Plan, People and Process

Introduction

Urban planning and development is an important aspect that involves different phases for managing the architect, design and facility development functions for a city. It is considered to be a technical and political process that focuses on the development and design of land use and building an environment for a living (Hall, and Tewdwr-Jones, 2019). Urban planning involves the analysis of air, water and infrastructure passing into and out of urban areas. For developing and implementation of an effective urban plan, the knowledge and understanding of the regulations and policies are beneficial for making the corrective actions to maintain the success and meeting the needs of the population. The report will provide information related to the history and development of London city, UK. Moreover, the report will analyze the urban planning and development policies for Battersea located in South West London, England.

HISTORY

Battersea is a large district of South West London, England. According to the analysis of development and urbanization within the city, it can be considered that the city was traced back as early as 693 and by 1066 the manor of Battersea belongs to the British Crown. The name of Battersea was mentioned in Anglo-Saxon time as Batrichesie which means Badric’s Island. The city is located by side of river Themes and arable fields. In the starting days after the discovery of Battersea, it was considered as farmland and providing food for Londoners but changes were identified for urban development in 1750 as some industries were established in the city for managing the formwork along with the riverbank (Balzani, 2015). In 1771 the first construction work began for developing the bridge across the Themes-Battersea.

The architectural design of Battersea involves the British influence as the development of large buildings is one of the better examples. However, the architectural designs took a huge turn in Battersea after the 1750s as the industrial people have started visiting the city and explore the resources that can help to develop the city as one of the major industrial centres in London. The industrial revolution in framing has helped to improve the effectiveness of the city as local people have gained knowledge related to advance framing equipment (Murray, 2018). The development in the agriculture approach and activities had a significant impact on the design of the building and other construction activities as people were getting a good amount from the farming operations. The development of the bridge was the most important development for the city at an early stage and helped to improve the transportation and connectivity with the centre of London (Smith, 2017).

INDUSTRIAL REVALUATION

The development and improvement in the urban planning and infrastructure of the city, the industrial revolution has played a significant role. According to analysis, from 1870, industrial development has taken place and helped to improve the transportation and warehousing development in the city. For example, the quality streets and suburban housing facilities have influenced the experience of local people and supported them to make use of machines for framing and increasing the level of production. The improvement in streets and housing has increased the level of freedom for local people to use their farmland for commercial uses and develop a partnership with the investors to establish industries. However, the beginning 50 years were critical for the city as people were not having an understanding and knowledge of the industrial changes and development but as they get the knowledge of new approaches and education for utilization of equipment have helped to improve the urban planning (Dodson, 2017). The industrial development was good in the northwest region of London but the improvement in the South West region was helpful for improvement in the urban planning. The river and availability of water was the major aspect that has attracted the investor to invest and contribute in the development. According to analysis, the major industrial development that took place from 1771 to 1887 involves starch, silk, malt, com, oil and grease, chemical manufacturing and shipping.

In 1929, the construction of the Battersea power station was the key milestone for further urban development and planning. However, the poor housing and pollution management was creating issues for the local population to maintain the growth. In addition to this, the local government has taken proactive decisions after the world war and developed a plan for improvement in the infrastructure (Huston, and Lahbash, 2018). The local authorities have promoted the farming and income sources for the improvement in the business and industrial functions. The major concern for the development was to enhance the housing and managing the industrial work as per the standards and policies. In the current scenario, the hotel, restaurants, fashion and traditional working industries are performing well in the city and generating income and jobs for the local populations.

RAILWAY IMPROVEMENT

This is an important way of transportation and maintaining connectivity with neighbours. Battersea was developed as one of the most attractive and economic living places in London. The development planning and improvement were speeded up with the support of the railway. According to the analysis, in 1838, the Nine Elms railway station was developed and five-line connectivity was provided to the centre of London (Hallsworth, and Coca-Stefaniak, 2018). Victoria terminal was the most advanced and busy at that time. The direct connectivity to this terminal has helped the population of Battersea to craft improvements in education and business operations. The adults and young children were get facilitated by public transportation.

