Lessons in public-private partnerships
Indicative CGI of proposed public realm around TV studios at Purfleet-on-Thames (AHMM Architects) What lessons can be learned around new models of public-private partnerships in today's development projects? Chair of developer, Urban Catalyst, Ken Dytor, spoke about this during our online discussion forum around the master planning of new towns, and in particular Purfleet-on-Thames. Urban Catalyst is a mixed-use real estate development firm, established in 1998 with a strong
English National Ballet dancing on London City Island
English National Ballet are moving into its new and recently completed home on London City Island. The cultural anchor in London's newest neighbourhood in East London is five minutes from Stratford, where the new Sadler's Wells, V&A and London College of Fashion are opening. The ballet company says that the new facilities are' transformational' and gives it the space to develop world-class artists, creating outstanding ballet for the future. Designed by Glenn Howells Architec
Construction and skills training on hold during Covid-19 outbreak
Woolwich Works Royal Arsenal without construction teams this week due to temporary C-Virus restrictions There has been much debate in recent days about protecting construction workers during the Covid-19 outbreak. It has become evident that the nature of construction work means that the social distancing of workers cannot always be achieved. While some construction continues, Mace Group CEO Mark Reynolds made an important decision on Tuesday this week to 'temporarily suspend
Stadium and sports-led regeneration
We are delighted that the Leader of Birmingham City Council, Councillor Ian Ward, will be discussing the important topic of sports-led and stadium-led regeneration during our 1st April on-line forum. This is the third in Future Cities Forum's series looking at the social, spatial and economic impact of new stadiums. It follows previous panel discussions involving Bath Rugby and architects Grimshaw, and Liverpool City Council and Everton FC. Birmingham City Council has just an
Raising the standard of master planning around cathedrals
Ted Cullinan master plan sketch for Bristol Harbourside / King's Marsh site showing walk-way links between SS Great Britain, Bristol Cathedral, Queen Square and Temple Meads station far right (Image @Cullinan Studio) Interest in visiting cathedrals has grown due to National Lottery Heritage Funding in recent years, but has the master planning around them been of a high enough calibre and are current plans to 'manage' cathedral quarters, the right ones? Over the last few decad
Chancellor's housing infrastructure fund for Purfleet-on-Thames
Leader of Thurrock Council Rob Gledhill will be speaking at our online forum this week, along with development partner Ken Dytor, Chair of Urban Catalyst, about the promise of £75 million of Housing Infrastructure Funding, to support the £1 billion regeneration of the Essex town, Purfleet on Thames. The Chancellor announced the funding for the development in his budget last week. Swan Housing Association and Urban Catalyst are creating a new riverside community in Purfleet-on
Jacobs wins high-speed rail contract in Sweden
Jacobs has been awarded a framework contract by the Swedish Transportation Administration (Trafikverket) to provide strategic consultancy services for the new high-speed railway lines planned between Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo in Sweden. The firm will provide technical advice and services across planning, system, design and delivery of the three ongoing projects, improving connectivity between the major cities. The new high-speed railway lines are expected to increase ca
Time to measure female leadership in infrastructure project delivery
Future Cities Forum's Co-founder Heather Fearfield interviews HS1 CEO Dyan Crowther about new rail routes through Europe and raising female leadership in infrastructure project delivery. What are the current measures needed to raise the number of female leaders in infrastructure? Future Cities Forum discussed the issue of gender and diversity across infrastructure leadership, at our recent 'Infrastructure 2020' forum in the City of London. HS1 CEO, Dyan Crowther, spoke of a l
Network Rail to reduce costs through new data analysis
A unique consortium will significantly reduce service affecting failures on railways as part of a Network Rail programme to deliver asset management improvements across the next five years. Led by Cognizant, together with Amey Consulting and Arup, the consortium will deliver work across three lots of Network Rail's Intelligent Infrastructure programme, running until the end of CP6 in 2024. The Intelligent Infrastructure programme will increase the availability of infrastructu
Birmingham Health Partners at Future Cities Forum
We are very pleased that the Managing Director of Birmingham Health Partners, Dr John Williams, will join our April 'Science Cities' in Oxford. BHP's next capital project is Birmingham Life Sciences Park, which will enable productive interactions between clinicians, academics, industry and patients to accelerate the field of personalised, precision medicine. John has a wealth of experience from a career in academia researching Physiology first in the UK and in the United Stat