An Experiment in Civic Activism Aims to Transform Planning

A pioneering architect in Newcastle, U.K. tries to open planning to the people with a new "urban room" for community engagement.

1 minute read

June 10, 2021, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


River Tyne

Milosz Maslanka / Shutterstock

"What if negotiating the planning system were as easy as popping to the shops?"

That's the question posed by Oliver Wainwright to open an article about an innovative new planning approach underway in Newcastle, in the U.K., where architect Terry Farrell is leading a "crusade" to give the public more control over the development outcomes in the city.

Sir Terry Farrell faults the opaque nature of the planning system for creating needless complications for the public. "To that end, his government-commissioned Farrell review of architecture and the built environment, published in 2014, advocated the idea of 'urban rooms': places on the high street where people could go to view and discuss the latest development proposals," report Wainwright.

To generate some proof of the concept, Farrell is donating the funds to Newcastle University to create just such a place by converting "an old department store into a centre to debate the future of the Tyneside city."

The article includes a history of planning in Newcastle (the 'Brasilia of the North,' according to Farrell), and discusses the potential for the outcomes of this experiment in civic activism.

Monday, June 7, 2021 in The Guardian

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Floor-to-ceiling rotating gates at Fairmount subway station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems

SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

April 28 - Mass Transit

South LA Wetlands Park in Los Angeles, California.

How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope

Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.

April 28 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

Intersection in downtown Sacramento, California with neoclassical building with columns on left.

Sacramento Plans ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Projects

The city wants to accelerate small-scale safety improvements that use low-cost equipment to make an impact at dangerous intersections.

April 28 - The Sacramento Bee