Urban Design London (UDL) is a network organisation that helps all London authorities achieve better-designed environments. We offer support, training and networking opportunities to help all involved share best practices, ask for advice and learn.
UDL is supported by London Councils, Transport for London (TfL), Design for London (DfL) and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).
Click on the following bulleted items to find out more about us:
At UDL, we realise that good urban design is about creating places people like—places that feel safe, comfortable and are accessible for everyone to use; places that can be valued by local communities, can flourish economically and make optimal use of all our resources. To help ensure such places are delivered UDL is currently:
- Running a comprehensive training programme for a variety of audiences from experts to beginners including a series of seminars, masterclasses, e-learning and learn at work sessions. See our calendar and training/e-learning sections to find out more.
- Sending out a regular newsletter to over 500 officers and Councillors across London. These newsletters give information on topical issues and events.
- Offering regular networking events where authority officers and Councillors can meet, share experiences and support each other.
- Facilitating events for Design Champions. Many authorities appoint one Councillor, or chief officer, to be their Design Champion, and ensure all parts of the authorities help to deliver good quality places. UDL supports Champions by providing information, training, reading material and tailored events.
- Providing an on line library of Urban Design books, guides and discussion documents. Some written by UDL to explain new policies or issues. See the urban Design resources section.
- Working with partner organisations such as RIBA, RTPI, English Heritage, GLA, and London Open House to promote good design.
- Running specific meetings on topical issues as requested by members. For example a session to look at how to provide good quality family housing within higher density schemes and another to discuss how design is dealt with in planning appeals.
UDL's skills programme is based on research into urban design skill levels and needs across all London authorities. This research helped us to develop a tailor-made, comprehensive programme that provides appropriate types of training for different practitioners, and this training is delivered in the most practical fashion possible.
At the same time, our training will help connect people involved in all aspects of the built environment and the creation of sustainable communities, including planners, engineers, architects, housing experts, regeneration officers, and councillors.
Our training and network events are successful because they help establish communication channels among TfL, LDA, CABE, and various other network organisations; contribute to a more thorough understanding of each organisation's roles; and facilitate collective efforts toward achieving good urban design
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What's Next
UDL's work plan responds to suggestions made by our members and is agreed by our Executive Board. In addition to continuing to provide general network and support functions, in 2008/9 UDL will focus on:
- Delivering a further round of our seminars, masterclasses and learning at work sessions, to begin in September 2008.
- Launching Learning Space, an e-learning portal based on our seminars, which will allow people to refresh their learning, or start from scratch, in their own time.
- Facilitating the development of design review and design advice opportunities in London.
- Helping London authorities understand and use PPS3 and the Manual for Streets, which have key implications for highway, housing, parking and design policies and practices.
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Organisational Structure
UDL's activities are managed by a Director who reports to an Executive Board consisting of representatives from the London Councils, Design for London, Transport for London and Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment.
UDL is funded by the above organisations; London Councils funding is provided through subscriptions paid by individual Boroughs.
The Director is supported by an programme officer, who runs the UDL office, and a training programme manager.
As a network organisation, UDL's membership consists of urban designers, planners and highway/transportation professionals spread out across the 33 London Boroughs and pan London government. The network is managed in five sub-regional blocks of North, South, West, East and Central London Boroughs.
The people involved as of March 2008:
Executive Board members:
Councillor Daniel Moylan, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Councillor Martin Elengorn, London Borough of Richmond
Peter Brown, TfL
Peter Bishop, DfL
Jonathon Davies, CABE
Esther Kurland, UDL
