URBAN UPDATE
4th December 2015
Main news
from the Urban Design Group
New Jobs – BDP, Turley, Redbridge, Planit IE, Savills, and others…
CAUSE Campaign against Urban Sprawl in Essex
4-6 percent increase in UK House Prices forecast for 2016
Decline in UK House sizes – RIBA Report
How density makes people fitter
Department for Transport re-values time – heavy infrastructure alert!
Climate change – many articles
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Next UDG Solent Event
Biodiversity and density – Dr Lincoln Garland –
UDG meeting Southampton,
4.00pm 10th December
UDG Solent region is holding a meeting on Thursday
10th December, in Savills Southampton. Dr Lincoln
Garland will be giving a talk on his paper examining
the density of development and how we can deliver
bio-diverse places. Please let Peter Frankum know if
you would like to contribute to this discussion with
your own case studies.
PFrankum@savills.com
Update on Garden Cities – David Rudlin – UDG
meeting Savills Southampton, 4.00pm Thursday
21st January 2016
David Rudlin from Urbed has kindly agreed to provide
an update on his Wolfson Economics Prize winning
work on delivering Garden Cities. This is currently
planned for the 21st January in Savills offices, 2
Charlotte Place Southampton.
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Campaign against urban
sprawl in Essex
Event report
Essex is arguably England’s oldest settled
landscape, and Colchester is its oldest recorded
town. But there is nothing ancient about the
challenge of substantial population growth. New
development sites must be found: - but where, and
in what form?. The main road network in Essex is
dominated by Roman alignments, and much of the
landscape may predate this. The area was already
heavily populated by the Bronze and Iron Ages.
There is evidence that surviving field boundaries
were established during this time, and some of the
lanes and routes also date from this period. The
minor settlements are similarly ancient. In the rural
churches it is not uncommon to find recycled
Roman brick and Saxon masonry. Imposed on this
landscape is a 20th century car-based sprawl. In
the villages on the most heavily used routes one
sees 6ft fences erected to shelter frontagers from
http://www.udg.org.uk/udupdate/news/urban-update-4-December-2015
Transport, who had said on 15th July 2015 “Essex county
council is committed to promoting sustainable transport”.
Despite all these statements, “nowhere” said Mr Pharoah
“do you find an exposition as to how this will turn into
action”. He compared Innsbruck, population 124,000, and
4 tramlines extending 12 miles with Colchester, population
117,000, no tramlines, a confused arrangement of bus
routes and bus stops, and streets dominated by through
traffic. Even compared with similar towns in the UK
Colchester with its 2/3rds of journeys to work undertaken
by car compared poorly with Brighton at just under ½, and
Cambridge, 1/3rd.
Colchester Metro Town – an alternative to sprawl
UDG London Events 2016
Film Night – Urban Agriculture
– Brooklyn Farmer
Followed by Q and A
Wednesday 13 January @ The Gallery
Public Space
led by Philip Cave
Wednesday 10 February
Latin America
Tuesday 15 March
UDG Study Tour 2016
– Milan and Turin
24 people have booked, there are 4 places left – the
price of airline tickets has risen by over £10 already.
If you would like to come on the study tour, please let
us know as soon as possible. Please email
Administration@udg.org.uk
the incessant traffic. The absence of a sustained
national transport strategy has led to the direct
Roman roads being turned into wandering
circuitous routes through a series of local bypasses,
piecemeal widenings and re-alignments. Added to
this is the usual complement of out of town
superstores and retail parks, and housing estates in
totally unsustainable isolated locations. The
impression gained that there has been no strategy
for the development of this part of England, and the
immense charm and potential of the area has been
massively damaged, and opportunities squandered.
That is the present. Looking to the future, a
proposal has been put forward by developers, to
build a 15,000 home new town around 7 miles west
of Colchester, around Marks Tey, straddling the
A12 and A120 trunk roads and adjoining the railway
station on the main line from East Anglia to London.
The proposals have generated controversy.
Opponents of the scheme say that it will overstress
local facilities, and operate simply as a suburb of
London, adding more traffic to the already
congested trunk roads and railway lines. In
response to the proposals, residents in the Marks
Tey area commissioned consultants to examine the
scheme and to identify alternatives. It culminated
last week in the presentation of alternative
proposals at a packed meeting last week.
West Waddy ADP
The background to the event was the wish of the
community for “something logical in my back yard”,
and of asking and answering the right questions:
 How can development be made popular and
attractive?
 How can a regional masterplan be created that
will create housing near jobs and
infrastructure?
 How can an uplift in land values harnessed for
infrastructure?
 What type of delivery vehicle is needed ?
