Teoría y práctica del diseño urbano para la reflexión de la ciudad contemporánea

249 Experiencias contemporáneas del diseño urbano New urban housing design in the UK the significance of particular factors in shaping the process of negotiation, and the product which results. First, the nature and quality of relationships and the focus of the negotiations between land owners, developers and lo- cal authorities. We would argue that a partnership rather than an adversarial model of the relationship between local authority and developer is needed. Our view of planning as a forum for place-making rather than a regulatory only go- vernment function suggests that planners should mediate the often competing interests of development. This is crucial given that there has traditionally been some tensions be- tween developers of housing and local government planners. Second, the timing of intervention, with the need for a pro- cess where dialogue and negotiation starts at a point where the costs associated with achieving higher design standards are reflected in the land value negotiated between the land owner and developer. Again we would argue that the role of planner as mediator is crucial here: traditionally planners and planning in the UK have not taken economic considera- tions into account during the development control process. In this instance, this would seem to be counter-productive given that there are arguments made by some developers that the ‘cost’ of design is prohibitive. Finally, local planning authorities need to be given incentives to take a more positive stance with respect to housing deve- lopment in their areas. This is a recognised as a long-standing difficulty, and the previous government’s emphasis on af- fordability-led targets established through statutory regional spatial strategies, with advice from a national expert forum, encountered both practical and political problems. The dis- mantling of this infrastructure creates a great deal of uncer- tainty. It remains to be seen if the move away from prescrip- tive targets set at regional level to a more local approach to setting housing targets, combined with fiscal incentives will achieve a more positive and consensual approach.