Vision 2040: What next for the City of London’s bold vision for transformation

12/16/24 • 39 min

In this episode of Urban Forecast by Ackroyd Lowrie, we speak to Shravan Joshi, MBA, Chair of the Planning and Transportation Committee at the City of London Corporation. Shravan discusses the transformative Vision 2040 framework, which redefines sustainability, heritage, and urban growth in the Square Mile. From addressing the embodied carbon of buildings to balancing modernisation with the City’s rich 2000-year history, Shravan offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to plan for the future. We explore the rise of retrofit-first strategies, the power of green finance, and the role of global collaboration in building a truly sustainable urban environment.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Vision 2040: A bold roadmap for the City of London, focusing on sustainability, heritage preservation, and economic growth.
Retrofit-First Policy: How prioritising retrofitting over redevelopment is reshaping the City’s approach to sustainability.
Green Finance & Transition Finance: Why investment is increasingly driven by environmental credentials and the rise of super-prime sustainable buildings.
Balancing Heritage with Modernisation: The unique challenge of preserving historic architecture while embracing cutting-edge development.
Post-Pandemic Reimagining: Adapting office spaces for hybrid working and integrating cultural and experiential elements to “earn the commute.”
Global Urban Learnings: Insights from cities like Paris and New York on sustainable urban regeneration and planning innovations.
Incentivising Sustainability: Why tax reforms like reduced VAT on retrofitting are crucial for driving sustainable development.
Digital Planning Revolution: How the City of London is spearheading a unified digital framework for planning across the UK.
BEST MOMENTS
“You cannot not have change. What we need is responsible change that respects both heritage and sustainability.” – Shravan Joshi
“Retrofit is no longer just policy—it’s market demand. Developers are now driving the shift towards sustainability.” – Shravan Joshi
“Vision 2040 is about growth, but growth done responsibly, celebrating our history while innovating for the future.” – Shravan Joshi
“Urban densification is not just about economics—it’s about reducing our carbon footprint and planning for long-term sustainability.” – Shravan Joshi
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Ackroyd Lowrie - http://www.ackroydlowrie.com
City of London Corporation - https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/about-us
EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT
Labour Reacts to the budget: Can we deliver £1.5 million homes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCvAcDx9e6g
Housing Crisis: Local Leaders, Bold Solutions - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6EVosyQcyE
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Jon Ackroyd and Oliver Lowrie, the visionary hosts of Urban Forecast, bring their expertise from leading their innovative practice, Ackroyd Lowrie. Known for pushing the boundaries in urban design, Jon and Oliver use their podcast to delve into the future of cities, sharing insights from their work on projects that emphasise sustainability, community, and transformative architecture. Through Urban Forecast, they engage listeners with discussions on how architecture and design shape urban living, aiming to inspire new ways of thinking about the spaces around us.
CONNECT & CONTACT
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ackroydlowrie/reel/CpcSrjlDreV/
LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/company/urban-forecast-podcast
Email: [email protected]

