Suburban Taskforce: Call for Evidence

We are pleased to announce that Open City director Phineas Harper has recently joined the Suburban Taskforce’s expert-led Advisory Board alongside Professor Laura Vaughan.

Announced in March 2020, the Suburban Taskforce is an independent inquiry into the state of the suburbs chaired by Labour MP for Ealing Central and Acton Dr Rupa Huq and Conservative MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner David Simmons. The Suburban Taskforce exists to understand what “suburban” really means in modern Britain and how we can ensure the aspirations once held for these places can be upheld today. It draws together politicians from both Houses of Parliament and aims to support the long-term sustainability of suburban areas by reviewing evidence and setting out an agreed agenda for change, including recommendations for governmental policy.

The Suburban Taskforce’s public Call for Evidence seeks to attract contributions that respond to the following questions:

• What are the unique characteristics of suburban areas?

• What unique challenges and opportunities face suburban areas?

• How do questions of spatial equality relate to the particular condition of suburban areas?

• What existing policies of policy ‘silences’ have the most significant impact on the suburbs?

Whilst the Taskforce will seek to identify national trends, in its first phase it will have particular regard to London. Open House supporters might contribute by sending a response drawn from the outer London boroughs making clear reference to the questions being considered. Full information can be found on Suburban Taskforce website.

All evidence is to be clearly marked “Suburban Taskforce – Submission of Evidence” and should be submitted by email to submissions@suburban-taskforce.org in both MS Word and pdf formats by 5pm on Friday 16 October 2020.