Centre for Sustainable Planning and Environments (SPE)

By Megan Streb… About 9 months after I handed in my dissertation, Sustrans published a report based on my findings, which was picked up by national media, and has been included in an LGA briefing to local authorities. Some of the strategies I applied to planning, researching, and submitting my dissertation on time will doubtless … Continue reading "How can I produce a high-quality research dissertation with impact? Top tips and reflections"

By Elena Marco The UK housing sector has significant challenges, not least the shortage of homes available, the time it takes to build new homes, balancing affordability versus developers’ profit margins and other factors.  Basing housing statistics and estate-agent marketing on the number of bedrooms, rather than overall dimensions and floor areas, or the suitability … Continue reading "Why do Space and Stuff Matter in Housing Design?"

by Michael Buser….. Over the past couple of years, I’ve been researching some of the relationships between climate change, water security, and culture in the Changthang region of Ladakh, India.  Changthang is located at the western edge of the Tibetan Plateau with an average altitude of 4,800 metres (15,748 feet) above sea level. It is … Continue reading "Water security and climate adaptation in the Himalaya – exploring ecologies of water-care in Changthang, Ladakh."

By Rebecca Windemer Last week (7th April) the UK Government published the much awaited British energy security strategy. The strategy sets out plans for the future of energy generation in Great Britain. In this blog post I discuss the changes that are expected to occur for the planning system. Before doing so I will firstly … Continue reading "What planners need to know about the British energy security strategy"

By Katie McClymont and Danni Sinnett….. Cemeteries in many cities provide functions beyond that of bodily disposal and remembrance. Thinking about our own city of Bristol, Arnos Vale Cemetery provides a historic setting for numerous events and activities, a space for nature, and opportunities for community involvement, alongside its natural burial and crematoria services. Cemeteries … Continue reading "New research suggests that cemeteries provide many of the same benefits as green spaces"

By Helen Hoyle….. The UN COP 26 2021 Climate Conference heightened public awareness of the need to act now to mitigate the climate crisis. This in turn precipitates a call to ‘futureproof’ cities by introducing resilient urban green infrastructure compatible with future climates. Yet how do the public respond to ‘climate-ready’ planting in public places, … Continue reading "Climate-adapted, traditional or cottage-garden planting? How acceptable is ‘climate ready’ planting to the public, and what drives these reactions?"

by Danni Sinnett and Max Walters…. Trees provide many benefits to people and wildlife in urban environments. Seen as an opportunity to address climate and ecological emergencies, many cities are developing targets for increasing tree canopy cover and Bristol is no exception. Bristol’s One City Plan includes a target to double tree canopy cover by … Continue reading "Are Bristol’s plans to double tree canopy cover by 2045 feasible?"

by Hannah Hickman…. The ambition to achieve high quality design outcomes in the delivery of new homes is undisputed and currently prominent on the political agenda. Most recently, we have seen amendments to the National Planning Policy Framework to strengthen its design focus, a new National Model Design Code, the creation of a new Office … Continue reading "Tricks of the trade: why design quality diminishes post-planning permission"