GP 55: Heritage Led Growth of Cities: with Ailish Killilea of The Townscape Consultancy

In this episode of the Grow Places Podcast, host Tom Larsson is joined by Ailish Killilea of The Townscape Consultancy, for a compelling exploration of heritage, townscape, and their roles in shaping places people want to live, work, and visit.Ailish reflects on her journey from the west of Ireland to London’s complex urban fabric and her experiences running marathons, sharing how her fascination with human experience and design led to a career in townscape and heritage consulting. The conversation covers the nuanced balance between preservation and progress, how to assess the significance of buildings and places, and the often overlooked human side of planning — from daily commutes to moments of surprise and civic pride.With references to cities like Barcelona, Paris, and Chicago, this episode offers insight into global approaches to urban identity and density, as well as the importance of collaborative, iterative design processes in shaping sensitive, context-aware development.Whether you're a planner, architect, developer, or simply someone who cares about how cities evolve, this episode offers an inspiring look at how to build the future without erasing the past.