Architecture adds value for minimal investment

Perhaps I could add to your Comment about the attention that has been drawn to Thomas Heatherwick’s wonderful East Beach Café at Littlehampton.

While this attention has been good for business (I have to declare that my wife developed the building and my daughter runs it), the most important impact of this petit projet has been on the regeneration and confidence of this South Coast town which has been horribly ill-served by architects and planners for the past half century.

What politicians and the Arts Council should be aware of is the added value that design of all kinds can bring – supporting projects like Architecture Week has a wider knock-on effect that makes an effective return on a minimal investment.

Peter Murray, Chairman, Wordsearch, London EC1