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.

Refreshments and a tour of the Arts Tower will take place from 5pm.