • Annalie Riches, Founding Director, Mikhail Riches 
  • Sue Riddlestone OBE, Chief Executive and Co-founder, Bioregional
  • Prof Peter Roberts, Chair, NI Housing Executive
  • Tina Saaby, Former City Architect, Copenhagen

Click here for more details on confirmed speakers.More speakers and information to be announced shortly. 

Who will be attending?

This event is devised for a broad audience of built environment decision-makers. Current and next-generation leading urbanists drawn from the UK, Ireland, Scotland and Europe, from fields such as planning, architecture, urban design, housing, community and cultural development, streetscape, innovation and economic and physical development, property investment, government and public policy.

For further information please visit www.academyofurbanism.org.uk.