Steer contributes to expert roundtable on railway station masterplanning

What role do stations play in cities, communities and their regeneration?  

At the end of last year Steer Director for the UK North, Nicola Kane, took part in a roundtable to discuss exactly that. The dynamic discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities of urban planning around railway stations and brought together key players from local authorities, Network Rail, and the private sector.  

Chaired by Place North West editor Julia Hatmaker, the panel included Andrew Dixon (Manchester City Council), James Heather (JSH Consulting), Ruth Jackson (RJP Town Planners), Kathryn Jump (Shoosmiths), Alan McBride (Muse), Shoaib Mohammad (Salford City Council), Rob Naybour (WW+P Architects), and Jill Stephenson (Network Rail). 

Key themes included:  

• The critical role railway stations play in regeneration  
• Necessary infrastructure including roads and active travel pathways  
• The need for early planning to ensure long-term success 
• The importance of partnerships in delivering large-scale schemes, and a shared vision  
• Funding as a critical issue  

The full summary and highlights reel can be found on Place North’s website.