The urban planning development of the city was get benefitted from the railway and local industry was getting exposure through a good amount of business production. For example, the population of the city was increased up to 168,000 between 1870 to 1910. The Clapham junction was become a cluster for new transportation and helped the people of the city to get access to the central city (Vijay, 2018). Apart from this, the major contribution of the railway for the urbanization of Battersea was giving the platform for the farmers and local industries to export high-quality goods and raw material which has helped to get the attention of the government to explore the potential of the city. The railway management has started developing buildings near stations and designed large and small warehouses. This kind of development has led to the foundation of planning of the city as global standards and become one of the finest places for living in London. The development and improvement of railway networks have played a significant role in the economic development and urban planning of cities (Venerandi et al., 2017).

AGRICULTURE CHANGES

According to the analysis, Battersea was land for farming and agriculture is the most critical part for economic development. The railway network has helped to grow the business of farmers and supported them to increase the farming facility and make use of machinery for better production. In addition to this, the industry established in the city has added the operational efficiency for agriculture. The agriculture design has taken a huge turn in the city by 1750 due to industrial revaluation. The changes in functional activities have allowed the farmers to foster creativity and increase their ability to the production of crops (Smith, 2019). The farmer began production of commercial seeds that have increased their income and expenditure abilities. The turnaround for agriculture has supported the investment opportunities in the area and housing facilities was initiated. The revaluation and norms for urban planning were applied for increasing the effectiveness of design by utilizing British design and local resources. The consideration of standards and quality for the design and evaluation has helped for maintaining the growth of the city and allowed the local population to take active participation in the urban planning as well as increasing the facility for the public.

CURRENT POSITION

The effective and well-designed planning for urban facilities in Battersea has led the city as one of the most popular country areas in London. The current situation of the city is considered to be the better living place. The modern market of the city is involving major areas like New Covent Garden, Battersea power station, parks, art centre and St Mary's church. These are some of the major attractions for the city and contributing to the economic development of the city (Fensham, 2016). However, the lack of air transportation is hurting the planning process of the city. The demand for establishing airports is increasing and people are looking for faster and easy convenience through the air. Apart from this, the bus and railway transportation is good and playing a critical role in the future development of the urban plan and maintaining the connection with the culture of the country. The European culture and fashion are followed by the local people as well as offering respect for the other communities. This kind of harmony and peaceful living conditions are making the city one of the better areas for humans (Coca-Stefaniak, and Hallsworth, 2018).

CONCLUSION

From the study, it has been carried out that urban planning and improvement is essential for people to get an education and maintain the facilities that could increase the lifestyle. The report has highlighted the key aspects that have played a major role in the development of Battersea and provided the details of critical revaluations that took place since 1729. The report has discussed the impact of industrial improvement, housing and transportations which were the key pillar for effective urban planning for the Battersea area.

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REFERENCES

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Coca-Stefaniak, A. and Hallsworth, A., 2018. Government policy for high street retail and town centres at a crossroads in England and Wales. Cities.

Dodson, J., 2017. The global infrastructure turn and urban practice. Urban Policy and research, 35(1), pp.87-92.

Fensham, P., 2016. Vauxhall nine Elms Battersea development: Lessons for Australian renewal. Planning News, 42(3), pp.22-23.

Hall, P. and Tewdwr-Jones, M., 2019. Urban and regional planning. Routledge.

Hallsworth, A.G. and Coca-Stefaniak, J.A., 2018. National high street retail and town centre policy at a cross roads in England and Wales. Cities, 79, pp.134-140.

Huston, S. and Lahbash, E., 2018. Land value capture and tax increment financing: overview and considerations for sustainable urban investment. European Journal of Sustainable Development, 2(3).

Murray, S., 2018. The battle for Bankside: electricity, politics and the plans for post-war London. Urban History, 45(4), pp.616-634.

