The public inquiry into the ghastly 2017 Grenfell tower block fire in West London, in which 72 people died, concluded in 2024 that the construction and development industry is not fit for purpose. Charles Knevitt and I concluded the same thing in our 1987 book Community Architecture. This was based largely on the experience of living and working in Limehouse in London’s Docklands, including another public inquiry. In the light of the damning Grenfell inquiry verdict the experience of Limehouse campaigns over development in the 1980’s should be recorded and revisited.
As a start, and as a tribute to one of London Docklands’ most celebrated community activists, Peter Polish, who died in 2024, here are a few photos of Peter in action and links to a few campaign archives. More to follow.
Peter Polish at his home in Limehouse, 1979 (ref 8330)Peter Polish clearing debris at his home in Limehouse, 1979 (ref 12614)Peter Polish chairing a meeting of the Limehouse Development Group, May 1980 ( ref 13209)Peter Polish at a meeting of the Limehouse Development Group, May 1980 ( ref 13220)Peter Polish giving evidence at the LImehouse Basin public inquiry in Limehouse Town Hall (then housing the National Museum of Labour History), July 1983 (ref 19600)Peter Polish at a press briefing in the refreshment tent at the Limehouse Basin public inquiry, July 1983 (ref 19612)
Links to a few archive downloads in chronological order
Compiled as a tribute to the late John Thompson and to the coronation of King Charles. Includes photos not seen before as well as some favourites.
1993
Nick Wates joins the Project Office at The Prince of Wales’s Institute of Architecture under the direction of Mel Agace, Dr Brian Hanson and Professor Keith Critchlow.
The Tools for Community Design (TCD) Research Project is launched by the Institute, led by Ros Tennyson, John Thompson and Nick Wates. The idea was conceived at the Duchy of Cornwall’s 1989 community planning weekend for Poundbury which the three took part in.
Some new community engagement approaches are piloted and evaluated in practical projects supported by the Institute
in London Docklands……..
Mother with baby taking part in a community planning weekend at West Silvertown, 1993 (S1712).
Group photo at West Silvertown, 1993 (S1606)
… and in Scotland.
Site walkabout or reconnaissance at a planning weekend at Blairs College, Aberdeen, Scotland, 1994 (S1584)
1995
Practitioners participate in an Editing Day on a draft Action Planning book at the Institute.
Workshop at an ‘Editing Day’ held at The Prince of Wales’s Institute of Architecture in February 1995. Thirty-three practitioners, designers, editors and potential readers helped to shape the first edition of the book using felt-tip pens on wall mounted page blow-ups; a process adapted from community planning. (Clockwise from flipchart: Sue Hargreaves, Rod Hackney, Chris Lakin, Jeremy Caulton, unknown, Debbie Radcliffe, Nick Wates, John Billingham, John Worthington.) (S0901) Credit: Richard Ivey
1996
Action Planning book launch at St James Palace
Briefing pack for those invited for the book launch at St James’ Palace. Download pdf.
Series of evening forums on action planning held at the Institute
Some photos of staff, students and members of the public at forums held at the Institute.
(ref 2346)
(ref S2353)
(ref 2357)
(ref 2358)
(ref 2529)
(ref 2534)
1994 – 1999
Pilot community engagement activity organised, recorded and evaluated in live projects in places including:
Richmond, Virginia, USA.
Open forum in Richmond, Virginia, USA, at the Institute’s first American Summer School, 1996 (S1954).
Krakov, Poland
Sandwich board with posters inviting people to take part in an interactive exhibition about the future of the Jewish quarter of Krakow. Organised with the Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum, May 1996 (S1858).
Local residents discussing improvements with Ros Tennyson (left) using a model supplied by the Institute, May 1996 (S1723).
Bath, UK
Institute students organise a street stall to engage with shoppers in Bath, 1997 (S2379)
Liverpool, UK
Design workshop at a John Thompson & Partners planning weekend in Liverpool, 1997 (S2440).
