Lewisham’s older population speaks out on urban development

‘Mobilizing Knowledge – Solving the Interaction Gap between Older People, Planners and General Citizens within the Thames Gateway’ is a project organised by the Centre for Urban and Community Research (CUCR), Goldsmiths, University of London with the aim of creating a space for dialogue between older people and policy and planning professionals in order to explore older peoples’ experience of the city. It seeks to find ways of incorporating these perspectives into the planning and design processes, and of encouraging greater engagement with London’s older people.

Twenty-two residents over the age of 60 from the London Borough of Lewisham took part in the project which was conducted through a summer school programme involving artists, planners and academics from a spectrum of disciplines. The study found that many older people have an active interest in planning and design decisions that affect them, and are concerned about issues relating to urban design, changing demographics and regeneration. The older people in this study were also particularly interested in the impact that the Thames Gateway developments will have on East and South-East London and its local services.

The dissemination event will begin with a round table discussion between 3.00pm-5.00pm for policy makers and planners to assess the implications of the project’s outcomes. The event then opens to the public at 5.30-7.30 with a presentation of a film and good practice guidelines that have been developed from the study.

Admission to the ‘Mobilizing Knowledge’ event is free, but please contact Niaohm Convery if you would like to attend by e-mailing ucw-mgr@gold.ac.uk. The older people who took part in the study will also be at the event with their friends and families.