'Bricks and water': debating the future of England's waterway past

Understanding historic character and promoting high quality development

England's 200-year-old network of canals, rivers and docks is experiencing a vibrant renaissance and is more popular than ever for leisure and recreation purposes. Savvy developers and local authorities have understood the benefits of creative regeneration of the historic waterfront.

Good contextual design that embraces the historic character of the waterfront is central to success but mediocre development can be more harmful than simple neglect.

To celebrate the launch of their joint publication (see right) on contextual waterside development, British Waterways and English Heritage hosted a free breakfast debate for the architectural and regeneration sectors on Tuesday 13 October 2009.

You can listen to the audio recording of the debate.

The panel debated the future of contextual design in the historic waterway environment. What makes good contextual development? What's significant and what's not? How to raise the standards of design and how developers, their consultants and local authorities can realise the full potential of historic waterside locations.

The debate was targeted at:

• Architects
• Developers
• Planning authorities
• Urban designers and master planners
• RDAs
• Heritage sector

Panellists

• Chaired by Paul Finch, programme director for the World Architecture Festival.
• Rab Bennetts, director Bennetts Associates.
• Tristram Hunt, historian and broadcaster.
• Simon Munro, co-founder of the Landscape Interface Studio, Kingston University.
• Julian Barwick, Director of Development Securities plc.