Previous Episode

Housing Crisis: Local Leaders, Bold Solutions

In this episode of Urban Forecast by Ackroyd Lowrie, we talk to Jack Shaw, councillor at Barking and Dagenham and senior advisor at Labour Together. Jack shares his journey from an unexpected start in politics to becoming a key voice in housing policy and local government finance. We dive into the realities of delivering affordable housing, the challenges of local authority budgets, and the role of political leadership in shaping sustainable communities. From discussing the moral case for housing to unlocking innovative solutions for urban challenges, this episode provides a thoughtful look at how we can truly define the future of our cities.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The Power of Local Leadership: Strong political leadership is essential for councils to unlock housing delivery and infrastructure projects.
The Moral Case for Housing: Building homes isn’t just about numbers—it’s about improving lives and creating equality.
Temporary Accommodation Crisis: With record numbers of people in temporary accommodation, councils face immense financial and moral pressures to act.
Financial Struggles of Local Authorities: Many councils are at risk of unbalanced budgets, impacting their capacity to deliver vital services and housing projects.
Innovative Council-Led Solutions: Models like Barking and Dagenham’s Be First demonstrate how councils can drive housebuilding while navigating financial risks.
Balancing Growth and Sustainability: Effective urban planning must address social inequality while meeting sustainability goals.
Alignment Across Government Levels: A unified vision between local and national governments is critical for achieving ambitious housing targets.
Challenges of Prescriptive Policy: Overly rigid frameworks like the London Plan can hinder flexible, locally-tailored housing solutions.
BEST MOMENTS
“Temporary accommodation isn’t just a financial burden—it’s a moral one. We need to prioritise housing to improve lives.” – Jack Shaw
“Councils can’t meet housing targets without strong leadership, financial stability, and innovative thinking.” – Jack Shaw
“It’s not just about delivering homes. It’s about making sure they support sustainability and equality.” – Jack Shaw
“Local government finance is a balancing act—every decision has ripple effects on housing, services, and communities.” – Jack Shaw
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Labour Together
Ackroyd Lowrie
EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT
Danielle St Pierre
Labour Reacts to the budget: Can we deliver £1.5 million homes
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Jon Ackroyd and Oliver Lowrie, the visionary hosts of Urban Forecast, bring their expertise from leading their innovative practice, Ackroyd Lowrie. Known for pushing the boundaries in urban design, Jon and Oliver use their podcast to delve into the future of cities, sharing insights from their work on projects that emphasise sustainability, community, and transformative architecture. Through Urban Forecast, they engage listeners with discussions on how architecture and design shape urban living, aiming to inspire new ways of thinking about the spaces around us.
CONNECT & CONTACT
Instagram
LinkedIn
Email: [email protected]

Next Episode

Modernise or Die: the hard truths about MMC and housing delivery

In this episode of the Urban Forecast Podcast, we’re joined by Mark Farmer, influential author of Modernise or Die and a leading voice in the housing industry. Mark dives into the hard truths about the future of housing delivery, exploring whether modern methods of construction (MMC) can truly meet the demands of 300,000 homes a year. From workforce challenges to the downfall of high-profile startups, Mark offers bold opinions and fresh perspectives on what’s needed to transform the housing sector.
Tune in to hear Mark’s take on the real roadblocks and opportunities for change in housing.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
The housing sector faces a declining workforce, exacerbated by an ageing population and post-Brexit labour restrictions.
Current methods of construction are unsustainable if we aim to deliver 300,000 homes annually.
Modern methods of construction (MMC) offer promise but come with challenges, including high fixed costs and market volatility.
High-profile MMC failures like Top Hat and Splash reveal deeper issues with the industry’s approach to scaling innovation.
The importance of long-term resilience in the housing market—short-term gains won’t solve systemic problems.
Collaboration and bold thinking are needed to align policies, funding, and innovative approaches.
Political and economic stability play a critical role in encouraging investment and growth in housing.
Mark emphasises the need for the housing industry to adapt quickly to meet sustainability and market demands.
BEST MOMENTS:
“We need to change the physical delivery model... If we’re going to do more with the same or less, we need to change the model.”
“The industry’s reliance on subcontracting clashes with the fixed costs of manufacturing. It’s a volatile model that isn’t built to withstand downturns.”
“High-profile MMC failures aren’t isolated—they’re symptomatic of an industry that hasn’t fully embraced the new ways of working needed to succeed.”
“If we don’t innovate now, we risk falling further behind in delivering sustainable, scalable housing solutions.”
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Ackroyd Lowrie - https://www.ackroydlowrie.com/
Cast Consultancy - https://www.cast-consultancy.com/
EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT
Housing Crisis: Local Leaders, Bold Solutions - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6EVosyQcyE
Vision 2040: What next for the City of London’s bold vision for transformation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTxl537vyaQ
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Jon Ackroyd and Oliver Lowrie, the visionary hosts of Urban Forecast, bring their expertise from leading their innovative practice, Ackroyd Lowrie. Known for pushing the boundaries in urban design, Jon and Oliver use their podcast to delve into the future of cities, sharing insights from their work on projects that emphasise sustainability, community, and transformative architecture. Through Urban Forecast, they engage listeners with discussions on how architecture and design shape urban living, aiming to inspire new ways of thinking about the spaces around us.
CONNECT & CONTACT
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ackroydlowrie/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ackroyd-lowrie/
Email: [email protected]