 What should be the role of central government
?
West Waddy ADP is currently involved in the concept
In a keynote address Nicholas Falk observed that
PRACTICE OF THE WEEK
New Sustainable
Settlement
The consultant team had identified the Colchester to
Clacton line – currently offering between 1 and 2 trains and
hour as offering great potential. Analysis of train paths
showed that this underused £1 billion asset, without any
additional infrastructure investment, could run 4 local trains
an hour and 2 regional trains and hour – a frequency that
compared favourably with an urban metro. The changes
could be effected almost overnight.
Tim Pharoah’s summary points were:
1. Plan for greater Colchester as a whole
2. Plan new developments for transport sustainability
3. Use existing towns and settlements as the focus for
growth
4. Use a transit based growth model – based on a 10
minute walk to railway stations and a 5 minute walk to bus
stops.
5. Clacton Walton railway is an underused resource
6. Bus Rapid Transit corridors are needed into
Colchester
7. Rail and Bus integration is needed
8. Colchester town centre traffic is a hindrance to trade.
Concluding the presentations Alan Stones argued firstly, for
making use of the overlooked resource of the ColchesterClacton electrified railway as the basis for sustainable
settlements; secondly for developing around 5,000 homes
east of Essex university, served by an express bus service
and new railway station; and thirdly, at Marks Tey a modest
stages of the design for a new landscape led
settlement in the UK. This is an exciting and once in a
generation opportunity to create an exemplar new
community; a place that respects and reflects the
history and traditions of the area, whilst delivering
modern and innovative design solutions.
This will be a truly forward thinking community,
embracing the latest technology and helping to grow
and support the economy in the local area. It will be
a benchmark in architecture, and will inform the future
of sustainability whilst creating the opportunity to
create a mixed and diverse place at every stage of
delivery and phasing as well as a legacy for the local
community.
the cities in East Anglia were growing at a much
slower rate than the population of the region as a
whole, meaning that most of the growth was being
accommodated in small villages, where people
were obliged to use cars to conduct their lives.
There were alternatives in large development sites,
or the “string of pearls” approach with development
focused on stations on local railway lines. He
mentioned Holland’s Vinex suburbs of around 5000
people on the edge of cities, which have preserved
the green heart of Holland, or towns such as
Vathoorst which were built with green spaces, and
play areas at their heart, helping children to
socialise. Children in Holland he stressed, were
among the world’s happiest, and in England among
the least happy; this, despite the close similarities in
landscape and population. He argued that the
costs of developing an entirely new settlement with
the need for new infrastructure, were significantly
higher than urban infill, and urban extensions,
which could use much of the existing infrastructure.
Transportation and Movement was the focus of Tim
Pharoah’s presentation. He was concerned that
the area had been structuring around roads, cars
and trucks. He noted that the National Planning
Policy Framework and many of the policies of the
respective local authorities referred to sustainability
and sustainable transport, quoting the county
council’s cabinet member for Highways and
Read more
http://www.urbandesigndirectory.com/practices/west-waddy-adp
development contained within 10 minutes’ walk of the
railway station. “You can’t build a garden city from Scratch”
he warned. “The problems are insuperable.”
In the ensuing discussion, the role of supporting
infrastructure came up, and the importance of expanded
settlements being able to support primary schools and a
reasonable range of local community facilities. There were
also complaints about the excessive cost of creating new
railway infrastructure in the UK attributed to a dysfunctional
Network Rail, institutional barriers, and a disproportionate
safety culture. An example was the cost electrifying the
Great Western Mainline which was 6 times the cost in real
terms, mile for mile, of the electrification of the Eastern
Region (1976 and 1991). A more local example was the
estimated £22 million cost of a new station at Beaulieu
Park, part of a proposed development in North East
Chelmsford. These inflated sums made new rail
infrastructure difficult to afford. There was however a near
zero cost alternative – looking at efficient timetabling to
make better use of existing rail lines. This potential was
currently being overlooked.
Proper regional and sub-regional plan needed
Last to speak was local MP Bernard Jenkin, (also chairman
of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs
Select Committee) who acknowledged that there was a real
problem in Whitehall about thinking strategically and out of
the box. Civil Servants had lost a lot of confidence. There
was an opportunity to bring confidence, willpower and
leadership. “ It is leadership that such a vast challenge
requires.” he added. Wise words, but words are not
enough. As Tim Pharoah stressed, what government has
failed to do is to come up with a proper regional and subregional plan. Let us hope that Bernard Jenkin carries this
message back to Westminster.
