Supergen ORE HUB awards for offshore renewable energy research
The Supergen Offshore Renewable Energy Hub has awarded almost £1 million to UK universities to support ambitious research projects investigating all aspects of offshore renewable energy (ORE). It aims to support project areas that complement exisiting research, fill in gaps or add cross-cutting activities to explore the transfer of research findings between sectors within ORE. The research being funded in this first Flexible Fund call ranges from new and novel technologies fo
Leeds creative sector boost with regeneration of printworks next to Southbank
The old Polestar Petty printworks on Whitehall road has been identified as the location of a new world class TV and Film studio in Leeds. With increasing demand for more space to support the flourishing creative sector in the city, Leeds City Council is working with partners to bring forward a new TV and Film studio to more than double the amount of usable TV and film space. The sector is expanding quickly following key recent announcements of relocations to Leeds by media an
Manchester's civic quarter heat network
Construction work is underway on Manchester's £20 million Civic Quarter Heat Network, after the first pipe was ceremonially placed in the ground by Manchester City Council and Vital Energi. The network will generate low-carbon heat and power for the city, helping Manchester to reach its ambitions to be carbon-neutral, climate resilient and zero waster by 2038. It will initially serve six landmark city centre buildings, including Manchester Town Hall, and has the potential to
The Hon Matthew Bullock speaks at our Cambridge forum
We are delighted that The Hon. Matthew Bullock, Master of St Edmund's College, University of Cambridge, will be speaking at our Cambridge forum in November. Our forum will look at the latest innovations in healthcare as well as future economic and infrastructure planning around the UK's science and technology hubs, which foster talent and collaboration between university research, the private sector and the NHS. Matthew took up the post at St Edmunds' in 2014 and previously i
Concern on land release and policy for new housing provision
Following this week's Commons Select Committee's concern that the government has failed to develop and execute an effective strategy to meet land disposal targets over releasing land, we have been speaking to Sir Steve Bullock, Chair of the Housing and Finance Institute and also of the Sutton Housing Partnership, for his insight, ahead of our housing briefings and discussions this summer. By October 2019, the Commons Select Committee has asked the Cabinet Office to write to i
Amadeus Capital Partners joins our Cambridge forum
We are very pleased that Managing Partner of Early Stage Funds at Amadeus Capital Partners, Alex van Someren will be speaking at our Cambridge forum in November. Amadeus is one of the pre-eminent firms in international venture capital, having invested in 135 technology and life sciences companies since 1997. It has been central to the ongoing success of the Cambridge science cluster on the global stage. The November forum will look at the development of healthcare technologie
London and Continental Railways at Future Cities Forum
We are delighted to welcome London & Continental Railways' Development Director, Adrian Lee, who will be speaking at our September forum being held next to the O2 at Ravensbourne University London. LCR Property is a skilled commercial developer and the UK Government's placemaking expert and has a 20-year track record of creating exciting new destinations for people to live, work and experience. The organisation takes the lead on regenerating complex sites, delivering homes an
Housing market briefings - green mortgages and retirement living
Pictured: Hopton's Almshouses in Bankside, Southwark, owned by United St. Saviour's Charity, built in 1752 with Rogers Stirk Harbour's award winning NEO Bankside behind. This summer, Future Cities Forum is running discussion briefings around the drive towards green mortgages, home energy efficiency and retirement housing provision. The accent on climate risk and protecting the environment has now taken a new turn this year, with EU banks focusing on the mortgage market. BNP P
Future energy models for cities
At our recent London City Hall event, Future Cities Forum discussed important questions about our current energy systems for cities and how innovation is creating new models. The Head of R&D UK at EDF Energy, Xavier Mamo, explained how important it was to use existing energy assets in combination with technology and 'smart' innovation to introduce ways of using and distributing low carbon sourced energy. He spoke about the Oxford City Council 'Project LEO' ('Local Energy Oxfo
Next generation of construction - a boost to the NHS?
New analysis from Mace has found that the NHS could be boosted by the equivalent of over 13,000 new nurses if there was a 'construction revolution' that could enhance productivity in the UK's hospitals. Nurses, teachers and prison officers would all reap rewards from the introduction of the next generation of construction technology and processes, according to the analysis by a former Bank of England economist. The report from Mace argues that - beyond significant on-site pro