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1 Why do we need an Academy of Urbanism?

"Because it is the missing discipline," says John Thompson, chairman of the academy, who is also vice-chair of the RIBA urbanism and planning group and chairman of architect John Thompson & Partners. He says: "We have failed to build great places for half a century. We have bits of the Barcelona experience, but they are in places where land values are high enough to drive up the urban quality."

2 What form does the academy take?

It is a cross-sector group of individuals and organisations that champions the cause of good quality urbanism in Great Britain and Ireland. The idea of the academy came from a core group of multidisciplinary participants, brought together through the RIBA's Urbanism and Planning Group. It is an independent organisation and receives no government funding.

3 What exactly will the academy do?

One of its first initiatives will be "A million conversations" in which it will encourage people around the country to talk about what makes a great place or street. People will also be able to register great places on the academy website (www.academyofurbanism.org.uk). Responses will be collated and from this the academy will produce a shortlist that will lead to a series of awards for the great town, neighbourhood, street and place.

Locations identified as examples of best practice in placemaking could then become the subject of a study course. The academy places a lot of importance on establishing an education programme - it is aiming to focus on the introduction of urbanism as a discipline either at GCSE level or at foundation level for further education. It also hopes to develop learning modules for professions such as architects and surveyors.

4 Who belongs to the academy so far?

It is intended to be an academy of 100 people, with members coming from professional, developer, academic and community backgrounds. Membership is by invitation, and 100 invitees have already accepted. The organisation is supported by an advisory group that includes CABE, English Partnerships, the Academy for Sustainable Communities, the Urban Design Alliance and the Urban Design Group. The academy also has a 20-strong executive committee that includes such names as Tom Bloxham, chairman of Urban Splash, Tony Carey, managing director of St George, David Lunts, executive director of policy and partnerships at the Greater London Authority and Alan Simpson, urban renaissance champion of Yorkshire Forward.

5 What are the aspirations for the academy?

Thompson says that within the space of a decade he would like it to have achieved a greater understanding of what urbanism is about. Specifically, he says, "I hope that we can be the catalyst for change. I would like to see half a floor of Waterstones devoted to books on urbanism, and people saying - I'm an urbanist, but I specialise in highway design."