

Emma Cariaga, OxCam Arc Chair, joins 'Science Cities' in Cambridge
We are delighted that Emma Cariaga, a development and regeneration expert who is on the executive committee of British Land and who was recently appointed Chair of the government's expert advisory panel supporting the growth of the Oxford Cambridge Arc, will be speaking at our October 'Science Cities' forum in Cambridge. Focussing on the Bedford to Cambridge area, the expert advisory panel - which reports directly to the Minister of State for Housing, Communities and Local Go


MK:U at Future Cities Forum
Future Cities Forum is very pleased that Professor Lynnette Ryals, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Cranfield University and Chief Executive of MK:U, will be speaking at our Cambridge forum next month. The forum is taking a particular look at the development of the Oxford- Milton Keynes - Cambridge Arc and how the new university - which is a joint venture between Cranfield University and the borough council - will set standards of technology learning and achievement in Milton Keynes tha


Ethical technologies and the use of data in public realm
Future Cities Forum will be running an event called 'The Digital City' this November, to debate new innovations that may affect the way we work, travel, live and enjoy our public spaces. The forum has previously shone the spotlight on digital innovation at our 'Intelligent Cities' event with Theo Blackwell, Chief Digital Officer for London. The Mayor of London has set out London's Emerging Technology Charter - the first of its kind in any UK city - which is a set of practical


The UK housing crisis and lessons from Cambridge
Eddington accommodation for university key workers, North West Cambridge (Photographed by Greg Holmes for Mecanoo Architects working for Cambridge University) Future Cities Forum will be discussing the housing crisis at our Cambridge 'Science Cities' event this October. The pausing of the UK government's planning reforms in England following criticism from Conservative MPs and the move to replace Robert Jenrick with Michael Gove as Minister for Housing, is creating a re-think


E-scooters, design codes and new tube stations for connectivity
Cross River Partnership's Fiona Coull and Tfl's Christina Calderato speak at Future Cities Forum's 'Sustainable infrastructure and green cities' this week. A consistent approach across local authorities around e-scooter provision as well as the re-thinking of design codes to help introduce nature into towns and cities was discussed at our 'Sustainable infrastructure and green cities' debate this week at CitizenM, Tower of London. Tfl's Head of Transport Planning & Strategy


Culture and the High Street - forum report from 'Cultural Cities'
Westgate shopping centre, Oxford (run by Land Securities for the Oxford Westgate Alliance) - entrance from Queen Street At our recent Future Cities Forum in Oxford, opened by Lord Mendoza of the DCMS, the role of culture in creating sustainable high streets and shopping centres was central to the discussions. Land Securities Westgate Centre Director, Brendan Hattam spoke of the success of the new Westgate shopping centre in Oxford (owned jointly with the Crown Estate) which r


Lord Mendoza opens 'Cultural Cities: the recovery'
Future Cities Forum hybrid event at the Weston Library on Broad Street, Oxford with Lord Mendoza of the DCMS giving his address on the cultural recovery We were delighted that Commissioner for Cultural Recovery at the DCMS, Lord Mendoza, opened our Future Cities Forum last week, with a speech highlighting the funding work carried out by the government for the cultural recovery of our towns and cities post pandemic. Hosted by the Bodleian Libraries in Oxford, it was a hybrid e


'Opening up' - how palaces for the people can create a more equal society
Weston Library, Oxford (Bodleian Libraries) - the colonnade on Broad Street, with public cafe tables, facing the Clarendon Building and the Sheldonian Theatre Future Cities Forum's 'Cultural Cities' was hosted by the Chief Librarian of the Bodleian Libraries, Richard Ovenden, at the Weston Library on Oxford's Broad Street, to discuss the recovery of the cultural sector, for our first physical forum since the start of the pandemic. The forum had an introductory address by Lord


Greening our streets for economic revival
Skate park pop-up on the Strand near Somerset House (Westminster City Council / Vans) Westminster City Council has begin to implement ambitious new proposals to convert busy roads into new public spaces at the Strand and across the Aldwych. 'Skate the Strand' a new free temporary pop-up skate park located on the Strand outside Somerset House, marks the start of the longer-term vision for the Strand Aldwych area. The project is part of the wider Westminster Reveals campaign a


Contributors at 'Cultural Cities: the recovery' - the Weston Library, Oxford
Interior of the Weston Library / Bodleian Libraries, Oxford (courtesy Wilkinson Eyre) FUTURE CITIES FORUM ‘Cultural Cities: the recovery’ 10 September 12 noon to 1.15 pm At the Weston Library / Bodleian Libraries, Oxford (and via Zoom) At our ‘Cultural Cities: the recovery’ forum on 10th September, we will be discussing how well government support for the cultural sector has worked during the pandemic. The future relationship between libraries, cities and communities will als