LUC is thrilled to be a finalist at this year’s RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence in the ‘Health and Wellbeing’ and ‘Plan Making Practice’ categories for a project undertaken on behalf of London Borough of Tower Hamlets – ‘Connecting Communities for a Healthier Tower Hamlets’.

LUC was commissioned to prepare integrated strategies for the Borough’s open spaces, the network of Green Grid routes and 19 water spaces, including the River Thames. The Council will implement the strategies through capitalising on extensive planned development, through clear policy and planning mechanisms, to create a green and blue grid network which brings significant social and health benefits, as well as positive outcomes for the local environment and economy.

Tower Hamlets is one of the most densely populated areas of England. Despite also being one of the wealthiest areas, it has some of the poorest average health levels in the country. Tower Hamlets is also expected to deliver over 43,000 new homes in the next 8 years.. Our work with Tower Hamlets demonstrates how planning can address the twin challenges of lack of space and huge health inequalities, whilst helping to share the benefits of significant growth.  It also demonstrates a ground-breaking approach to planning for water spaces.

For more information on the awards, click here.