“Every civilised country has a better planning system than we do, evidenced by the fact they have better modern buildings.”

So said the client on a new co-working space and nursery in Hackney. Rohan Silva’s remarks to BD were borne of frustration at the number of years it took to deliver his project, a colourful ETFE-wrapped refurbishment by Spanish architects Cano Lasso.

You might disagree with Silva, who obviously has an axe to grind, on some of the details. But no one would disagree that there are deep-rooted problems with our planning system and that we’d rather have someone else’s. LA’s gets his vote. Others might prefer Flanders’. But it was what he said next that’s most troubling.

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