Do the right mix

Posted on: 3 July 2012
By: mackene
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The European Commission’s Sustainable Urban Mobility campaign has been launched. The three-year initiative aims to support sustainable urban mobility campaigners in 31 countries, fostering positive change in attitudes and behaviour.  The central objective of this new campaign is to promote the advantages of combining different modes of transportation.

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New opportunities for sustainable development and growth through the reuse of existing buildings: Consultation

Posted on: 3 July 2012
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This consultation, published by the Department for Communities and Local Government, seeks views on proposals to help bring empty and redundant buildings back into productive use, promote brownfield regeneration, help build more homes, support our local high streets and secure jobs in the rural economy.

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Opportunities for UK business that value and/or protect nature’s services’

Posted on: 2 July 2012
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This report outlines the business case for valuing and protecting nature’s services. A series of drivers are leading businesses to increasingly consider and manage impacts on ecosystems and to look for business opportunities while they do this. Until recently most business action in this arena was driven by regulatory requirements. New drivers include business risks arising from price volatility in key commodities, in part linked to resource scarcity and degradation, changed stakeholder expectations, and business-to-business pressures as the demand for more sustainable production impacts supply chains and procurement. Benefits to companies include enhanced reputations, entry into new markets and more comprehensive knowledge about the risks they are exposed to.

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Handbook of Constructive Details

Posted on: 2 July 2012
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The British Board of Agrément and Robust Details have formed a joint venture, Constructive Details (CDL), working with the industry to provide solutions for linear thermal bridging. Linear thermal bridging, described by a psi-value, can contribute to up to 30% of heat loss in a building. To combat this, CDL has launched the first Constructive Details handbook of masonry detail junctions developed for the Aircrete Products Association. The handbook follows the principles of the Robust Details Part E scheme handbook and contains 16 details for partial fill external wall and five details for full fill party wall. CDL said that the details had been designed to provide “significantly lower” psi values than those featuring in Accredited Construction Details (ACDs), resulting in a 60% improvement of the overall y-value.  The handbook can be downloaded for free on the CDL website.

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Allocation of accommodation: Guidance for local housing authorities in England

Posted on: 2 July 2012
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This new statutory guidance on social housing allocations for local authorities in England aims to assist them to take advantage of the provisions in the Localism Act 2011 which give back to local authorities the freedom to manage their own waiting lists, and make it easier for them to move existing social tenants to more suitable accommodation. It also encourages authorities to make use of the existing flexibilities within the allocation legislation to ensure that social homes go to people who need and deserve them the most, such as hard working families and members of the Armed Forces.

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Community Right to Challenge: Statutory guidance

Posted on: 29 June 2012
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This guidance provides further explanation of the legislative framework for the Community Right to Challenge contained in Part 5, Chapter 2 of the Localism Act 2011.

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Shifting agendas: response to resilience

Posted on: 29 June 2012
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In this paper, which launched the 9th Brunel Lecture Series, Jo Da Silva, Director International Development at Arup, proposes that it is time for civil engineers to cease practising ‘the art of directing the great sources of power in Nature for the use and convenience of mankind’. Instead we should acknowledge the fundamental role we have to play in reducing the vulnerability of mankind. Whilst recent disasters have emphasised the limitations of international response. A new approach is required which prioritises creating resilient communities which are able to respond and adapt to changing circumstances and unexpected catastrophes. A video of the lecture is also online.

http://www.jodasilva.me/Report/Brunel_Report_FINAL%5B1%5D.pdf

Trees in the townscape: A guide for decision makers

Posted on: 29 June 2012
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The Trees and Design Action Group has published a guide which offers 12 action-oriented principles spanning the range of planning, design, works and management issues that must be addressed for maximum economic, social and environmental returns from trees in the townscape. Each principle is supported by explanations of benefits and delivery mechanisms, as well as references for further reading. 34 case studies provide real-life examples of the principles in action, giving insight into best practice from all over England including Bristol, Birmingham, Plymouth, Torbay, Sefton, Oxford, Leeds, Newcastle, Islington and Hackney as well as from further afield including the USA and Hong Kong.

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Urban Practice Guide: The do’s and don’ts of sustainable urban mobility policy in a peer to peer practitioners approach

Posted on: 29 June 2012
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The European Metropolitan Network Institute has published a guide which is designed to help the urban professional get a better insight into how other cities develop and implement policy measures and interventions with regard to urban sustainable mobility. In this guide, cities themselves talk about the measures and interventions they have taken in the field of sustainable urban mobility; what went right, what went wrong, and most importantly, what advice do they have for other cities thinking about similar projects. In the guide, the practices have been grouped into different categories: measures and interventions linked to ‘regulation and pricing’, ‘influencing lifestyle and behaviour’ and ‘urban space’. The guide also contains a section that is devoted to how cities can make best use of technological opportunities. To order a copy send an e-mail to: info@emi-network.eu with your postal address and mentioning the number of copies you would like to order. The price per guide is € 9,95 (incl. delivery costs within Europe).

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A survey on urban sustainability

Posted on: 29 June 2012
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In the spring of 2012, ICLEI ( local governments for sustainability) and EMI (European Metropolitan network Institute) launched a joint survey on urban sustainability. The survey was sent to city officials and policymakers across Europe and is part of EMI’s Knowledge and Research Agenda on Urban Sustainability looking into research needs when it comes to stimulating urban sustainability. The survey addressed issues such as cities’ understanding of the concept, their ambitions concerning sustainability as well as  goals on this theme of the European Union. Another important aim was to identify the needs of European cities relating to the further implementation of urban sustainability goals.

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