Tax Increment Financing: An opportunity for the UK?

Posted on: 29 February 2012
By: mackene
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The report critically examines the TIF models that are operational in the US to identify lessons that can be learned prior to possible adoption in the UK.

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London 2012: Lessons learned

Posted on: 29 February 2012
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From January to July 2012, the UK Green Building Council is holding a series of events which aim to explore a comprehensive range of sustainability themes and strategies using the London 2012 construction project as a platform for discussion and learning. The first event, held on 17 January 2012, featured the Olympic Velodrome, providing a holistic perspective on creating a sustainable venue from the entire project team – from client to architect to supplier. Presentations and a video of highlights of the event are available online. Further events cover: the acquatics centres (28 February 2012); the stadium (17 April 2012); the athletes’ village (15 May 2012); and temporary venues (19 June 2012).

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Stockholm Royal Seaport: Aiming for world-class sustainability

Posted on: 29 February 2012
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The latest project in Stockholm´s drive for sustainable city planning is called Stockholm Royal Seaport (Norra Djurgårdsstaden). The project is very extensive, constituting one of the largest city planning projects in Europe. As such, it is also very ambitious in its goals to create a district that can function as a model for other growing cities around the world. When finished, Stockholm Royal Seaport plans to hold 10.000 new apartments and 30.000 new work places. In addition to housing and offices, the area will also include urban parks, an art gallery and a harbor for cruise ships.

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The Art of the Possible. Using secondary data to detect social and economic impacts from investments in culture and sport: a feasibility study

Posted on: 28 February 2012
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This report by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) CASE research team  looks at what we already know about the social and economic ‘value’ of culture in society from past research studies. The past studies under review look at the positive knock-on effects of investment in cultural facilities (including the subsequent ‘gentrification’ of an area, increased levels of employment, increased house prices etc).

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Researching audiences at outdoor events and festivals

Posted on: 28 February 2012
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The Audience Agency has produced a new set of guidelines for audience research at outdoor events, designed specifically to support the unprecedented activities and opportunities of 2012. On 24 January 2012, a free symposium was held to share these guidelines with the outdoor arts sector. Presentations from this event are also available online.

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A review of business-university collaboration

Posted on: 28 February 2012
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The former vice-chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire and HEFCE board member Professor Sir Tim Wilson was asked by the Government to undertake a review into how universities work with business to ensure graduate skills and employability meet the needs of business, and to maximise the university sector’s capabilities in business-led research and innovation. His report makes a series of recommendations for universities, business and the Government.  [loaded 28 February 2012]

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Sustainable urban neighbourhoods: Building communities that last

Posted on: 28 February 2012
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This report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation examines what does and doesn’t work in building new communities and shows how to build more homes, better neighbourhoods and stronger communities. This is a report of the Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods Network (SUNN), which was established in 2009 to explore first hand the experience of developing new urban neighbourhoods in England. Based on ‘looking and learning’ in thirteen new communities in ten English towns and cities, the report shows how to build more homes, better neighbourhoods and stronger communities in both growth and regeneration areas.

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Changing gear: is localism the new regionalism?

Posted on: 28 February 2012
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Local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) lack the scale and scope to foster growth in the north of England, according to a report from the Smith Institute.

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Reimagining alternative High Street future

Posted on: 28 February 2012
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On 21 February 2012 Architecture+DesignScotland (A+DS) hosted a day of workshops to explore the possible futures for Scottish High Streets. The thinking was informed by the Mary Portas Review, the research evaluation of the Town Centres Regeneration Fund (TCRF) in Scotland and the exhibition by A+DS on the High Street. The morning workshop, organised in partnership with Scotland’s Towns Partnership, focused on the perspective of policymakers, practitioners and researchers in the field of town centre management. Information on the event is available online.

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Improving river services in London

Posted on: 24 February 2012
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The London Assembly Transport Committee’s update report sets out four key actions that are needed if the Mayor’s ambition to see passenger journeys on the Thames hit 12 million a year are to become a reality. Since the Committee’s previous review of river services in 2006, there have been some developments in the expansion of river services and passenger numbers have grown, but the service is still not reaching its full potential. The Committee believes the potential for further growth is hampered by the absence of a clear strategic plan to drive improvements and a lack of commitment from Transport for London.

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