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Urban Design Update

07th Jul 2008

Subject: Urban Design Update - Scotland Sustainable Commities initiative launched Urban Design Group The independent voice of urban design News – Scotland Sustainable Communities Initiative, Eco-town confusion, Ghostburbs Events: Reinventing Seaside Towns Wednesday 9th July Jobs: Birmingham Institute of Art and Design - Urban Designer (KTP Associate) - CLOSING DATE: 7th JULY ; Senior Urban Design Officer - Medway Council – Chatham, Kent - CLOSING DATE: 11th JULY Next UDG Event Reinventing Seaside Towns 6.30pm, Wednesday 9th July at The Gallery, 70 Cowcross Street, London, EC1M 6EJ. · Architect Conor McKee from RTKL, discussing Blackpool, Talbot Gateway Competition · Mike Hayes from Sea Space, Economic Development Company for Hastings and Bexley · Chris Hall, Director at GVA Grimley, discussing the Eastbourne Hailsham Economic Masterplan, the National Coastal Town Study and the particular issues facing coastal towns drawing from these and other coastal regeneration work Chaired by Robert Fraser, Head of Planning Strategy at Brighton and Hove City Council A representative from RIBA book shop will be present selling a selection of titles on the topic of seaside regeneration. Seaside Town Regeneration is a very important and rapidly expanding area of regeneration in the UK. Next week's event will present a wide range of perspectives from the people and the organisations involved in Reinventing Seaside Towns. The event will bring together a number of experts who are at the forefront of seaside town transformation. It will address the particular issues these towns face as well as drawing out important lessons for all communities relating to economy, housing, quality of place, quality of life, image and identity. GVA Grimley Ltd, who is co-sponsoring this event, is a leading national independent property advisory and consultancy business, with core areas of Planning, Development and Regeneration. GVA Grimley has wide and varied experience in and around coastal towns around the UK, as well as a National Coastal Town study with English Partnerships and three coastal town Urban Regeneration Companies. GVA Grimley is well placed to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of these towns and areas. With refreshments kindly supplied by GVA Grimley Ltd. NEWS England Measures announced to support affordable housing The Government has announced that a further £270m is today being allocated through the Housing Corporation to deliver an additional 3,800 homes for social rent and 1,500 shared ownership homes over the next three years. A new national clearing house is being set up where house builders can approach the Housing Corporation with robust proposals to sell their unsold stock for affordable housing. http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/869428 These measures are in addition to those introduced by the major lending institutions. Commercial buildings are scoring an average 'C' energy rating http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/868858 £250 m extra announced for New Deal for Communities http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/868378 Local Priorities website launched by DCLG “Local priorities are about creating the sort of place you want to live in. They have been negotiated between your local council, those providing your local public services (such as the police, NHS, JobCentre Plus, charities and community organisations) and Government.” The priorities are set out in each local authority’s Local Area Agreement LAA. http://www.localpriorities.communities.gov.uk/ Eco-town snapshot DCLG Yougov poll claims 5 to 1 support in favour of eco-towns The YouGov survey findings reveal that 46 per cent of adults support the development of eco-towns in England, compared with nine per cent who oppose their development. The survey Eco-towns: the case for sustainable affordable housing growth was conducted this month with 1,693 adults in England. Q. To what extent do you support or oppose the development of eco-towns within 5 miles of your home? Strongly support 9% Tend to support 25% Neither support nor oppose 39% Tend to oppose 8% Strongly oppose 7% Don't know 12% 1,341 responses http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/866462 Conservatives will scrap eco-towns http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/06/30/eaecotown130.xml Eco-town plan in danger of being slashed back – The Times A report by the government’s advisers on eco-towns declared that most of the 15 shortlisted proposals were “just housing estates in the countryside with a green label attached”. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article4232330.ece Eco-con' anger – The Sun “We favour affordable housing but it’s got to be in the right place.” (Tim Henman’s dad) http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/special_events/green_week/article1362506.ece All in all, a confusing picture is emerging. The section of the British press that is in opposition to the creation of eco-towns - on the grounds that they are on Greenfield sites and will encourage car use – is also generally supportive of the “long suffering British motorist”. Results of survey of attitudes towards transport commissioned by Department for Transport This is a somewhat qualitative document, arising from the thoughts of an on-line panel, and difficult to skim-read. Check pages 106 onwards for statistics. http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/scienceresearch/social/citizens.pdf Review of evidence on public attitudes to transport Some worthy analysis here: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/scienceresearch/social/evidence.pdf Towards a sustainable transport system - progress http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/transportstrategy/tasts/ New Approach to Appraisal NATA - summary of responses Changes are to be introduced from 2009 http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/closed/consulnatarefresh/responses/# Local Transport scheme information – list of all schemes with a value of over £5million http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/ltp/major/majorscheme.pdf Scotland Consultation on National Parks http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/07/03141102 Sustainable Communities Initiative SCI Launched Local authorities, and their partners, will be encouraged to propose more sustainable communities as part of the solution to meeting housing requirements in their areas. Proposals must be ambitious and innovative, addressing the needs of those on lower incomes and helping to create sustainable, mixed communities across the country. Those intending submitting a proposal under the SSCI should notify the Scottish Government of their intentions by August 6, 2008, including an outline site plan. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/06/27111714 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/06/25093645/0 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/229554/0062200.pdf Ireland Architectural Heritage Survey of County Sligo Launched http://www.environ.ie/en/Heritage/ArchitecturalProtectionandHeritagePolicy/News/MainBody,17713,en.htm Irish Architecture Awards Of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/News/MainBody,17649,en.htm General The World in 2050: can rapid global growth be reconciled with moving to a low carbon economy? Yes – according to PriceWaterhouseCoopers report “We estimate that the costs of halving global carbon emissions by 2050 should be no more than around 3% of world GDP. This is broadly equivalent to sacrificing around a year of global GDP growth between now and 2050. In other words, reaching the same level of GDP in 2051 as might otherwise have happened in 2050.” The report describes a scenario requiring significantly increased energy efficiency in all sectors of the economy, greater use of renewables and nuclear power, carbon capture and storage, and other low carbon technologies and techniques - as well as reducing deforestation. http://www.pwc.com/extweb/ncpressrelease.nsf/docid/1281278C8180F33B8525747A005466E6 Acidification of oceans may reduce their ability to absorb carbon dioxide. The world’s oceans have absorbed around 40 percent of the carbon dioxide emitted by mankind over the past 200 years but in so doing are becoming more acidic. There is no evidence that the acidification may damage corals and other organisms that play a role in fixing the carbon as calcium carbonate. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/ci-aoa063008.php Biofuels prime cause of 75% increase in food prices claims leaked report http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jul/03/biofuels.renewableenergy Environment should be priority for government above economy - Guardian ICM Poll suggests When asked what should be the government's priority, 52% said the environment and 44% said the economy. However only 19% say they would actually choose to pay more for an expensive yet environmentally friendly product while shopping. Far more people, 58%, would buy a cheaper alternative, even if it was less good for the environment. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jul/02/climatechange.ethicalliving A Daily Mail Poll suggests that only 15% of readers would pay more for green energy. Earthworks 2008 – global competition among cartoonists illustrating impact of climate change http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/in-pictures-earthworks-2008-859321.html?ino=10 http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/in-pictures-earthworks-2008-859321.html?ino=19 Error in maths leads to underestimation of extinction risk of endangered species http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jul/02/climatechange.endangeredspecies From suburb to ghostburb as increasing travel costs bite Americans drove 11bn fewer miles than in March 2007 - a 4.3% drop - and the first downward trend in 30 years raising concerns that suburbs which depend on car commuting for their existence may become unviable. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jul/02/fossilfuels.travelandtransport Global Happiness Trends http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/happinesstrends/ http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/uom-hir063008.php http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/happinesstrends/ http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=111725&org=NSF http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/wt-mdm062608.php Raising drinking age to 21 saves lives at risk from road traffic accidents http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/bc-mda062508.php Essays in jelly architecture http://www.jellymongers.co.uk/competition.html Picture emerges of urban life in Egypt 4000 years ago http://news.uchicago.edu/news.php?asset_id=1402 JOBS To advertise a job on the Urban Design Group website, please contact Louise Ingledow at Urban Design Services Ltd. on 020 7250 0892. Email: udsl@udg.org.uk London South Bank University - Urban Design Studio Tutor/s (2 x 1 afternoon per week, one semester, starting October) LSBU are looking for one or two tutors to assist with urban design projects for our planning students (second year undergraduate / first year post graduate). The projects will be based in London. Tutors will work with a group of students on a common brief and assess the work. For details contact: Dr Bob Jarvis (Urban Design Coordinator, Department of Urban Environment and Leisure Studies) jarvisb@lsbu.ac.uk Senior Urban Design Officer - Medway Council – Chatham, Kent - CLOSING DATE: 11th JULY Full time (37 per week) - Salary: £30,598- £39,258 (pay award pending) http://www.udg.org.uk/?section_id=11 Senior Urban Landscape Officer - Torbay Council - Torquay Full time – Salary: £23,749-£30,598 http://www.udg.org.uk/?document_id=672 Birmingham Institute of Art and Design - Urban Designer (KTP Associate) - CLOSING DATE: 7th JULY Full time (37.5 per week) - £19,500 + http://www.udg.org.uk/?document_id=671 Project managers & Landscape Architects - Burns + Nice, London http://www.udg.org.uk/?section_id=11 Robert Adam Architects – Urban Designers/Masterplanners – Winchester http://www.udg.org.uk/?document_id=657 