Planning’s Future: AI And Place Making

The planning profession is facing unprecedented change. Immediate adaptation is demanded as urban environments are reshaped by climate pressures, technological disruption, and the urgent need for housing and infrastructure.

This episode tackles these monumental challenges by sharing fresh thinking and practical perspectives on the way forward. The conversation explores major forces driving change: from climate action and infrastructure finance to the role of AI in moving planning's focus from development control to strategic place making.

We are joined by Alice Charles, a Chartered Town Planner and registered member of the Irish Planning Institute. Alice is the Director for Cities, Planning & Design at Arup, where she advises governments and city leaders worldwide on building more resilient, inclusive, and liveable urban environments.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Inclusion motivated early planning studies

Global mega-trends shaping urban development

Financing is essential for infrastructure delivery

Vacancy is the short-term housing crisis leak

Future planners need design and finance skills

QUOTES

When I meet with planners in the Nordics, they focus most of their time on forward planning, on place making, on bringing forward regeneration systems, and particularly with AI. Will we need so many people focused on development control in the future? - Alice Charles

If we are going to bring about change, we've got to demonstrate that it has a return on investment, that it delivers multiple benefits, so our health, our well being, resiliency, as well as admission. -  Alice Charles