FUTURE CITIES FORUMTM

Image: Reading Station - courtesy Grimshaw Grimshaw is hosting Future Cities Forum this April in London for our 'Infrastructure 2026' forum which will look at how the UK government intends to act on last year's promises for investment into major transport projects including the Lower Thames Crossing - as well as improving water supply such as the Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme (HARP), green energy and further developing spatial and place-based strategies for the UK'

Image: Naomi Green, Chief Executive - courtesy of England's Economic Heartland Future Cities Forum is delighted that Naomi Green, Managing Director of England's Economic Heartland, is joining our 'New Towns and the Oxford Cambridge Growth Corridor' forum at Milton Keynes City Council in March. Naomi joined England's Economic Heartland in 2018 and in March 2022 became its Managing Director, responsible for delivering the sub-national transport body's work programme. This inclu

Oxford City Council is reporting that council leaders in Swindon and Oxfordshire have welcomed the positive response from Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, confirming the Government’s support for progressing a two‑hourly direct rail service between Swindon and Oxford. The regular rail link would build on a successful Saturday trial, which saw Great Western Railway operate direct Saturday services between Bristol Temple Meads and Oxford that call at Swindon. Oxford City Council

Image: Bristol Temple Meads station, the original head-quarters of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Great Western Railway is undergoing a major transformation programme by Network Rail which will support the development of Bristol Temple Quarter as a major innovation district Future Cities Forum has been watching transport developments in the West of England, following its forum in Bristol last October with the West of England Combined Authority's Chief Executive Stephen Peacock co

Image: Birmingham City FC's Powerhouse Stadium in east Birmingham will benefit from a new tram line (courtesy Heatherwick Studio and Manica) Funding to kickstart work on a tram line to the new Birmingham City Powerhouse Stadium and upgrade railway stations serving Villa Park has been approved by regional transport chiefs, according to the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). Mayor Richard Parker and the WMCA Board agreed to advance £50 million to accelerate early work suc

Above: Walbrook Square in the City of London with the Mansion House on left, St Stephen Walbrook, New Court the N M Rothschild Building behind and the Bloomberg Building on right. The Mansion House is owned by the Corporation of London and is the official residence and office of the Lord Mayor. Future Cities Forum is delighted that Paul Wilkinson, City Surveyor at the Corporation of London will be contributing to our March forum on sustainable cities and tall buildings at EY.

Image: CGI of the University of Ulster's CDHT Building on Frederick Street Belfast - courtesy of Cyanotype Media Belfast City Council has granted planning approval for the landmark Centre for Digital Healthcare Technology (CDHT), a major new innovation hub, that will strengthen Northern Ireland’s position as a global leader in medical technology and digital healthcare. Led by Ulster University and supported through the Belfast Region City Deal, the £40 million project will de

Image: Nigel Hughill - courtesy of Urban + Civic. Future Cities Forum is delighted that Nigel Hughill, Chief Executive of master developer Urban & Civic, is to contribute to our March forum at the offices of Milton Keynes City Council with Leader Cllr Pete Marland and the Director of Strategy at East West Rail, Will Gallagher. The forum will discuss new town and settlement developments in the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor, which have the potential to support employment

Image: St Mary's Hospital Paddington - courtesy Paddington Life Sciences Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has launched a public consultation to inform the first stage of a masterplan for the redevelopment of the St Mary’s Hospital site. It comes as the Trust responds to two current estates issues that are causing extensive operational challenges. The Trust reports: 'With funding from the Government’s New Hospital Programme, the Trust has begun detailed design and planni

Image: Oxford Science Park development - part of The Daubeny Project designed by Scott Brownrigg Future Cities Forum is delighted that it will be holding its next Oxford 'Science Cities' forum at the Oxford Science Park, in April. The forum will look at the way lab spaces on science campuses are changing in design, how Oxford can grow its economy through innovation and new investment in rail infrastructure is helping to better connect the city. ARC has launched Motherlabs Oxf