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New London Architecture (NLA) will host a timely exhibition and series of talks and conferences this autumn, titled London's Towns: Shaping the Polycentric City. The programme will highlight one of the major shifts from the policies of Ken Livingstone as Boris Johnson plans to focus on outer London - the suburbs - the places where most Londoners live and work.

The massive spread of London that took place in the 1930s absorbed towns like Kingston, Croydon, Harrow and Romford into the metropolis. Generally surrounded by suburban developments of detached and semi-detached homes with gardens, and celebrated in John Betjeman's poem Metro-land, these areas of London seem to come off second best when compared to the Mayor's policies on the central boroughs and Thames Gateway. This conference and exhibition looks at the characteristics of the suburban ring of the capital and the part these areas play in the planning of London.

Program details after the jump

The Exhibition

The eight-week exhibition at NLA will examine areas of outer London as both destinations and neighbourhoods and the part they have played in the development of the capital. An overview of the architecture, planning and development will encourage a reappraisal of the suburban 'ring' - past, present and future - and address the issues particular to their ongoing success.

Peter Murray, exhibition director, New London Architecture comments: "London's suburbs are back on the radar again. While Ken Livingstone saw outer London as little more than the dormitory for the Central Activity Zone, Mayor Boris Johnson's strategy of giving greater power to the boroughs means that the outer town centres will be areas of commercial as well as residential growth."

The Conference and talks series

Reflecting Johnson's promise to give more attention to the outer borough's, the London's Towns conference series brings together the policy-makers, planners, developers, architects, sub-regional organisations and public, to inform, inspire and encourage debate about the role the capital's towns and urban centres will play in the continued growth and prosperity of London as a world city.

Three half-day conferences will explore the issues affecting the planning, development and future potential of the capital's suburban ring. Five free breakfast briefings on Wednesday mornings throughout the exhibition will focus on the projects and research transforming outer London's towns, urban centres, high streets and suburbs.

Click the conference titles for details.

Developing Communities: How the outer boroughs work
Thursday 9 October

Placemaking: Creating a destination
Thursday 30 October

Connecting Outer London
Tuesday 4 November