Greater Cambridgeshire Partnership's multi-million pound infrastructure programme
Histon Road cycle and walking scheme, Cambridge (Greater Cambridgeshire Partnership) The UK Government has unlocked up to a further £400 million to the Greater Cambridge Partnership's programme, to create better transport infrastructure, support housing delivery and build skills for the future. The decision follows a Government review of the GCP's progress since the initial £100 million investment in 2015. The review - known as a 'Gateway review' hailed the 'significant succe
Curating shopping streets post Covid-19
The Link at Chadstone, Melbourne Australia by Make Architects Future Cities Forum has been looking over the past weeks at the future design of high streets, shopping malls and retail centres following the outbreak of Covid-19.The crisis has prompted discussions around the importance of not only social distancing but well-being in our towns and cities, and the value of proper place-making. The Mayor of London has announced a bold new Streetspace plan to overhaul the capital's
Costain begins work on autonomous vehicle trial route
Costain has begun installing smart infrastructure on the 300 km Midlands Future Mobility test environment. Spanning from Coventry to Birmingham the route will be set to trial connected and autonomous vehicles with a view to making UK roads safer and allowing for more predictable goods delivery and journey times. The autonomous vehicle industry is estimated to be worth up to £62 billion to the UK economy by 2030 and Costain is a leading provider of advanced infrastructure tech
Hull - city of science and culture
Hull Minster - one of Hull's fine historic buildings. This week Future Cities Forum spoke to Hull City Council's Director of Economic Development and Regeneration, Mark Jones, about developments across the Northern seaport city post Covid-19. Hull has important historic buildings to draw on as cultural attractions, including an 18th century theatre and the gothic minster - which is the largest Anglican church in England. These are central to its development plan as is a stron
Energy retrofit for schools and homes
' As schools in England continue to debate with the government over whether they should open at the beginning of June after the Coronavirus outbreak, the GLA has re-appointed Turner and Townsend to lead the delivery of the Mayor of London's flagship programme for public buildings, named 'Retrofit Accelerator for Workplaces.' Previously known as RE-FIT, the scheme launched in 2009 has supported hundreds of public sector buildings such as schools, NHS bodies and government depa
Gloucester city regeneration post Covid-19
CGI of regeneration of King's Square, Gloucester - night (George King Architects) As the UK government is beginning to relax the lock down post the Coronavirus outbreak, towns and cities authorities are wondering how to attract visitors and shoppers to spend time and much needed cash. Gloucester City Council leadership sat down with Future Cities Forum this week to discuss the announcement of a new cabinet member for economic recovery and the investment planning for continued
Flexibility - key to the future high street?
Deptford Market Yard in 2018: conversion of Victorian carriage ramp arches to independent retail uses, and creation of market space adjacent to High Street with new residential above (U+i PLC and Lewisham Council) Ahead of the UK government's announcements in the coming days on the easing of lock down restrictions, we ran a second online panel discussion on what this will mean for the future of the High Street. Mike Mills, Director at planning consultancy Firstplan, Tim Parti
New £2.4 million creative hub for Coventry
CGI of remodelled Daimler Powerhouse (Nicol Thomas Architects) The Daimler Powerhouse, originally known as 'Motor Mills' and located on the edge of Coventry city centre, is to be turned into a major creative hub at a cost of £2.4 million providing an art production facility for artists and resident creative companies. It was constructed in 1907 in red brick and is the only part of Lawson's Daimler factory, where Britain's first Daimler car was built in 1897. Much of the site
Manchester City Council fires up for regeneration post Covid-19
Manchester City Council is setting out its' road to recovery from the coronavirus, as it welcomes its' new Strategic Director of Growth and Development, Louise Wyman. A Manchester Economy Recovery Plan, the council says, which is dynamic and able to respond to evolving circumstances is being developed. It says as the sixth most deprived place in the country, based on 2019 national Index of Multiple Deprivation Statistics, Manchester is likely to have a high number of people i
Future healthy high streets - who's in charge?
St Pancras Church by Exeter's Queen Street Dining Project, surrounded by new public realm - part of a regeneration of the Guildhall shopping centre begun in 2014 by Aviva Investors The troubled British high street is now facing further challenges in the aftermath of the Coronavirus outbreak, with shoppers fearful of catching infections while struggling with social distancing measures. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has just announced (May 1st 2020)