Dear reader: I'm leaving BD. It's been great and I'll miss you

摘要

My crystal ball offers only a hazy view of architects' future, but in my last leader, and the final one of 2013, I am not going to pass up this opportunity to try to see through the mist. I will start with those subjects that have dominated BD's pages in 2013, beginning with housing. I predict victory of sorts for the RIBA's campaign after the government announces a minimum space standard for bedrooms in new-build homes. Planning minister Nick Boles will survive a reshuffle but, instead of arguing that the housing shortage can be solved by releasing more green-belt land, he will talk about Transport Orientated Development (TOD) -destined to be next year's buzzword. Labour's Ed Balls is forced to drop his plan to revive development corporations; Richard Rogers advises a leading housebuilder on a new garden city.