Inclusivity in planning should be seen as a necessity

The Michael Welbank Bursary is awarded by the RTPI Trust to undergraduate students on RTPI accredited planning courses in London and aims to encourage and support students from backgrounds currently underrepresented in the planning profession.

Winning students are asked to write a blog on a topic related to planning in London. This year’s topic was ‘how planners and planning policy can support inclusivity in London communities’.

One of this year's recipients, Kaira Kananathan, uses her blog to highlight the importance of addressing the disconnect between immigrant communities and planners in London, and of seeking new ways to facilitate two-way, collaborative conversations between planners and the public they serve.

Kaira is studying a BSc in Urban Planning, Design and Management at UCL.

London is a city of contrasts. It is home to vibrant, multicultural communities and global innovation, yet it also holds deep-rooted inequalities that shape the everyday lives of its residents. As a first-generation immigrant, I have grown up navigating these contrasts, experiencing both the richness of cultural diversity and the exclusion that comes when systems don’t reflect people like you. Planning has proven to play a central role in either reinforcing these inequalities or actively dismantling them.

Inclusivity in planning shouldn’t be considered as just a principle, instead it should be seen as a necessity. For London to thrive as a truly global city, its planning processes must reflect the complexity and diversity of the people who also live here. That begins with shifting how planning is done. Too often, policies have a disconnect between decision-makers and the communities they serve. Public consultations can be difficult to access, often relying on complex language or formats that don’t work for everyone. As someone who had to explain the basics of planning to my own family, I know how disconnected it can feel. This disconnect isn’t a lack of interest, it’s a sign that the system hasn’t been designed to be inclusive.

However, this should not be the case. True inclusivity means reimagining the relationship between planners and the public. It means meeting communities where they are, both literally and figuratively. Planning engagement should feel like a conversation and not a formality. That might look like multilingual materials, consultations in high streets or libraries, or simply giving communities time and space to share their knowledge of their own neighbourhoods. The aim is not just to gather feedback, but to provide communities an active role in the shaping of their neighbourhoods.

Through my studies and voluntary work, including my experience with the Offset Project on infrastructure planning, I have seen how collaboration between planners and communities can lead to more thoughtful, responsive outcomes. When different perspectives are genuinely welcomed, the results are stronger, more creative, and certainly more just.

In a city as dynamic and divided as London, inclusive planning is the path forward. If we want low-carbon, connected, and resilient neighbourhoods, they must be rooted in justice and shaped by the people who live within them. Planners have the tools to help build a more inclusive London, however only if we are willing to listen differently, share power, and plan not just for the city, but for its people.