Events and Webinars
Academy of Urbanism
http://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/events/
Latest Lectures
on UrbanNous
Jobs
9th December - End of Year Review & Reception
New
Graduate Urban Designer, BDP, London
http://www.udg.org.uk/jobs/london-and-south-east/graduate-urban-designer-bdp-london
Landscape Institute
Improving the quality of new housing:
Negotiating improvements in delivery and
design
Rethinking the Urban Landscape Exhibition
Leeds, Sheffield – see website for dates
Design Director, Turley – Southern England
http://www.udg.org.uk/jobs/london-and-south-east/design-director-turley
Future of London – Research and Programme Officer
http://www.landscapeinstitute.co.uk/events/
http://www.futureoflondon.org.uk/about/job-opportunities/
MADE
To advertise jobs in Urban Update – please email
administration@udg.org.uk
http://made.org.uk/events
Neighbourhood Planning
26th November
Amy Burbidge is Design Action Manager at North
Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit.
Architecture for an Ageing Population
26th November
Improving the quality of new housing:
New issues for affordable housing.
http://www.urbannous.org.uk/housing-quality.htm
Architecture and Design Scotland
http://www.ads.org.uk/category/news/
BIM 2016: Are you really ready?
9th December
Several workshops on the use of traditional materials
coming up. No one should attempt architecture or urban
design in Scotland without a knowledge of Ballachulish
slate!
West Midlands Urban Design
Forum
IHBC
Challenges of Masterplanning for new and in
existing places
3rd December at 4.30pm at MADE.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-challenges-of-masterplanning-tickets-19268953960
Engage Liverpool
https://www.engageliverpool.com/events/
1st Dec – Architex 2015
2nd Dec – Greening the Grey – City Centre Walk
Museum of Walking
Stalking the Hardy Ash
Saturday 5 December 10.30 – 12.30pm – Kentish
Town Rail Station
http://www.museumofwalking.org.uk/events/
http://ihbc.org.uk/events/
Andy von Bradsky is former Chairman of PRP,
Chair of the RIBA Housing Group, Board Member
of the Housing Forum and recent chair of the
Government appointed Challenge Panel for the
Housing Standards Review that advised on UK
standards for housing of all tenures.
Events coming up – extensive programme some free,
some charged/ £175+VAT (Free for UDL subscribers)
http://www.urbandesignlondon.com/events-listing/
10th December Challenging Practice: Managing
Construction
Culture. Capital. Cities. UK City of Culture 2021 /
European Capital of Culture 2023
11 February 2016 - Manchester
http://www.urbannous.org.uk/housing-affordable.htm
A better future for high streets and town
centres.
Julian Dobson, Urban Pollinators
http://www.urbannous.org.uk/from-agora-to-polis.htm
Towns and cities: Function in form
Julian Hart, Lancefield Consulting
http://www.urbannous.org.uk/cities-function-in-form.htm
Urban Design London
Sustainable Refurbishment of Commercial Modern
Buildings
16 Dec 2015 (18:30) – London
Designing the business model: Sharing land
uplift and unlocking long term value.
Yolande Barnes, Director of the World Research
team at Savills
http://www.urbannous.org.uk/development-economics.htm
Centre for Cities
Cities Outlook 2016 Launch
25 January 2016 | 12.30pm | CIty Hall, London
http://www.centreforcities.org/events/
BOBMK Events
http://bobmk.org.uk/our-programme/
Future of Transport and Innovation
November/ December 2015
@ Milton Keynes
- Event has yet to be scheduled
17-21 Dec - Oxford Forum for Sustainable Cities 2015
http://environmenteurope.org/education/6
Design South East / Kent Design
http://www.kentdesign.org/events/
Event Calendar
http://www.kentdesign.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Event-Calendar-2015-16-edited-14.4.15.pdf
Kent and Medway Neighbourhood Planning
Summit | 16/12/2015 | Seminar
Weather in the City – How Design Shapes the
Urban Climate
Sanda Lenzholzer
http://www.urbannous.org.uk/climate-and-city-design.htm
All urban designers, architects, planners, and
highway engineers should have a knowledge of this
subject.
UrbanNous Catalogue available on-line
Highlights include Christopher Alexander,
George Ferguson, Hans Monderman and
scores of others.
www.urbannous.org.uk
Urban Nous is produced and operated by Fergus
Carnegie for the benefit of practitioners worldwide.
