How should the success of mega-projects be judged?

Mega-projects are as old as antiquity, at least as old as the pyramids of Giza. Which begs the question, did the ancient Egyptians consider them a success, and if so under what criteria? From whose perspective: the rulers buried in them, or the slaves who built them? From today’s standpoint, the fact that more than thirty centuries later they are still boosting Egypt’s economy is surely an incredible achievement. But given they were designed to protect the sanctity of the deceased for eternity, the Kings and Queens who ordered and paid for the pyramids might consider them a failure.

Success comes in many forms and judging it is subjective. Motivations for mega-projects vary according to the political, economic and social context that gives birth to them, and this essay will argue their success should be judged accordingly. Specifically, success criteria should be framed according to the benefit they bring to the community over the long term (although in decades rather than centuries). To illustrate the point, I will focus analysis on one city: London, and one mega-project: the 2012 Olympic Games.

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London: Ungovernable city?

London is a sprawling great metropolis that has often been called ungovernable. It is one of the oldest conurbations to claim the title “global city,” a key node in the international economic system. It dominates England in terms of economy, politics and culture, sucking in talent and wealth. Politics, at least on planning issues, is a pluralist system of diverse local, regional and national authorities, over which economic interests and community groups vie for influence. It’s a vibrant, multi-cultural city of great contrasts, and a growing gap between rich and poor. Once a polluting, dirty place, London has cleaned up in the post-industrial era and is leading the country in terms of emissions targets.

These forces are constantly shaping the city, moulding decisions taken by planners and others active in the built environment. This essay will sketch out the arena in which they operate. It will show how these forces came together to shape London’s Olympic bid.

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Policy advice

Having followed the European debt crisis since the birth of the euro (six year in Brussels as the macro-economics correspondent for Bloomberg from 1999 to 2005), I was well placed to advise the president of Senegal, flush with the success of a recent sovereign bon issue. I helped him draft an op-ed peice which was used in the IHT/ New York Times.

A local legacy for Hackney Wick and Fish Island

We called ourselves Fringe Benefits and our task was to produce a regeneration project for an area of our choice. We chose Hackney Wick and Fish Island and set out to produce a plan that ensures the benefits of the Olympic Games benefits the locals. This was the result.

Liberal Democrats made to suffer for unpopular government policies

May 2011: UK voters firmly rejected a proposal on voting reform and gave a slap in the face to the party who has long campaigned for it. The Liberal Democrats usually do well in local elections, but were punished this year for reneging on campaign promises in government, notably over tuition fees. Their senior coalition partner, the Conservatives, defended most of their heartland town halls and even made some modest gains, as voters channelled their frustration over spending cuts against the junior partner. The opposition Labour party made impressive gains in northern England, taking control of several key councils from the Liberal Democrats.
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Planning and emissions targets

To assess the effectiveness of planning as a delivery mechanism, this essay will break down its role in different sectors and at different scales. Planners are not always explicitly mentioned when targets are discussed, although responsibility does trickle through the system and often lands at their door. As the guardians about decisions over land use, planners have two rules to play: one as the enforcer of environmental standards, and another more strategic role looking to the future.

Although it is politicians and not planners who dictate the terms of the debate, I will consider the notion that planners have an influence. The environment is just one of the many factors that planners are supposed to take into account. As Davoudi et al (2009:pg16) note: planning can play “a pivotal role not just as a technical means by which climate change policies can be delivered but also as a democratic arena through which negotiations over seemingly conflicting goals can take place.”

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