Why and how today’s planning system is failing

​​​​​​​Chartered architect Julian Owen shares his ideas on design and why he feels there's a lack of ideas in the industry 

"There's so much blandness" in the design of new builds, says Julian Owen as he chats with Mark Millar, host of Building Ideas. 

To him, much of what's being constructed is "uninspiring," and the industry is "missing a lot of opportunities to create interesting and quirky builds."

Julian says costs are the biggest reason for the lack of design creativity. The planning system is set up to prevent more imaginative designs from being created. 

"It makes it harder to create beautiful buildings. Also, design isn't just about how buildings look on the streets and how they relate to the neighbours. It's how they are worked out and planned inside. It's also about how people feel when they use buildings." 

He points out how small British houses are compared to the rest of Europe. "Everything is tiny, from the garden to the bedrooms. They really stretch the definition of a double bedroom.

"There's also a fear of risk, so I think some buildings should be allowed to offend some people," he remarks. 

Julian notes that buildings that make statements with clear thinking behind them to make them special are bound to make a "significant" number of people uncomfortable. 

"There's a long list of buildings in this country that some of the population hated when they were first built. A classic example is St. Paul's Cathedral. Influential people tried to stop it from being built. They argued that it was the wrong building for a church." 

He believes that a house affects the occupants' mood and general lifestyle and that design is fundamental. 

For Julian, the biggest letdown is how the planning system has developed and what it has become. He feels that the planning department is severely overworked. 

"There is a lack of understanding of how design works and how buildings are created, and a lack of courage. No one wants to take risks. Planners are not skilled or trained in assessing design," he says. 

He also adds that planners today struggle to visualise what a 2D drawing will look like in real life. 

Planners need support from the planning committees to venture out and try new designs, he notes.

"The key to good design collectively is diversity, and few controls on designs from planners and councils." 

Listen to the full podcast here.