United Kingdom
Is 'Planning Gain' Really A Loss?
This article looks at the concept of "planning gain" -- in which cities gain amenities as concessions for allowing big developments -- and finds that the benefits are often outweighed.
Friday Funny: Mistranslation Ends Up on Road Sign
In Swansea, U.K., planners requested a translation via email of a road sign into Welsh. What they got back was not quite what they expected.
'Eco-Town' Plans Falter in UK
The UK's "eco-towns" are feeling the hurt of the current economic situation, with only one or two likely to move ahead.
Distribution of Waste
Dow Jones Architects of London are proposing to create "waste towers", designed to compress waste locally before transporting to landfills outside the city.
Dyson Says Planning is 'A Blight on Progress'
James Dyson, the engineer who appears in vacuum cleaner ads in the States, rails against planners in Bath, England who he claims thwarted the engineering school he was attempting to found there.
Urban Explorers Venture into the Abandoned and Unknown
A growing group of people in Britain have taken to breaking into abandoned buildings and facilities. But they're not breaking in to steal things, or to squat. They just want to check the places out, which they call "urban exploring".
Dangerous Pockets of Methane Gas Discovered
Scientists along Russia's northern coast are reporting that methane, a greenhouse gas twenty times more potent than carbon dioxide, is being released into the atmosphere at an alarming new rate.
No Slowing Floodplain Development in Britain
Floodplain development has proven time and time again to be big trouble when heavy rains come. But in Britain, that's not stopping it.
Creating the Future in 'Transition Towns'
The "Transition Towns" movement -- a grassroots initiative to develop local energy and economic self-reliance -- is gathering momentum, especially in the UK.
Fighting for Height
Architect Richard Murphy's masterplan for Edinburgh's Haymarket is facing complaints about the height of the hotel. Murphy says, 'Our hotel will breach the skyline, and a jolly good thing too.'
The Quest for the Perfect City
The director of the Design Museum in London reflects on the mostly unfortunate quest for perfection in city planning and architecture, as the museum's new exhibit, Design Cities, opens.
U.K. Planners Failing to Account for Women
A new study shows that city planners aren't following the guidelines established in last year's Gender Equality Duty, which requires planners to consider the different ways that women use public space.
Group Says Public Drinking Ban Violates Public Space
Calling it a violation of public spaces, a new report from a civil liberties group in the UK has criticized the banning of public drinking in more than 600 places in England and Wales.
The Rise of the 'House Cow'
With the price of food climbing, some families in the U.K. are taking to keeping small Dexter cows.
The New King of Scotland
Allan Murray's architectural vision is habing a signficant influence on the future of development in Edinburgh. This column from The Times wonders if putting the future of a city in one man's hands is such a good idea.
Friday Funny: Monkey Headed Southbound
Commuters on Ireland's N11 expressway were surprised to find that the cause of a massive traffic jam was a monkey on the loose.
Personal Rapid Transit: An Idea Whose Time Has Come?
Malcolm Buchanan writes that advances in control technology and the upcoming launch of the Heathrow Airport PRT mean that Personal Rapid Transit is ready for the spotlight.
British Town Reduces Carbon Footprint Through Small Changes
Small changes in British Victorian homes yield big changes in energy consumption, and help debunk the stereotype that 'green equals ugly' where architecture is concerned.
Architects Say Planners Waste Their Time
According to a recent survey of architects in Ireland, 80% think that local planning decisions do not support good design and are essentially a waste of time.
Giant Public Sculptures to Transform Ailing Region
Artist Anish Kapoor, creator of the famous "mirrored jellybean" in Chicago's Millennium Park, is creating a new series of massive sculptures for five depressed cities in Yorkshire. Backers hope the art will transform the region.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
