Time to make garden cities a reality. London, 25 March 2014

Posted on: 15 May 2014
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: Events presentations

The TCPA’s Spring Conference builds upon the Association’s highly successful Garden Cities campaign with the aim of keeping up the momentum on the Garden Cities and Suburbs agenda in the build up to the 2015 general election and providing practical solutions to delivery. The Conference considered how we can overcome the practical, economic and political barriers to delivering new large-scale communities built to Garden City standards. It explored issues such as whether the existing New Towns legislation needs updating; how land value increases can be used to fund up-front infrastructure investment; how we can ensure that high quality new developments remain attractive and successful places for generations to come. Presentations are available online.

Find out more online

Sound progress: a review of homeowner feedback on noise in new homes

Posted on: 15 May 2014
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

There has been a drop in noise complaints by owners of new attached homes since the introduction of stricter industry noise standards in 2003, according to a report by the NHBC Foundation. The government introduced higher standards for sound insulation in Approved Document E, which deals with Resistance to the Passage of Sound. From 2004, Robust Details, which meet more stringent acoustic performance standards, have been available as an alternative to pre-completion sound testing in proving compliance with Part E. The report analyses feedback from owners of homes built between 2004 and 2010 following the changes to the Building Regulations, to see whether they have led to a reduction in complaints. Under the terms of the NHBC Buildmark warranty, builders are liable to put right any defect or damage in the first two years after completion of the home; it is this two-year period which the research relates to. The study found that the number of complaints about noise problems received by the NHBC for attached homes fell from seven households per 1000 in 2004 to 4 per 1000 in 2010. According to the NHBC, most of the noise complaints raised by owners of attached and detached homes could be avoided by taking additional care during construction and following accepted good practice.

Read more online

Water and environment 2014: CIWEM’s Annual conference. London, 8-9 April 2014

Posted on: 15 May 2014
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: Events presentations

This event looked at the practical reality of sustainably delivering water and environmental management. Presentations are available online.

Find out more online

Impact assessment for sustainable development: Knowledge systems for the future. Brussels, 1-2 April 2014

Posted on: 15 May 2014
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: Events presentations

As a European research consortium LIAISE investigated over the past found and a half years the Impact Assessment (IA) practices in relation to Sustainable Development (SD). Specific attention was given to the question how the process of IA in various venues (i.e. nation states, supra national organizations and local organizations) is related to the processes of research and knowledge production. The conference presented the main findings of LIAISE in evaluating IA practices, research agenda setting, tool repository development, test cases, and outreach. Presentations are available online.

Find out more online

Trees, people and the built environment. Birmingham, 2-3 April 2014

Posted on: 15 May 2014
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: Events presentations

This is a collaborative event that brings together professionals from the worlds of forestry and arboriculture to hear ground breaking international research on urban foresting. The event highlights the many social, econonic and environmental benefits that trees bring to urban populations, and indeed the planet. This event is hosted tri-annually by the Institute of Chartered Foresters as its National Conference, and managed by a pan-industry steering group of organisations with an interest in urban greening. Presentations are available online.

Find out more online

Seminar on developing effective tourism clusters. Baku, 3 April 2014

Posted on: 15 May 2014
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: Events presentations

Although the tourism sector is highly competitive, joint efforts are increasingly becoming the norm rather than the exception. Tourism practitioners from the public and private sectors, academia and civil society are recognizing that through clustering, they can build a critical mass allowing them take advantage of operational synergies, generate economies of scale, increase productivity and innovation, and ultimately become more competitive. Moreover, with tourism products being comprised of and amalgam of activities across various industry sectors such as retail, accommodation, cafes and restaurants, cultural & recreational services, effective clustering allows destinations to provide a seamless and high quality visitor experience. Nevertheless, the tourism sector faces challenges in the development of effective tourism clusters, especially the fragmented nature of the sector and the preponderance of small- and medium-sized enterprises, as well as a lack of awareness of clustering opportunities. Participants in the seminar of Developing Effective Tourism Clusters were presented with practical, evidence-based experience of cluster development, and have the opportunity to engage in debate about the key factors which ensure the successful creation and management of tourism clusters. Presentations and background information is available online.

Find out more online

Transport Resilience Review: CIHT evidence

Posted on: 14 May 2014
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) has presented written evidence as part of the Department of Transports ‘Transport Resilience Review’. The evidence covered the potential exposure of the transport network to extreme weather (floods of all kinds, storms and extreme heat), the ability to operate under such conditions and plans for adapting to a changing climate. 

Read more online

Operation of the National Planning Policy Framework

Posted on: 14 May 2014
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

The House of Commons Communities and Local Government Committee is conducting an inquiry into the operation of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in its first two years. Written evidence to the Committee is now available online.

Read more online

Regenerating capital: Healthy growth, healthy city?

Posted on: 14 May 2014
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

Roca London Gallery will host a photographic exhibition, from 2 June – 23 August 2014, during the London Festival of Architecture, exploring some of London’s key regeneration projects and their impact on the city’s inhabitants. The exhibition will explore the impact regeneration has on green spaces, small businesses, local communities and valued buildings while supporting an increasing population, world-leading financial growth and an international profile.

Read more online

Building Consultancy Today

Posted on: 14 May 2014
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

Property consultancy CBRE has issued the first edition of its quarterly newsletter, Building Consultancy Today. Each newsletter will provide insights about the trends and issues affecting the property industry today and in the future. This issue focuses on building costs. Feedback and suggestions for future topics are welcomed. 

Read more online