Smith, A., 2017. Animation or denigration? Using urban public spaces as event venues. Event Management, 21(5), pp.609-619.

Smith, A., 2019. Justifying and resisting public park commercialisation: The battle for Battersea Park. European Urban and Regional Studies, 26(2), pp.171-185.

Venerandi, A., Zanella, M., Romice, O., Dibble, J. and Porta, S., 2017. Form and urban change–An urban morphometric study of five gentrified neighbourhoods in London. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science, 44(6), pp.1056-1076.

Vijay, A., 2018. Dissipating the Political: Battersea Power Station and the Temporal Aesthetics of Development. Open Cultural Studies, 2(1), pp.611-625.

Online

About Battersea, 2021 [Accessed through] < https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/9-reasons-battersea-best-place-18015342 > [Accessed on 20th August 2021]

The proper investigation related to the planning and development process of a city can be done using the experience of people living in a particular area and self-observation. The considerations of different aspects like community, transportation, pollution, facility, safety and security of the people are providing the critical information related to planning and development of the city (Alexander, et al. 1979). The report will offer information related to the experience of living at Battersea and discuss the changes observed. The report will analyze both positive and negative aspects of the planning, people and processes followed by the local and national government for urban development of the city.

Key developments

Battersea is one of the most popular and well-developed areas of London and the lifestyle of people is good. There are various changes observed after living in this city as the planning of city infrastructure and management is very systematic and effective. Various communities are living in the city but proper follow-up of regulations, respect to the values and culture of people is increasing the peace and harmony among the people (Bentley, et al, 1985). Following are the key developments that have attracted me:

It’s green: Battersea is one of the most beautiful cities in both worlds as the peaceful and green environment gives so much pleasure. The parks like Battersea Park, part of Clapham Common and Wandsworth Common are adding beauty to the city. The green place provides a sense of calmness and comfort for people (Smith, 2019). The well developed sitting and walking areas in parks and alongside the roads are one of the key features of the city. The local authority is maintaining these parks and green corridors in a professional manner which helps to maintain the air conditions.

Transportation: The public transportation facilities and services in the city of Battersea is the most attractive part of the experience. The Clapham Junction, Battersea's main transport hub, will get you into Victoria in about four minutes and also goes to Waterloo, London Bridge, Croydon, Hounslow and places in South West London like Richmond, Putney and Wimbledon (Penz, Reid, and Thomas, 2017). The railway and road network of the city is so well developed and organized that providing a luxury experience for travellers. The metro and taxi services are also available for the people to travel and minimize the time of journey. The well-organized services are having a positive impact on the experience of the living communities and other people outside of Battersea.

Food and drinks: There are many things to do in Battersea as people usually go outside and enjoy themselves with family and friends. The night culture and facilities provided by the pubs, restaurants, hotels and resorts near the river are having an exceptional impact on the populations visit the city (Garlick, 2015). In addition to this, some various hotels and restaurants are offering a variety of food and drinks that has good demand in the market. The cost of food and drinks is having different range which can be proffered according to the individual expending.

Gaming and sports: The city is having large parks and adventure sports arenas which has great facilities for people to enjoy gaming and learn about the different sports. The golf courses, gym, ropes and other gaming facilities are attracting people and providing a quality experience by using them. The local population is making most of the facilities offered by the development authority of Battersea and contributing to further improvement by offering feedback and taking care of the resources (Inchley, 2020). This kind of approach of people is allowing the management to improve the facilities and implement new technologies.

Battersea Park: This is one of the absolute gem places to have close by. The area is having lots of things to do in one place. It is having football, golf, tennis and Go Ape facilities which helps to engage the people the whole day. The park is used for hosting the events like culture, music and dance festivals. For example, one of the most exciting fireworks displays in November is the key attraction for London people. It is the event that adding the adventure for visitors and supporting the local population to improve the business activities (Koeck, and Flintham, 2017).

