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Publica director Lucy Musgrave gave a keynote speech at Connected Places Catapult’s National Summit this March. In the presentation, Lucy addressed the need to harness urban innovation and place leadership in a ‘whole-system approach’ to ensure that the transition to net zero is one which is inclusive, participatory, and celebratory.

“Sadly, the way that we've been designing and building cities in a period of rapid and accelerated urban change has excluded much of society's talent – and with it our collective civic pride. We have a deeply unequal society.” As well as identifying the problems in our industry today, Lucy gave examples of strategy and policy work that encompasses this approach with transformative urban design and strategy. Publica’s work for the GLA on evening and night policy and Publica CIC’s work in Manchester promoting active lives and safer streets for women, girls and gender-diverse people, were included as examples of alternative approaches. 

Lucy ends with a call to look forward and scale up, using the research and evidence-base of tested projects from London across the country to achieve a holistic nationwide strategy.  “A good growth by design for the nation, that believes in the strength of our communities, that is developed for all, with all, is a legacy that we would be proud of”. 

You can watch the full keynote above.