In 2012 RIBA Yorkshire is bringing its Regional Council meetings to its members. Each quarterly meeting is to be held in different parts of the region, each followed by a building visit and Architecture Forum discussing relevant topics. The first will be held at the Sheffield University Arts Tower, combining a tour of the refurbished building with a look at localism and opportunities for architects.

Localism will present both challenges and opportunities for all professions involved in the built environment.

Architects have a real opportunity to use their skills and expertise to help communities make the most of their new planning powers and create exciting and bold visions for the future of their areas. This new process will be dependent on their ability to appropriately engage with local people and local issues, right from the beginning, designing 'with' rather than 'for' communities.

The Dewsbury Town Centre Strategic Development Framework prepared by Bauman Lyons Architects| was highlighted as a Case Study in the recently published RIBA Guide to Localism: opportunities for architects.| It successfully used community engagement techniques to create a strategy for the self regeneration of the local community. Irena Bauman will discuss their involvement as a precedent for other architects to learn from.

• 4pm: observe the Yorkshire Regional Council meeting
• 5pm: join us for drinks and a tour of the renovated Sheffield University Arts Tower
• 6pm: Irena Bauman talks about Localism and opportunities for architects