The development of cities and municipalities in Central and Eastern Europe

Posted on: 30 October 2014
By: mackene
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This special issue of the journal Urban Research & Practice (Vol.7 Issue 3, 2014) examines how the sudden introduction of a market economy, private property, democratic rules, local autonomy for cities and municipalities and access to the global economy and society have affected the development of cities and municipalities in Central and Eastern Europe. Contributors consider: How would these new conditions shape the national systems of cities and municipalities? Which cities would shrink and which would grow? How would the relationship between core cities and their surrounding municipalities develop? And what would happen within these cities and with their built environment?

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Evaluating the water quality benefits of land management change

Posted on: 29 October 2014
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Provides evidence to show how integrated land management change can contribute to reducing local flood risk while improving ecosystem services within a catchment.

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The role of private developers in sustainable mobility

Posted on: 29 October 2014
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A session at EMBARQ India’s CONNECTKaro conference earlier this year focused on the role of private developers in building a sustainable built environment. The session also created awareness for the need to develop indicators and benchmarks to measure how the built form impacts travel patterns in Indian cities. These indicators and benchmarks will encourage private developers to incorporate design practices that promote sustainable transport patterns and create neighborhoods and communities that are energy-efficient, inclusive, safe, walkable, lively, healthy, and climate resilient.

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Lessons from major rail infrastructure programmes

Posted on: 29 October 2014
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The National Audit Office has published the results of a review of five major rail projects sponsored by the Department for Transport since 1998, highlighting lessons the Department for Transport should apply to current and future rail programmes. The projects are the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (later called High Speed 1) and the modernisation of the West Coast Mainline, and ongoing projects: Crossrail, Thameslink and High Speed 2. The report argues that Government decisions on major rail projects have been made using a lack of common sense and ‘unrealistic analysis’.

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Flood ready

Posted on: 29 October 2014
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Designed to raise awareness of flooding across the North West, the Floodready website has been developed to help communities understand the impacts of flooding, specifically what they can do before, during and after an event. Interactive maps, quizzes and case studies are available on the website.

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EU greenhouse gas emissions and targets

Posted on: 29 October 2014
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The European Commission, assisted by the European Environment Agency, has released its annual Progress Report assessing the headway on climate action.

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An assessment of the effects of the 2013-14 flooding on the wildlife and habitats of the Somerset Levels and Moors

Posted on: 29 October 2014
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The aim of this document from Natural England is to summarise our understanding of what has happened to wildlife and habitats in the Somerset Levels and Moors as a result of the winter 2013-14 flood, as best we can. It is not a detailed assessment of the impact of the 2013-14 flood event on wildlife and has come about thanks to a combination of observations by local people, surveys by ecological advisors, and some commissioned surveys.

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Barratt: Planning for a sustainable future

Posted on: 29 October 2014
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Barratt Developments’ 2014 Sustainability Report reflects on a transitional year, when the business has renewed its business vision and priorities. As part of this process it engaged with internal and external stakeholders on the approach to sustainability to begin to determine ‘what matters most’.

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Future City Standards Institute

Posted on: 29 October 2014
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The UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has commissioned the British Standards Institute (BSI) to develop a standards strategy for smart cities in the UK. The strategy identifies the role of standards in accelerating the implementation of smart cities and providing assurance to citizens that the risks are being managed appropriately. The first working session of the Future Cities Standards Institute, a new partnership between the Future Cities Catapult and the British Standards Institute (BSI) took place in late October 2014. The Future Cities Standards Institute, housed at the Future Cities Catapult, will drive the development of a coherent standardisation work programme to create the right condition and help future cities market to flourish.

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Shaping neighbourhoods. Accessible London: Achieving an inclusive environment

Posted on: 29 October 2014
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This Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) provides guidance on the implementation of London Plan Policy 7.2 An inclusive environment and of other policies in the Plan with specific reference to inclusive design. It also provides guidance on Lifetime Neighbourhoods to support London Plan Policy 7.1 Building London’s neighbourhoods and communities.

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