黑洞社区

Housing in London will be part of the remit of the National Infrastructure Commission, Sadie Morgan has revealed.

The dRMM co-founder has been asked to lead on the subject by Lord Adonis, who appointed her to the commission last month.

鈥淚 will be drilling down into housing needs, how we can help deliver housing in London and how it relates to the infrastructure plan,鈥� she told an audience at the recent 黑洞社区 Live conference in the City.

Housing is considered a fundamental element of infrastructure, not just a by-product of its regenerative powers, said Morgan.

The commission, set up by the chancellor in response to a report by former Olympic Delivery Authority chief John Armitt, has a 30-year outlook. But its first tasks, to be completed before next spring鈥檚 budget, are to focus on three issues: northern connectivity; London鈥檚 transport system; and energy design.

鈥淚 am so passionate about making sure design is a critical part of everything we do. I like to think that鈥檚 why they asked me to be on the commission,鈥� Morgan added.

Morgan, who was one of five leading architects delivering their visions of the future at a BD breakout session at 黑洞社区 Live, also spoke about her role leading the HS2 design review panel.

More than 300 people of the 鈥渉ighest calibre鈥� applied to join the 45-strong design panel, with Tom Holbrook, Daisy Froud, Glenn Howells and Hiro Aso among the 45 names appointed.

The opportunities for work on HS2 were 鈥渆xtraordinary鈥�, she said, reeling off the number of bridges and stations the high-speed rail network will require.

Morgan said her task as chair was to convince the authorities they need creative people on board 鈥渢o tell them what the future looks like鈥�.

鈥淢y job is to make sure they deliver on the brief for the largest infrastructure project this country has ever undertaken,鈥� she said. 鈥淣o one should underestimate the task.鈥�

She added: 鈥淚t鈥檚 so important to remember we have huge design talent here. I am trying to push that right from procurement through design to delivery.

鈥淲e are not just talking about designing structures but about management structures that allow that to happen鈥� It will be an extraordinary legacy for this country if we get it right.鈥