PTRC
Transport Practitioners Meeting 2016 – Nottingham
29-30 June 2016 | Nottingham
Call for papers open.
https://www.ptrc-training.co.uk/Events/TPM2016.aspx
Urban Design around the World
Argentina
Buenos Aires: brining public services to the invisible slums
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2015/dec/02/buenos-aires-bringing-public-services-to-the-invisible-slums
Australia
Latest Research, Policy and Practice
Philosophy, Politics, Economics
UK Homes coming on to the market at record low, as Halifax predicts national
increase in house prices by 4% to 6% in 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/dec/04/uk-house-prices-set-to-rise-further-as-demand-outstrips-supply
How density makes people fitter
https://sourceable.net/how-density-makes-people-fitter/#
DfT propose changes to the way time is valued in transport assessments
Lee’s human touch to counter rise of machines
https://www.businessnews.com.au/article/Lee-s-human-touch-to-counter-rise-of-machines
Grey but rosy: what the longevity revolution means for design
http://architectureau.com/articles/grey-but-rosy-what-the-longevity-revolution-means-for-design/
USA
San Angelo Residents Sidelined by Commercial Zoning
http://sanangelolive.com/news/politics/2015-12-03/san-angelo-residents-sidelined-commercial-zoning
This East Village building will be intentionally rusty
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/development/2015/12/01/east-village-building-project-weathered-steel-rusty-des-moines/76613690/
Energy and Climate Change
COP21: World must embrace nuclear power to save planet from climate
change, claim scientists
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/cop21-world-must-embrace-nuclear-power-to-save-planet-from-climate-change-claim-leading-scientists-a6759236.html
What difference will a 2 degree centigrade rise in average world
temperature make?
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/04/paris-climate-talks-what-difference-will-temperature-rises-really-make
Carbon capture analyst: 'Coal should stay in the ground'
http://ns.umich.edu/new/releases/23339-carbon-capture-analyst-coal-should-stay-in-the-ground
Determinant factors for energy consumption and perception of energy
conservation clarified
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151202124238.htm
Urban air pollution -- what are the main sources across the world?
https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/news/what-are-main-sources-urban-air-pollution
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/470998/Understanding_and_Valuing_Impacts_of_Transport_Investment.pdf
Values of time saved / £/hour, in 2010 market price
Business travel
Current
Proposed
Car (driver
£27.06 / £20.52
0-50km £10.08
/passenger)
50-100km £16.30
100km + £25.12
Bus passenger
£16.63
Same as car
(100km+ not given)
Rail passenger
£31.96
0-50km £10.08
50-100km £16.30
100km+ £36.19
Non work - commute £6.81 current
£10.01
These revised values would make HS2 look a less unattractive economic proposition.
Generally no one reads these documents other than the authors and people
promoting infrastructure schemes. The result can be a bias towards major, longdistance infrastructure as opposed to improving local environments, walking and
cycling, and regeneration. It is unclear whether the research recognises the fact that
trains are used as mobile offices, that people tend to use improvements in journey
times by travelling longer distances, negating the effect of journey savings, and
locking society into a spiral of hypermobility. The other bias is that whereas time
saving is factored into economic calculations, other important areas of life such as
health, trees, parks, quality of the public realm, beauty etc, escape valuation.
People should be under no illusion as to the significance of this document.
Can you tell the difference between wisdom and specious drivel? Here is some
academic research on people’s ability to detect and reject pseudo-profound
terminology and sentences
http://journal.sjdm.org/15/15923a/jdm15923a.pdf
How finance ministers could fall in love with carbon pricing
https://www.pik-potsdam.de/news/press-releases/how-finance-ministers-could-fall-in-love-with-carbon-pricing
Statement: The co-benefits of actions on climate change and public health
http://www.leopoldina.org/uploads/tx_leopublication/2015_11_27_Leopoldina_Climate_change_and_Public_Health.pdf
Humans, Health, Society
How we can use Google Street View data to help build healthier communities.
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/2015/12/02/how-we-can-use-google-street-view-data-to-help-build-healthier-communities/
DNA matching and virtual reality: The world of human relationships in 2040
Movement
http://bit.ly/1l26BsZ
Global bicycle ownership has halved in 30 years, research reveals
http://www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=159022&CultureCode=en
Amazon Drone Delivery – Narrated by Jeremy Clarkson
http://www.amazon.com/b?node=8037720011
Is this the future? Or is this energy intensive, noisy and hazardous to people in
the event of mechanical failure? The exposed rotor blades of a drone have
similar properties to a rotary mower, and capable of dealing severe injuries.
Built Environment
English new homes fail to meet optional space standards – RIBA Report
http://news.sky.com/story/1598031/many-new-build-homes-like-rabbit-hutches
It takes a village -- and much more -- to quench megacity water demands
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151203122208.htm
14,000-year-old carving may be the world’s first architectural drawings
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/prehistoric-rock-carvings-were-humanitys-first-ever-architectural-plans-a6759361.html
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