In this episode of Urban Forecast, co-hosts Oli Lowrie and Jon Ackroyd are joined by Tom Sleigh, Councillor for Bishopsgate Ward at the City of London Corporation and Chair of the Planning & Transportation Committee. Tom offers an insider’s perspective on how the City is shaping its future. He explains how to balance heritage with tall towers and how the Square Mile is being reimagined as a cultural and leisure destination. He also shares stories from his visit to Ukraine, reflections on London’s resilience, and why retrofit-first planning could be key to sustainable growth.

Whether you are interested in the politics of planning, the meeting of old and new, or how cities find meaning beyond finance, this conversation gives a clear look at what makes London work today and how it might change tomorrow.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The City of London has a unique political setup, with no party system and committee-led decision-making, which creates space for collaboration across traditional divides.
• Living in central London brings disruption such as construction, nightlife and transport. It is part of the reality of living in a vibrant global city.
• After Covid, the City’s focus is less on increasing residential numbers and more on boosting footfall through culture, food, leisure and hospitality. This is part of the “Destination City” strategy.
• Balancing heritage and skyscrapers is still contentious. Tom argues that the blend of old and new is what makes the City iconic.
• The City’s retrofit-first planning policy makes it a leader in sustainable development, with half of all London retrofits taking place within the Square Mile.
• London remains resilient as a global financial centre because of its time-zone advantage, English common law, and the pound’s position between the euro and dollar.
• Cultural venues and heritage play a crucial role in giving cities meaning. Finance alone cannot provide that sense of identity.
• Major projects on the horizon, such as Smithfield Market’s regeneration and the Museum of London’s relocation, promise to transform the City’s cultural landscape.

 BEST MOMENTS

• “Yes, we want to bring people back, but it doesn’t mean we want them to live here.”
• “When you cycle across Tower Bridge and see the Tower of London with the eastern cluster behind it, it looks amazing.”
• “The City of London does half of all of London’s retrofits. We’re way ahead of the pack.”
• “Culture is where a city finds its meaning. It is not just in tall buildings or finance.”

VALUABLE RESOURCES

https://www.ackroydlowrie.com 

https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT

The devastating effect of cars in our cities with Henrietta L. Moore & Arthur Kay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44TWO0rTwtg 

Engineering a Greener Future with Steve Webb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHIfzm-aMZA

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.

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