In 1945 the Second World War ended, and despite being the so called victors, we were left to reflect on a nation that was exhausted and wrecked; it’s social, environmental and economic frameworks were in a total mess. Sir William Beverage identified five challenges to help strengthen our resolve: Wants (social insecurity), Ignorance, Idleness, Squalor and Disease.

The architects and planners of 1945 scratched their heads and started to piece together strategies. There was the work underway by The Ministry of Planning, and The 1940 Council. In this flurry of activity, the RIBA held an exhibition called ‘Rebuilding Britain’. Out of this exhibition came a tiny booklet, which although old fashioned (particularly with gender and diversity), provided great optimism. ‘Towards a New Britain Binder LR’ was that document.

Britain in 2022 is facing up to its own existential challenges, with the cost of living crisis, climate change concerns and the aftermath of Covid leaving many to wonder about the wants of a nation. And within this context, The ‘Wants’ identified by Beverage arguably still resonate.

‘Towards a New Britain’ is pragmatic, hopeful and confident. It is a reconstruction manifesto of great potency:-

It sets out the state of the nation, and critiques this within a condensed history of human settlement in Britain in just a few pages;
It describes a framework based on resource dependency, including food supply and homes;
It describes the workplace of the future, economic growth, the countryside and leisure – in short, the nation’s sustainability; and,
It boldly states “it must be done —- it can be done”.
Cultural judgements infuse all of the document’s ideas, none of which are hindered by the short-termism of political cycles, but rather a plan to ensure a long-term legacy. It is also self-confident about balancing a modern and traditional British cultural identity; be that townscape, buildings or landscape.

The big lesson from ‘Towards a New Britain’ is the expectation of all people to contribute with no hint of class difference– each individual is charged with this responsibility. The role of the state is for good plan making and rules for land development; “Private enterprise will do the rest”.

One can’t help but wonder what the authors of ‘Towards a New Britain’, would make of our present situation, not least, the lack of a strategic vision, either on a national or regional scale. In the clamour to devise new slogans and sound bites, it is sometimes worth reflecting on strategies that have gone before, and which have heralded long term social change. And as we welcome in a new prime minster, we can at least ask one overriding question: so, what’s the plan?