Urban Initiatives Director, Hugo Nowell, recently had the fantastic opportunity to speak in Plymouth at the National Urban Design Conference hosted by Urban Design Group. Hugo shared insights into Urban Initiatives’ approach to creating places that are built to last—rooted in community, shaped by local context, and designed with longevity in mind.
The conference highlighted the essential role of multi-disciplinary collaboration in the built environment, showing how, by working together, we can shape better, more inclusive places to live.
As a co-author of By Design—the foundational manual for urban design in the UK—Hugo reflected on its continued relevance today, calling for a renewed Urban Renaissance: One that not only champions public value and lived experience but also addresses the pressing global challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, water quality, pollution, and the erosion of sense of place.