Ten projects for 2017

I'm fed up with the impossibility of knowing what the coming year holds and go along with RSA's Matthew Taylor who writes in today's Observer that perhaps it's best to "abandon the task of objective prediction in favour of the search for hope". So my new year's resolution is to get on with projects that can make a difference without waiting to find out what's going to happen in the rest of the world. Here are ten of them.

1. Debating the new London Plan. Sadiq Khan will set the spatial strategy for the next couple of decades or so. On January 30th New London Architecture, together with other organisations focused on the capital’s future,  is holding a Big Debate on the topic responding to the Mayor’s aim to consult on the new Plan.
2. Health and well being will continue to rise up the agenda as urban pollution reaches unacceptable levels and active lifestyles are acknowledged as the most effective means of improving public health - this means greater focus on public space improvements, emission reduction and active travel, integrating walking, cycling and public transport.   
3. Creating safer conditions for vulnerable road users is the aim of the Construction Industry Cycling Commission  which is organising CPD courses for architects and planners on the design of streets that improve condition for walking and riding. It is also launching a publicity campaign on building sites. These initiatives are funded by a grant from TfL’s CLOCS (Construction Logistics and Community Safety) and the Hendy/Murray Fund.
4. Sir Peter Hendy Routemaster bus tours raise funds for the fund - there will be four this year looking at the West End, The City, The East End and TfL and Network Rail sites for development. I will be sending out details a month or so in advance of each one. 
5. Club Peloton’s 1500km ride to Cannes (or Legal and General Real Assets Cycle to MIPIM to give it its official title) will be the biggest ever, with two separate groups which should add splendidly to the massive £2.5 million for already raised by the event. At MIPIM NLA will be curating the seminar programme, as it will be at the London Real Estate Forum in June. In October/November I look forward to taking part in a bike ride across Myanmar from Yangon to Mandalay supporting work there by Article 25 and the Turquoise Mountain Foundation.  
6. London Festival of Architecture will also be the biggest yet with a great programme on the theme of Memory crafted by Director Tamsie Thompson. It will take place throughout the month of June.
7. The Concours d’Elegance for Considerate Cyclists will be the precursor of the City Nocturne on June 10 when the streets of the Square Mile are closed for some very fast bike races. The Concours promotes the idea of slower, considerate and stylish urban cycling. By that time the inspired experimental closure of Bank Junction to all traffic except bikes and buses should be well under way.
8. London as a Global Hub for creative and construction skills will feature in the programmes of NLA and the Architects’ Company. NLA will carry out a study of work being carried out by London consultants around the world; the livery company will link up with other City organisations and the Lord Mayor to promote international business.
9. A polycentric city - in the Autumn the NLA programme will look at London’s Towns and their role in delivering the accommodation that the growing capital so desperately needs.
10. Saturday Planning School is just one of the projects we’ll be delivering as part of the London Society’s growing programme. The aim is to inform Londoners about how the planning system works. The Society’s expanding membership and reach is most gratifying.​