Viterbo, Italy,
Engaging with local politicians at the Institute’s European summer school in Viterbo, 1994 (Photocredit: Richard Ivey)
El Cerrito, California, USA.
Finding out local views on the city at an Institute American Summer School in El Cerrito, California, 1998 (Photocredit: Richard Ivey)
Sidon, Lebanon;
Post-it note workshop facilitated by John Thompson in Sidon, Lebanon, 1999, (S3340).
1996 – 99
Translations and adaptations of Action Planning published in Chinese…
Chinese edition cover, 1996
…German…
German edition cover, 1997
…and Czech.
Czech edition cover, 1999
Chinese delegation of architects and planners from Taiwan visit The Prince of Wales’s Institute of Architecture, 28 June 1995 (1995062815).
May Hsu, editor in chief and Ming-Cheu Chen, president of the Chuan Hsing Publishing Company discuss publications, 1995062804).
The Czech organisers of the translation of Action Planning at the book’s launch in Prague, 1999 (S3674 and S3673)
2000
Publication of The Community Planning Handbook after extensive consultation, participatory editing and testing.
English first edition cover 2000
2001/2
Community Planning Training and Development programme launched with 17 modules.
Flyer for the Community Planning Training & Development Programme 2001/02 Download pdf
Some photos from training sessions at the Prince’s Foundation’s converted warehouse in Shoreditch, London, 2001/02
Miffa Salter (S4015)
David Wilcox presenting, left, John Thompson in the front row, right (S4010).
Rob Cowan facilitating (S4077)
Session 6 (S4016)
(S4002)
Website Communityplanning.net launched, independent but supported by The Prince’s Foundation and others
Translations of The Community Planning Handbook published in Chinese and Korean
Community Planning Handbook Chinese translation cover, 2002
Community Planning Handbook Korean translation cover, 2008
2008
Publication of The Community Planning Event Manual, an updated edition of Action Planning
English edition cover, 2008
2010
Publication of Concertation citoyenne en urbanisme; la méthode du community planning, by Eléonore Hauptmann and Nick Wates, a French translation and adaptation of The Community Planning Event Manual
French edition cover, 2010
2014
Publication of a Second edition of The Community Planning Handbook
Second edition of The Community Planning Handbook cover, 2014
2018
Publication of 20/20 Visions: Collaborative planning and placemaking by Charles Campion of John Thompson & Partners; a collection of case studies of charrette style events
20|20 Visions cover, 2018
2000 – 2020
Prince’s Foundation uses Enquiry by Design process in numerous new developments. JTP conduct numerous community planning events. Numerous training workshops delivered by Nick Wates Associates in the UK and abroad.
IN CONCLUSION
This was a great project. Thanks to everyone who made it happen. A rare example of joined up action research. More should be done.
Details of the publications mentioned in this blog can be found at:
In my early teens I had the good fortune to live by a wonderful Lakeland river where I spent a great deal of my spare time. When it rained up the valley the river became a raging torrent, in a drought it almost disappeared. Over the years I got to know every rock and stone. I knew exactly where to jump across with different volumes of water. I knew which stones became treacherously slippery when wet, under which stone one might find fish and when it might be possible to use a canoe.
The River Sprint, Cumbria
The River Sprint, Cumbria
Every now and then a local property owner or statutory body would make an intervention; constructing new fences, repairing a weir or cutting down trees. And it was amazing how often these interventions seemed to have a negative effect on my use of the river and also seemed to me to be a waste of resources which could have been spent much better on something else. I had lots of ideas of what could have been done to improve my local environment but of course nobody ever asked me.
This was my awakening to the simple truth that the people who understand a piece of environment best are the people who use it and if you want to make it function better then these people need to be involved in generating the solution.
Later, at university in London, I discovered to my amazement that this seemingly obvious principle was not part of the practice of modern day architecture and planning resulting in the most horrendous acts of destruction and people being condemned to live in the most appalling environments.
But I also discovered that all over the world there were people exploring new and creative ways of involving local people in the creation and management of their environment. Exploring this phenomenon has become the focus of my work.
