How can Construction Professionals Deliver Well Designed Homes That Don't Cost a Fortune?

LONDON, May 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

A high-profile panel including Lord Richard Rogers, Nick Raynsford MP and Eric Pickles MP tackled the issues at the annual Alan Cherry debate chaired by newsreader and journalist George Alagiah.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53824-countryside-properties-building

The debate, hosted by Building magazine and Countryside Properties in memory of the late Countryside founder Alan Cherry, focused on homes design and whether it is possible to satisfy demand for quantity without sacrificing quality.

Everyone deserves a roof over their head and a place to call home. Staying safe, warm and dry is one of the most basic of modern human requirements. But the bare minimum isn't, and shouldn't be, enough in the future according to some of the industry's leading design, housing and planning experts - no matter how tough the economic climate.

Watch the debate or read about it on the Building website http://www.building.co.uk/news/the-alan-cherry-debate-in-pictures/5035899.article

The event kicked off with a panel debate as celebrated architect Lord Richard Rogers, interim executive director of housing and regeneration from the Greater London Authority, David Lunts, former construction minister Nick Raynsford MP, planning consultant David Lock and Keith Bradley from architectsFeilden Clegg Bradley battled it out on issues ranging from the standard of UK housing to whether it's possible to design in quantity without compromising on quality.

As Lord Rogers questioned the standard of UK homes design describing it on average as "the worst in Western Europe", Raynsford argued that there are examples of successful housing and urban design such as Greenwich Millennium Village where he himself lives.

Lock argued that this project, developed by a consortium including Countryside Properties and first mooted in 1997, would not be a sustainable or viable option in the current economic climate thanks to the cost of cleaning up the land ahead of the development.

While the panellists clashed throughout the morning on a number of issues there was one they all agreed on - that good housing design should be delivered no matter what.

The debate was expertly brought to a close by George Alagiah after taking questions from the audience in order to make time for an address by Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles MP.

The second part of the event featured the presentation of the second Alan Cherry Award for Placemaking to Graham King, head of strategic planning and transportation at Westminster Council.  The award, which recognises the contribution that leading public sector figures make to the quality of placemaking in their communities, was presented by Alan Cherry's sons Graham and Richard.

To find out more about Countryside Properties visit: http://www.countryside-properties-corporate.com/

Thanks must go to the panellists, Eric Pickles MP, George Alagiah andGraham and Richard Cherryfor making the event such a great success -a testament to Alan Cherry's exceptional legacy.

This event was produced by UBM Built Environment Client Solutions

For more details please contact Emma Humphreys on +44(0)20-7921-8573 or email emma.humphrys@ubm.com.

Video: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53824-countryside-properties-building