Rethinking, reinventing and recovery. Paris, 4-5 February 2014

Posted on: 19 February 2014
By: mackene
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This is the 18^th Urban Land Institute (ULI) Europe conference, hosting speakers from 46 organisations across 15 countries, who shared insights on topics including the economy, cities, real estate finance, sustainability and the prospects for southern Europe. Presentations are available online.

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Cities of tomorrow: Investing in Europe. Brussels, 17-18 February 2014

Posted on: 19 February 2014
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The forum will contribute to a strengthened profile of the urban dimension within EU Policies and wants to emphasize the importance of investments in urban areas and cities as agents for delivering EU policy objectives. The forum will consult key urban stakeholders across Europe on the need for an EU Urban Agenda, what it should contain and how it should be implemented. The forum will also discuss Europe’s role in global urban development as well as the role of business in the development of our cities. Videos of the event and background information is available online.

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An EU urban agenda – for and with cities. Brussels, 17 February 2014

Posted on: 18 February 2014
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This seminar was organized by EUROCITIES and the Council of European Municipalities and Regions. Commissioner Johannes Hahn, responsible for regional and urban policy, discussed the purpose of an urban agenda at EU level with the mayors of Warsaw and of Almere. The second part of the event features a panel debate with politicians from across Europe speaking about the priorities of an EU urban agenda. Panellists include the mayor of Ghent mayor, the deputy mayor of Venice, the State Secretary for European Affairs of Berlin, the mayor of Santander, the deputy leader of East Renfrewshire, and  the vice mayor of Warsaw. A video of the event is available online.

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Assessment report on Hong Kong’s capacity to receive tourists

Posted on: 18 February 2014
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This report from the Hong Kong Commerce and Economic Development Bureau involved an analysis and assessment on different areas with regard to Hong Kong’s capacity to receive tourists (including Mainland  residents visiting Hong Kong under the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS)). Such areas include the handling capacity of control points, capacity of  tourism attractions, the accommodation capacity of hotels, the carrying  capacity of public transport networks, the impact on the livelihood of the  community and the economic effects of the IVS, etc. 

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London Assembly response to the draft London housing strategy

Posted on: 18 February 2014
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The London Assembly Housing Committee has written a response to the Mayor’s draft Housing Strategy. In light of the severe housing crisis faced by Londoners, the Committee supports many of the proposals in the Mayor’s Housing Strategy.  However the Committee argues that the Mayor needs to do more to address the substantial gap between the plans outlined in his Strategy and the reality of Londoners’ housing needs.

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Cities, growth and poverty: A review of the evidence

Posted on: 18 February 2014
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What is the connection between growth and poverty in UK cities? Cities are increasingly seen as the drivers of the national economy, and the UK Government is devolving new powers to the largest and fastest-growing urban areas. Cities also tend to have concentrations of poverty. This study examines how strategies for economic growth and poverty reduction can be aligned.

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Improving the health of Londoners

Posted on: 18 February 2014
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Transport for London (TfL) has published its first health improvement action plan, in light of the growing recognition of the importance of transport and street environments in improving people’s health. The report outlines TfL’s immediate actions over the next three years to ensure that it delivers the health commitments of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy. The report looks at how transport impacts on health in London and the policy context for improving health through the transport system; describes the main impacts of transport on health in London starting with physical activity, which has the biggest impact, then air quality, road traffic collisions, noise, access and severance. All of these health impacts are brought together to demonstrate how creating ‘healthy streets’ enables us to reduce potential harms to health while improving the positive impacts of travel on health.

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The utilization of the office

Posted on: 18 February 2014
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This report is based on a review of Advanced Workplace Associate’s studies undertaken with organisations over recent years. It sets out some frightening truths about the way in which the workplace is being used (or not) and points at ways under-utilised capacity can be used to get a better deal for people and shareholders.

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Central London: Global retail destination

Posted on: 18 February 2014
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Retail spend by Chinese visitors in London predicted to double to £500m per annum by 2020 according to a new report from Savills research.

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Cities in motion: transport is as key to urban character as buildings or accents

Posted on: 18 February 2014
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Kicking off a new series on how people move through cities, this article in the Guardian newspaper looks at why trains and traffic can reveal how a place sees itself.

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