Unlocking growth in cities

Posted on: 8 December 2011
By: mackene
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England’s eight largest cities and their surrounding Local Enterprise Partnerships are being offered a menu of transformative new powers which the Government wants to explore as the basis of a series of bespoke ‘City Deals’. Government will free cities from Whitehall control in a number of areas, with the aim of stimulating growth.

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Making progress: UKCIP and adaptation in the UK

Posted on: 8 December 2011
By: mackene
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This report brings together the experience, knowledge and insight gleaned from almost 15 years of working on adaptation. While the report focuses on UKCIP’s (UK Climate Impacts Programme0 activities since 2005, it also encompasses the broader sweep of UKCIP’s work from 1997. More than most, UKCIP has been in midst of adaptation activity, working to act as a bridge between the stakeholders grappling with the relatively new task of adapting to an uncertain (but different) future climate and the scientists presenting technical information about the uncertain (but quantified) future climate.

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Preparations for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Progress report

Posted on: 7 December 2011
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The Olympic Delivery Authority remains on course to deliver its work on the Olympic Park successfully. However, the latest progress report from the Audit Commission argues that  almost all of the public sector funding package is likely to be required, with little scope for unforeseen costs to emerge in the eight months left.

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International Conference on Sustainable Development 2011. Putrajaya, Malaysia, 5-7 December 2011

Posted on: 7 December 2011
By: isadm
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The objectives of this conference were: to provide an interdisciplinary forum on global sustainable development for practitioners and academics; to foster dialogue among stakeholders, including senior level policy makers, academics, and practitioners; to propose multidisciplinary strategies for economic, sociopolitical, cultural, and institutional changes; to allow stake holders to share their experiences and research results about all aspects of sustainable human and social development; to discuss the practical challenges encountered in promoting sustainable development and the solutions adopted; and to find global partners for future business or research collaborations. Abstracts are available for the following sessions: Social sciences and humanities; Sustainable social and human development; Sustainable development; and Human rights and good governance.

Be lean, be green: Energy efficiency and cost saving in private residential properties. London, 7 December 2011

Posted on: 7 December 2011
By: isadm
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Sustain held this event in order to introduce private landlords to the Green Deal due to be launched in 2012, and the accompanying Energy Company Obligation (ECO). In addition, Sustain highlighted the support currently available for energy efficiency improvements, including grant funding. The event was supported by the Department of Energy and Climate Change with Emma Bulmer giving the Government’s perspective. Presentations are available online.

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Plan4all Project: Interoperability for spatial planning

Posted on: 7 December 2011
By: mackene
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A summary of the work of the EU-funded Plan 4all Project on the harmonisation of planning data according to INSPIRE guidelines is now available. It summarises the work and the achievements, mainly on the basis of the idea that the achieved results about spatial planning interoperability should be spread among the wider communities at EU and international level as well. The Plan4all project delivers technical results that will be of interest for spatial planners and ICT professionals. The Plan4all project fosters the exchange of ideas and experiences between those professional communities, focusing on the approaches more than on the technicalities.

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Lifetime neighbourhoods

Posted on: 7 December 2011
By: mackene
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The Department for Communities and Local Government commissioned the Centre for Housing Policy at York University to produce an independent research report on Lifetime Neighbourhoods. The report brings together existing writings and research and practice examples of Lifetime Neighbourhoods ie places designed to be inclusive regardless of age or disability. The report contributes to the coalition Government’s commitment to help older people live independently and should help to prompt thinking around how for example ageing, design, housing, transport, participation and green spaces can be linked when creating Lifetime Neighbourhoods.

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Guidance on fire risk management

Posted on: 6 December 2011
By: mackene
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The UK Timber Frame Association (UK) has launched guidance to building timber frame structures over 600m2, enabling the safe building of timber frame, in any location, relative to the fire risk during construction. This guidance is described as essential reading for architects, CDM co-ordinators, project managers, timber frame companies, builders, HSE inspectors, insurance inspectors and product suppliers. A 20 minute film is also available, explaining the context and background to this guidance.

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Putting secondary property first

Posted on: 6 December 2011
By: mackene
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This bulletin explores the topic of secondary property and addresses the following key questions: What is secondary property? How bad is the current situation? What is the outlook for this part of the market? What are the solutions?

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Using digital technologies to support teachers in designing effective technology-enhanced learning (TEL)

Posted on: 6 December 2011
By: mackene
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Innovative software to help teachers stay at the forefront of the digital revolution in education has been developed by researchers funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The project has adopted an iterative research-design process to build the means by which the teaching community can collaborate further on how best to deploy TEL. It aims to lower the TEL threshold so that the majority of teachers can engage with it in a way that draws on good practice by others and is informed by the findings of pedagogical research, thereby optimising the benefits to their learners.   [loaded 6 December 2011]

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