Hello all –
 
Back from chairing at MIPIM, and glad to report a confident UK presence despite Brexit; more London boroughs than ever and a more diverse group; serious focus on placemaking; and increased interest in – and new support for – what Future of London offers the sector.
 
A lot of that is about the next wave of London's leaders, central to all we do. Right now that includes: 

• FLL Cohort 14's Placemaking Proposals for London - some will repeat their excellent talks at FoL's 28 June conference, which alumni are invited to help shape
• Thanks to FLL Cohort 15, recasting our Smarter Cities programme to emphasise our network's [i.e. your!] needs and how tech can meet those, rather than starting from the usual provider perspective
• Helping up-and-coming officers do more constructive work as part of Smarter Planning, with partners including LB Ealing, LB Southwark, RTPI and Future Cities Catapult
• An advisory role with alumnus Finn Williams's Public Practice (née Place Agency) proposal for planning & regen placements, trying to help make it feasible, useful and fair. Our Housing Zones Network members also fed into this effort
• Alumni and Diversity Network events including presentation coaching, an Urbancanda workshop, a 6 April session on healthy cities, and an alumni-mentor summer social hosted by core sponsors Pollard Thomas Edwards

There's more afoot, including today’s HZN GLA Update on the Housing White Paper and modular build; a Crossrail as Catalyst update with GVA; and work on landlord licensing and tenant engagement as part of our Trust for London and Oak Foundation-funded PRS programme. You can find info on anything here via events@futureoflondon.org.uk.

**Business Rates Relief: If your council has a plan for how to allocate this funding or you want to hear what others are doing, let us know and we’ll publish a post when the consultation wraps 7 April. Suggestions to date: means-test candidates; apply to micro-businesses; apply to (some) co-working spaces; exclude pubs, which will get separate relief, and companies in rates or rent arrears…

Finally, a warm welcome to new FoL board members John Lumley of LB Hackney and Jonathan Spearing of Poplar HARCA and huge thanks to LB Lambeth's Sue Foster, taking a (hopefully temporary) break from the board.
 
All the best and see you out there!
 
Lisa Taylor
Chief Executive
 
From Twitter: 
"Great session this morning facilitated by @futureofldn on smarter London #planning. If only the answer was simple @RTPIPlanners" @GrahamStallwood, 7 Mar