Infrastructure
‘We need to evolve our model of the economy’
Mike Emmerich says if housing, transport and education all ‘pile on pressure for success’ in some wealthy and well-connected areas and leave others behind, then ‘we really are facing a national policy failure’
Jobs cull for Kier
Kier Group is to cut around 1,200 jobs and make savings of £55m over the next two years amid a planned sell-off of many of its commercial interests.
Pensions Infrastructure Platform optimistic despite Brexit
A vehicle designed to encourage council pension schemes to invest in UK infrastructure will not launch a fresh fund this year but remains optimistic.
We’re making Slough a springboard for the UK
Centre for Cities research has identified Slough as the second largest contributor to UK GDP after London. Josie Wragg outlines how a strategic property partnership has been central to a long-term plan to transform the town
Municipal bond grants launched
Grants to help councils invest in a new type of municipal bond for funding environmentally-friendly, low-carbon infrastructure projects have been launched.
White Van Man on... public inconveniences
I parked the motor the other day to make a visit to a public khazi.
Delivering on the cities challenge
Cities face the huge task of boosting their economies and creating places where all can thrive post-Brexit. Chief executives from some of the UK’s largest cities joined a round table debate with PwC and Core Cities to discuss progress.
Northern Power Towns have found a voice
Several key towns along the M6 corridor should be brought together to co-ordinate their planning and development, because they have a crucial part to play in the Northern Powerhouse story, says Steven Broomhead
Counties can help speed delivery of the right homes in the right places
We must move away from simply 'planning by numbers' when it comes to housing and instead seek to create genuine and sustainable communities, says Peter French
Planning system comes under fire from MPs
The Government’s approach to increasing housebuilding via the planning system has been described as ‘trite nonsense’ by an MP.
Fidler appointed DfT's local transport director
Stephen Fidler, deputy director in the Department for Transport’s strategic roads division, has been named as its new director of local transport, succeeding Graham Pendlebury, who retires at the end of May.
Speak up! Making the case for devolved infrastructure funding
This week's launch of the National Infrastructure Commission's Next Steps for Cities programme rolls out knowledge-sharing to councils in the 45 biggest cities. Sir John Armitt urges them to clearly make the case for investment in infrastructure.
Scrapping permitted development will lead to better quality housing schemes
Senior researcher at the Fabian Society Jason Brock argues that a broken planning system is harming the future of our town centres and making Britain’s housing crisis worse.
Spending Review launch dependent on securing Brexit deal
Chancellor Philip Hammond has announced he plans to launch a full three-year Spending Review before the summer recess if a Brexit deal is agreed.
Tees Valley prepares for take off
Mayor of the Tees Valley Combined Authority Ben Houchen says bringing the local airport back into public ownership means the conurbation is ready to compete – not just with other UK city regions, but globally
The Stronger Towns Fund is not the right solution to a complex problem
The Stronger Towns Fund is not the response we need to a complex and nuanced problem, says chair of Core Cities Cllr Judith Blake.
We are making the case to Honda to keep investment in Swindon
Council leader David Renard is part of a taskforce set up after Honda's announcement that it plans to shut the local plant. He says the key priority must be to make the case that investment in vehicles of the future is best done in Swindon.
Planners in growth and infrastructure warning
Large-scale infrastructure projects and construction-led economic growth in Scotland are at risk if under-resourcing of the planning system continues.
A 'one bid per council' approach to high streets cash holds back collaboration
Allen Graham understands that bids for the Government's planned £675m future high streets fund will be restricted to one per authority - with no mechanism for districts to collaborate by linking bids.
Tees Valley mayor seeks backing for £40m airport bid
The Mayor of Tees Valley has launched a campaign to garner support for his proposed £40m purchase of Durham Tees Valley Airport.