The project – Reading 2050 Vision – included not only planners, architects, businesses and local people, but also a multidisciplinary research team from across the University of Reading, including the new School of Architecture. The team set to work, building a comprehensive picture of a connected and sustainable city.

Reading 2050 Vision launched in October 2017, following a series of consultations, workshops and public meetings, each of which fed into the final Vision report. Since then, Reading 2050 has influenced future planning; it’s been cited by the Government Office for Science’s Future of Cities Foresight Programme and directly supports Reading Borough Council’s statutory Local Plan and Corporate Plan.

Clear, direct and probing, the Vision provides a comprehensive resource that has underpinned successful funding bids for further development work. These include the Heritage Lottery funded Great Place scheme, which aims to place heritage at the heart of communities, and the EU’s Smart Cities Cluster initiative that helps cities become more tech-efficient and environmentally friendly. These ventures, together with others such as a public lecture series, are involving staff and students at the University of Reading, bringing the team’s interdisciplinary work back to where it all began.

Partners

Barton Willmore, Reading UK CIC, University of Reading (School of the Built Environment)

Judges’ comment

“An impressive collaboration with local business and the community to develop a shared vision, which is helping the local council to shape its future plans.”

Professor Potts co-chaired a team of 77 internationally-recognised experts to produce an 800-page landmark report aimed at scientists and technical advisors, as well as a Summary for Policy Makers, which was adopted by 126 IPBES signatory countries. The report’s policy recommendations – to improve risk assessments for pesticides, increase pollinator habitat protection and better manage commercial pollinators – were adopted by all 196 signatory countries to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Professor Potts’ combined IPBES and CBD activities have benefitted policy makers, industry leaders and UK growers and suppliers, who are adopting new practices to protect pollinators. The public’s understanding was enhanced via a number of events, including a flagship event at Kew Gardens that attracted 6,000 visitors. And the work continues: Professor Potts will chair an update in 2018, and is working with the UN to develop a peerdriven process whereby the global community of experts can put forward new evidence as it becomes available.