The Architecture, Culture & Tectonics Research Group warmly invites you
to attend their Wednesday Seminar on 16th March at 11:00am, B5 Marmont Centre, DABE
“Letchworth Garden City – It’s History and the Challenges of planning the expansion of Letchworth”
Guest Speaker - David Ames
Abstract
Letchworth is the world’s first garden city; the brainchild of Ebenezer Howard. It is now the home for 35,000 people and provides 15,000 jobs. It benefits from the core masterplanning principles that underpin Garden City design. Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation is a community benefit society that owns the freehold of the Letchworth Estate and applies Garden City Principles to reinvest the capture of land value for community benefit. This is by way of a community governance structure and applying long term stewardship models, to provide additional services and grant support beyond those provided by statutory providers.
The Heritage Foundation largely relies on income from its property portfolio in order to provide these community services and to meet its stewardship objectives, in line with Ebenezer Howard’s founding principles. The story of Letchworth from its inception to today will be explored. This will include a discussion on how we ensure Letchworth continues a great place to live, to improve live chances for people and to provide people with a healthy environment are our objectives and the modern challenges of meeting Letchworth’s growth requirements, applying a modern interpretation of these values and design principles. Join us where we can share our experiences with you.
Biography
David Ames - Executive Director - Stewardship and Development, Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation
David is a Chartered Town Planner and qualified surveyor and is responsible for strategic town planning, heritage and environment matters for the Heritage Foundation. He has 33 years’ experience in private and public sectors and returned to the Heritage Foundation in 2011, having previously worked there between 1997 to 2002.
David has previously worked for Broxbourne and Welwyn Hatfield Councils, Linden Homes and was an Associate Director for Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners. He also ran his own town planning practice for 5 years.
He has previously been involved in a number of regeneration and development schemes across the UK and is also one of the main speakers on Garden Cities, both in this country and abroad.
David is presently East of England Chair of the RTPI.