Architects welcome the UK government's plans to build one million new houses between Oxford and Cambridge, but are demanding a comprehensive design strategy to deliver it.
The government announced in its Industrial Strategy this week that it wants the region surrounding the country's most prestigious universities to become "the UK's Silicon Valley" ? a world-leading centre of science, technology and innovation.
This follows the announcement, as part of the Autumn Budget, that it will invest in a major new housebuilding programme in the Cambridge-Milton Keynes-Oxford corridor, and improve the transport network in the region.
Architects working in the area have declared support for the plans, but are calling for a more comprehensive masterplan. They claim that, to ensure good design, the government should appoint an architect to oversee the project. "A strong long-term vision is required, and it must be inventive and flexible," said Jay Gort, a Cambridge-educated architect who is currently working on the extension of St Hilda's College at the University of Oxford.
"Perhaps the strategy should consider appointing a sort of Baumeister, a city architect/planner for the project," he suggested.
"National house-builders aren't set up to take this on," added Meredith Bowles, principal of Cambridge studio Mole Architects. "This needs a long term guardian, with design aspirations as well as funding."
One million new homes promised...