Barton Wilmore – Urban Designers – Edinburgh http://www.udg.org.uk/?document_id=654 City Design Co-Operative - Landscape Architects/Urban Designers – Glasgow http://www.udg.org.uk/?document_id=651 Urban Designers – Entec – Various locations http://www.udg.org.uk/?document_id=649 Events Ø Architecture Centre Network - Lunch box talks · The first three talks have been a great success and there is still a chance to catch one of the remaining three! · All the talks take place between 1.00 and 1.45pm in The Gallery, Alan Baxter Associates, 70-75 Cowcross Street, EC1N 6EJ · Tickets £8.00, including talk and Clerkenwell Kitchen lunch box. · To book, visit www.lfa2008.org or call 0870 264 3333 Tuesday 8 July Sarah Wigglesworth and Rowan Moore, Architecture Foundation Better architecture if you involve the public? But what's the best way? Thursday 10 July Glenn Howells and Julia Ellis, MADE, Birmingham Can we use culture as a way to connect people with architecture? Tuesday 15 July Nick Edwards, Fundamental Architectural Inclusion, Newham and Atelier One Engineers On the move, with plans for the first mobile architecture centre. Is the future mobile? Exhibition: Enter the Centre (Tuesdays and Thursdays 12-6pm throughout LFA in the Alan Baxter Gallery) All abut what architecture centres are and what they do. Website: www.architecturecentre.net Email: mail@architecturecentre.net Ø The Oxford Conference: 50 Years On - Resetting the Agenda for Architectural Education 22-23 July 2008 Examination Schools, University of Oxford, UK In 1958 the first Oxford Conference set an agenda for architectural education that has been followed for 50 years. 50 years on, The Oxford Conference 2008 aims to reset that agenda and develop a routemap for architectural education for a new and radically different century. The conference will include forums and workshops addressing the following key issues: Buildings and the Environment | Sustaining Studio Education in a Climate of Change | Human Habitat and Social Responsibility | Refurbishment and Evidence Based Education | Research into Teaching Courses | Urban Design and Sustainable Cities | Schools and Professional Views | Materials and Renewable Energy | Virtual Building and Generative Design | Design Research | Courses and Curricula. For further info, see: http://www.oxfordconference2008.co.uk/ Ø Urban Design Week 2008 – 15th-22nd September Full programme, including events in London and further afield, to be announced shortly. · 17th September – URBAN DESIGN Awards – presentation of Tibbalds Prize The Gallery, Cowcross Street, London The culmination of the new award scheme introduced by Urban Design last year. Each of the eight short-listed practices featured in the journal over the past year will give a summary of their entry. Janet Tibbalds will then announce which practice has been voted by the membership as having submitted the best project of the 2007 entries. To conclude the evening, George Ferguson will provide his Reflections on Urban Design. · The Fairytale of Burscough Bridge Exhibition - 15th – 26th September 2008 Renew Rooms, 82 Wood Street, Liverpool L1 4DQ Exhibition presenting the work of Liverpool based design agencies BCA Landscape and Smiling Wolf, who together have created a bold and adventurous scheme to enrich the sense of identity in the Lancashire village of Burscough Bridge. The scheme shows the successful realisation of a contemporary design project within a rural context, involving the creation of a series of new small interlinked squares and pedestrian routes [previously full of parked cars and clutter] - animated with bespoke furniture, paving, artworks, lighting, signage and a village clock. Sponsored by Hardscape, Merseyside ACME and Renew [Places Matter] Supported by Design Initiative and Landscape Institute NW Ø UDG 2008 Conference – Urban Connectivity Liverpool – 10th/11th October – Empire Theatre Programme to be released in next couple of weeks! Ø AJ Conference - Masterplanning and Urban Design: Current and future theory and practice: a route-map to successful masterplans Thursday 20th November – London – www.ajmasterplanning.co.uk Attend the 4th masterplanning conference from Architects’ Journal for an in-depth look at the key issues affecting masterplanning in the current economic climate. A mixture of theory and practice, you will come away with up-to-date information that will help with your masterplanning projects. Top reasons to attend… § Be up to date with the latest changes to legislation affecting masterplanning, including planning policy and the Housing Regeneration Bill § Hear an international perspective on masterplanning – see how projects abroad are approached § Participate in Question Time – an interactive session covering key topics of sustainable design where panellists will discuss and debate questions posed by the audience § Improve working relations with clients – network with local authorities and developers and find out what they want from a masterplan to better meet their needs § Hear a mixture of theory and practice to share with colleagues back in the office For the full programme and further information visit www.ajmasterplanning.co.uk, call 0845 056 8069 or email constructconferences@emap.com. Ø Urban Design London Training Season – Third season UDL have just launched their third training season. You will find a link to the new brochure below. It starts next month and runs until March 09. There are over 40 different events, from foundation level seminars to master-classes and guided site visits. During the last season there were over 800 individual learning sessions with people coming from 84 organisations including 32 of London's 33 Boroughs. If you would like to get involved, please book at www.urbanevents.org.uk or go to www.urbandesignlondon.com This e-mail newsletter is sent to members of the Urban Design Group and to people who share a common interest in improving life in cities, towns and villages. If you don’t want to receive it, please reply to this email, or phone Robert or Louise at the Urban Design Group on 020 7250 0892.

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