World Class Places - The Government's strategy for improving the quality of place
On 12 May 2009 Culture Secretary Andy Burnham and Communities Secretary Hazel Blears have launched a new Government strategy, 'World Class Places - The Government's strategy for improving the quality of place'. The strategy lays out how the Government will build on its record of promoting good architecture and conserving the historic environment, and do more to create great places to live, work and bring up a family.
It urges councils and developers to put good planning, local character and high quality design at the heart of development. It also wants to encourage improvement in the design quality of market-led development, including housing.
The strategy recognises the need for an approach that works across Government, and brings together all the elements of our built environment: great new public buildings, heritage and conservation, regeneration and public services. All these elements must work together to deliver world class places. Central government alone can not create the sort of places we all want to see; a wide range of public and private players have a role in the development process and so have an interest in improving the quality of place.
DCMS, CABE and English Heritage will be working with CLG and the Homes and Communities Agency on developing an action plan by the end of the summer 2009 to deliver the strategic objectives and actions set out in 'World Class Places'.
Related information
Architecture and Design Channel
These documents are available online in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format.
Back to main
Back to top
