BBC Radio 4’s Start the week (Monday January 6) took the starting-the-New-Year theme of rebuilding, and featured as one of its subjects an innovative prize-winning council housing project in Norwich. But how innovative? David Mikhail, whose architectural practice won last year’s Stirling Prize for this scheme, told presenter Andrew Marr what they had created there,… Continue reading
Browsing Category Environment
How the looming battle over Oxford to Cambridge Expressway might be won
Could the purposed Expressway be the next big road battle in the UK? And is it winnable? Until last month (June 2019), few opponents would have held out much hope of resisting the combined forces of the Highways Agency, which first advanced the £1.5 bn project, and the Westminster government, which almost without fail wins… Continue reading
Big Issue founder wants politicians to think long term
There’s the hint of political change in the air. I don’t mean a resolution of the Brexit agony, or the result of the Tory Party leadership election. Although there is a link. It’s hard to believe that the current chaotic system that led to an enormously divisive referendum, and the opportunity for a tiny number… Continue reading
Wales government rejects M4 relief road and passes first big test of climate resolve
The Welsh Government will not proceed with the £1.4bn M4 relief road around Newport. First Minister Mark Drakeford axed the scheme today (June 4), citing cost and environmental impact. This is a significant, and rare, rejection of a road scheme, which was widely supported by the CBI and many local politicians. Plans to build a… Continue reading
Pavegen funds its walk-on part in a cleaner future
UK “energy and data from footsteps” firm Pavegen has launched (May 28th, 2019) a crowdfunding campaign to raise the additional £5m it needs to expand production of its revolutionary V3 energy generating tile, and make it at a lower unit cost. Pavegen, founded by Laurence Kemball-Cook, the company’s CEO, in 2009, came up with the… Continue reading
National Trust puts a price on bluebells
Ashridge, the National Trust estate on the Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire border, is one of the top places in the UK to see bluebells, according to surveys. In 2016 it decided to charge visitors to see the bluebells at some of the best locations on the 5000 acre estate. Is putting a price on our ‘national… Continue reading