Airport operational models

Posted on: 17 May 2013
By: mackene
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This paper considers the distinguishing features of a hub or ‘focal’ airport and what enables an airport to assume this role. It discusses current trends in the global aviation sector, how they might develop in the future, and considers the potential implications for airport capacity in the UK.

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Draft ‘Environmental statement’ and design refinement consultations on HS2

Posted on: 17 May 2013
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Further consultations have been launched regarding the first phase of HS2, the planned high speed railway between London, the West Midlands, Manchester and Leeds . The draft Environmental Statement sets out HS2 Ltd’s current thinking on plans to integrate the line into the landscape using the very latest design and construction methods, both during building and operation. The design refinement consultation provides an opportunity to comment on the most significant proposed changes to the design of phase one of the scheme between London and Birmingham.

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In post-tsunami Japan, a push to rebuild coast in concrete

Posted on: 17 May 2013
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This article argues that in the wake of the 2011 tsunami, the Japanese government is forgoing an opportunity to sustainably protect its coastline and is instead building towering concrete seawalls and other defences that environmentalists say will inflict serious damage on coastal ecosystems.

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London Residential Market Analysis

Posted on: 16 May 2013
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The latest research from the Estates Gazette shows that with supply in core high end residential areas around Mayfair and Knightsbridge severely constrained, developers have pushed into more untested areas around Vauxhall Nine Elms in an effort to feed the uprecedented demand from international investors. It is argued that this could lead to a series of ‘dead zones’ in areas not far enough out to be affordable by owner occupier standards but not close enough to the centre to be considered prime.

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High Speed 2: A review of early programme preparation

Posted on: 16 May 2013
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The National Audit Office has published a report which claims that there was little evidence to support the case for building the HS2 rail link between London and the North. It adds that data used to make the case for HS2 was out of date, and there was a potential £3.3bn funding gap in the scheme.

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Sanctuary in the city? Urban displacement and vulnerability in Peshawar, Pakistan

Posted on: 16 May 2013
By: mackene
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Pakistan has one of South Asia’s highest rates of urbanisation and is one of the world’s largest host countries for refugees. In recent years it has also seen increasing numbers of internally displaced people (IDPs) due to conflict and disasters. Peshawar, the capital of KP province, has become one of the largest recipient cities for refugees and IDPs in South Asia. It is also one of the poorest. Through interviews and group discussions with IDPs, Afghan refugees and longer-term residents of Peshawar, as well as government officials, aid agencies and others, this study examines the challenges of displacement in a context of rapid urbanisation.

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The effectiveness of international climate finance

Posted on: 16 May 2013
By: mackene
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Maximising the effectiveness of climate change finance is an issue of urgency for both the climate change and development communities, focused on finding the best ways to use relatively small amounts of largely public finance to have the greatest possible impact in enabling climate compatible development. This paper considers the context in which climate finance is delivered, before turning to present a framework for analysing the effectiveness of international climate funds. The framework identifies ten key and interlinked dimensions that are central to understanding the effectiveness of spending and outcomes of dedicated public finance initiatives that have been established to help countries respond to climate change.

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Estates Gazette London

Posted on: 16 May 2013
By: mackene
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The latest edition of EG London considers the pertinent issues, topics and trends that are effecting how the capital’s property market performs.

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The Purple Guide to Health, Safety and Welfare at Music and Other Events

Posted on: 16 May 2013
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A new guide to help organisers find their way round the myriad of legislation and guidelines covering events has been published by the Events Industry Forum. The Purple Guide, which has been written and produced by bringing together people from across the events industry and government, is designed to replace a document originally produced by the industry with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) entitled ‘HSG195 A guide to health, safety and welfare at music and similar events’. Initially the new guide is being published in draft form on-line with a view to gaining further input from the industry over the summer before it is finally completed towards the end of this year.

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UNECE countries in Europe 2013

Posted on: 16 May 2013
By: mackene
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The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has published a report which provides a snapshot of the social and economic conditions in each of these member States, using statistical indicators from a wide variety of different domains.

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