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RTPI policy chief to advise MPs on suburbs

Written by: Gavin McEwan
Published on: 19 Aug 2020
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Royal Town Planning Institute head of policy Richard Blyth has been appointed to advise the suburban taskforce convened by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for London’s Planning and Built Environment.

Richard Blyth

Blyth is one of a seven strong advisory board announced this week, chaired by chair Jonathan Manns, board director at developer Rockwell. Other taskforce members include former 10 Downing Street director of communications Katie Perrior, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors associate director Tony Mulhall and New London Architecture curator-in-chief Peter Murray.

The APPG was inaugurated in October 2015 to provide a cross-party forum for consideration of planning and development matters in London. Its suburban taskforce is an independent inquiry into the opportunities and challenges facing UK suburbs, initially focussing on outer London.

It was announced in March 2020, following what it says was a commitment by former local growth minister Jake Berry that the government would consider its recommendations. It has said that it will examine planning alongside other policy tools such as taxation and investment in pursuit of solutions.

This week it launched a public call for evidence. University College London research associate Lucy Natarajan, academic adviser to the taskforce, said it wanted “to hear from suburban areas about the challenges and opportunities facing them”.

Taskforce co-chair Rupa Huq, MP for Ealing Central & Acton said:  “Our suburbs are the home of the majority of our population and at risk of being overlooked and neglected”.

For more information about the call for evidence, visit www.suburban-taskforce.org

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