Market places: Battersea is the home of various markets that offering a wide range of products and services at different costs. The people can go there and buy various things as per the requirements and needs. The market is well known for food, fashion and cosmetics which is playing a significant role in the improvement of the GDP of Battersea. The market of the city is well planned and organized as shops are categorised according to the segment and offering the products and services as per the regulations. The ethical services and pricing of the goods and services is one of the major positive aspects of the market of Battersea and attracting visitors. The infrastructure that is developed and maintained at the marketplaces of the city is helping to increase the experience (Roles, 2017). For example, cleaning, sitting areas, water and parking facilities of city markets are very effective which have attracted me the most.

Battersea art centre: This is an impressive town hall with 80 rooms which was converted as an art gallery and cultural events. The art gallery of Battersea is having a wide range of paintings and ancient arts that define the culture and architect of England and Wales. The people of the city and visitors are going to experience the culture and taking learning from the art and craft gallery. It is a unique venue for the visit that offers learning and experience of the rich culture of England and Battersea (El-khoury, and Robbins, 2013). The public and members of the centre are invited for versions of the visual show that influencing the heart and mind.

Dogs and Cats home: This is one of the major urban planning initiatives of the government that provide shelter homes for the rescued cats and dogs from the streets. Battersea is now a famous charity that takes in multiple abandoned animals every day. The management is providing all the facilities for these animals related to food, shelter and medical assistance (Hamilton, 2017). This kind of approach of the local government and authority is showing the effective planning and processes for managing the city and providing a better place for living not only for the human but also for the animals.

Major planning drafts

According to the planning documents of city Battersea, the council of city development is planning new attractions and infrastructure facilities for the public. As per the planning document, the consultation of the power station is going and it will help generate new jobs and income opportunities for the local people. To maintain the smart growth for the city and urban planning the council is developing the nearby areas of the city considering the requirements of warehousing and transportation (Farrelly, 2011). The consideration of community and place is helping the development committee to maintain the aspiration for everyone and sustainability. The green corridor is also developed for maintaining the air quality and contributing to environmental betterment. Alongside the construction work, the council is looking forward to facility management and business development planning. As per the development planning vision of the city, the land management and registration policies are determined for commercial usages and maintaining the record of them (Gordon, 2009).

However, the lack of air transportation is hurting the planning process of the city. The demand for establishing airports is increasing and people are looking for faster and easy convenience through the air. Apart from this, the bus and railway transportation is good and playing a critical role in the future development of the urban plan and maintaining the connection with the culture of the country. The European culture and fashion are followed by the local people as well as offering respect for the other communities (Hall, 2009). Architectural development like sky-high buildings and housing projects are going one that helping to manage the development activities and attracting the people to invest in the city. The major planning initiatives of the development council of Battersea is involving responding to the climate crisis, water and flood management, health and wellbeing improvement and enhancement of the social and community infrastructure. Digital technology is used for monitoring and providing information to the general public (Kostof, 1992). This kind of approach of the city development council is increasing the experience of people and allowing the local population to contribute to betterment.

From the study, it has been carried out that Battersea is a great place for living as it having many things for people to do. The city development council is working closely with people to improve and maintain the facilities related to entertainment, transportation, business and dining. The cultural harmony and environment of the city are one of the key aspects that attract the people. The report has highlighted the experience considering the different places and development planning attributes that plays a critical role in enhancing the experience of the people of Battersea.

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Inchley, M., 2020. ‘Why Are We Doing This and Who Is it For?’: Youth Theatre Conversations with Liz Moreton and Conrad Murray at Battersea Arts* Centre. Contemporary Theatre Review, 30(3), pp.390-397.

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Roles, C., 2017. Daphne Frances Jackson. Women At Imperial College; Past, Present And Future, p.195.

Smith, A., 2019. Justifying and resisting public park commercialisation: The battle for Battersea Park. European Urban and Regional Studies, 26(2), pp.171-185.

Online

About Battersea, 2021 [Accessed through] < https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/9-reasons-battersea-best-place-18015342 > [Accessed on 20th August 2021]