High speed rail: investing in Britain’s future phase two – the route to Leeds, Manchester and beyond

Posted on: 29 January 2013
By: mackene
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The government has announced its  initial preferences for phase two of HS2, extending the route north of Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds.

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Transport elasticities: Impacts on travel behaviour

Posted on: 29 January 2013
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Understanding transport demand and transport elasticities is crucial to support sustainable travel behaviour. The new GIZ-SUTP Technical Document explains the key factors affecting travel demand and its responsiveness. The aim of the paper is to help understand travel demand and provide practical orientation on how travel behaviour can be improved. The document introduces the concept of transport elasticity and provides an overview of the key transport elasticities. More sustainable travel patterns can be achieved through the implementation of effective policy measures that influence the responsiveness of travel demand to various transport options.

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Advancing the climate change negotiations: issues to consider

Posted on: 29 January 2013
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This paper considers opportunities for advancing the climate negotiations and related issues. This includes the expert dialogue on the 2013-2015 review, ministerial events, loss and damage, and equity. The paper points out the importance of the expert dialogue that is meant to ensure the scientific integrity of the 2013-2015 review, noting that this may be a challenge for the two co-facilitators. It considers issues related to UNFCCC negotiations on loss and damage, including some potential negotiating risks. In conclusion the paper considers the outlook for COP 21 in 2015, when a new agreement is due to be concluded.

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Housing the nation: Financing new homes. London, 19 December 2012

Posted on: 29 January 2013
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The event considered how local councils can make the most of the opportunity self-financing presents to invest in new and existing homes and what more needs to be done to provide local authorities with the financial freedoms they need to play their role in bringing forward the homes that are needed. Presentations are available online.

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Permitted development rights for change of use from commercial to residential

Posted on: 28 January 2013
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The Government is introducing new permitted development rights that will allow office space to be converted into new homes without the need for planning permission from the local authority. The permitted development right, to be introduced in Spring 2013, will be in place for 3 years, and because local circumstances vary, local authorities will have an opportunity to seek an exemption if they can demonstrate there would be substantial adverse economic consequences.

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The city at eye level: Lessons for street plinths

Posted on: 28 January 2013
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Rotterdam/ Amsterdam- based urban planning firm, Stipo B.V has issued a new, a collaborative effort of five editors and 43 professional contributors from the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Demark, USA, UK and Germany, It examines the concepts, philosophy, and strategies behind planning the ground floors (“plinths”) of urban environments. Interviews, case studies, and first-­‐hand stories highlight important examples of best practices from cities in the Netherlands (in particular, Rotterdam) as well as Copenhagen, Antwerp, San Francisco, and elsewhere.

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Who lives in the private rented sector? Analysis of households’ characteristics

Posted on: 28 January 2013
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The first section of the report outlines the characteristics of the private rented sector (PES), its growth and the drivers affecting its change.  The analysis then turns to the characteristics of households living in the sector, before using cluster analysis to identify key sub-sectors in terms of household types. The trends in these characteristics and sub-sectors are tracked over the last ten years. Finally, the implications of the research are discussed in terms of the needs of the different sub-sectors and how the PRS can adapt to meet these more effectively.

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NHBC New Homes Statistics Review 2012

Posted on: 28 January 2013
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Data from the National House Building Council shows registrations for new housing fell in 2012, largely due to a sharp drop in public sector registrations, which fell 28 per cent from 38,680 to 26,390. Private sector registrations remained steady at slightly more than 78,000. Public sector completions also fell slightly, from 36,990 to 34,280, while private sector completions increased from 76,890 to 80,270.

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Legal compliance checklist: Meeting the requirements of the legal process for Neighbourhood Development Plans

Posted on: 28 January 2013
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To help Local Planning Authorities to support neighbourhood plan production the Planning Advisory Service has produced a draft compliance checklist against the relevant legislation for local authority actions.

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Energy, transport and environment indicators: 2012 edition

Posted on: 28 January 2013
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The multi-thematic pocketbook comprises a broad set of data collected by Eurostat and the European Environment Agency. It provides an overview of the most relevant indicators, with particular focus on sustainable development.

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