Urban Update 17 January 2025

News and Research

Movement 

Two more councils enforce Scottish Government's pavement parking ban >>>>
 
London, Paris, Dublin: Which European city has the most congested roads? >>>>
 
Norway on track to be first to go all-electric >>>>
 
Policy measures to reduce road congestion: What worked? - Journal of Transport & Health
This study considered and tried to answer three questions based on a review of schemes across the globe.

  1. Why do some policies work, and others don’t, in reducing traffic congestion?
    Policies that succeed typically improve public transport options. Measures fail when people find ways to avoid them, such as driving on free roads or using multiple vehicles.
  2. Can congestion reduction last in the long term?
    Some measures work in the short term but don't last. This could be because the conditions that made them work initially no longer apply or because people adjust their travel habits. However, measures like road user charging, when combined with better public transport, can reduce congestion for the long term. For example, in London, removing charges in an area where traffic had reduced by 5 percent didn’t bring traffic back to previous levels, showing that these policies can change travel habits even after they end.
  3. Are combined measures more effective than single measures?
    Combining different measures, such as road user charging and improving public transport, is generally more effective than doing just one of these. In cities such as Singapore and Beijing, combining restrictions on car use with improved public transport has kept congestion low.

    Recommendations
  • Avoid building more roads or expanding existing ones to reduce congestion.
  • Use proven methods such as road use charges, especially when combined with better public transport.
  • Consider supportive actions, such as providing travel information and employer-led incentive programs to help people make better travel choices.

 

Politics, Philosophy, Economics, History

 
The planning system as a barrier and a cause of delay – evidence of a failing system or an urban myth? - Cities
This paper looks at how the idea of planning delays has been used to portray the planning system as failing, and to justify a push for faster decision-making. It argues that delays are often presented by governments as a problem, leading to calls for faster processes and more market-driven solutions that prioritize speed and growth.

The study shows that while delays are often discussed in the UK, developers are actually more concerned about uncertainty and the risks and costs involved, rather than the time it takes for planning decisions. Planners in the public sector believe time is needed to make good decisions and achieve quality results.

The paper suggests that the focus on delay often overlooks the complex issues involved in development. It’s used by governments to support market-based policies that value efficiency and economic growth, but this focus on speed ignores other important aspects of urban planning. The paper argues that governments use delay as a way to maintain political support for their policies, often prioritizing speed over other goals.
 

Humans, Health, Society

Dynamic effects of psychiatric vulnerability, loneliness and isolation on distress during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic - Nature Mental Health
This was a thorough study with a large sample size. Loneliness and distress were closely linked to social isolation and the stress caused by social distancing.  The takeout is that for future pandemics that require social distancing, the public health policies should address loneliness.
Unfortunately the human race has a track-record of trying to solve problems, rather than anticipating them or taking the steps to avoid them altogether.
 
Neighbourhood environment and cognitive functioning in middle-aged and older population: A mediating role of physical activity - International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
This is a cross-sectional study of older adults which has found that those who live in air-polluted or socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods have a greater risk of having impaired cognitive functions. In contrast, higher exposure to greenness (green spaces) has a positive impact on cognitive performance. The study also showed that living in disadvantaged areas leads to lower physical activity, which in turn contributes to worse cognitive health in older adults.

The findings suggest that urban planning should address these obstacles and provide opportunities to promote healthy behaviour in at-risk groups.


Understanding the barriers to purchasing healthier, more environmentally sustainable food for people living with obesity and varying experiences of food insecurity in the UK - Food Policy
Food Insecurity was directly linked to greater barriers in the food environment (e.g., price), poorer food preparation practices, lower diet knowledge, and worse physical health.  It was indirectly associated with lower diet quality through mental ill-health and anticipated stigma linked to food insecurity.
Grocery stores could make a different by focusing on price and other incentives (eg loyalty cards, isles dedicated to healthy foods etc).  The paper includes a table listing actions that are most helpful.
 
 
Depression or recovery? A study of the influencing elements of urban street environments to alleviate mental stress - Frontiers of Architectural Research
This study looked at environmental features that affect people's psychological perception, such as: Green space ratio, Motor vehicle presence, Walkability, Environmental complexity, Building enclosure, Facility distribution, Sky visibility, Elevation permeability, Slow-moving occurrences Color richness
Specific correlations found:

  • Motor vehicle presence was positively linked to boredom
  • Complexity of the Visual Environment was positively linked to boredom, and negatively correlated with interest mood.
  • Elevation permeability was positively associated with engagement mood.
  • Green space ratio and building enclosure were positively linked to interest mood.

To understand how they measured building enclosure and complexity of the visual environment – please see the paper!
 
Urban displacement, placemaking and wellbeing - Wellbeing, Space and Society
Forced displacement has increased over the last 12 years, with over 120 million displaced people worldwide, or 1.5% of the global population (UNHCR).  The total number of displaced individuals is likely much higher when considering migrants and those displaced by urban gentrification and regeneration.
“Planners and urban policy-makers tend to use the term liveability when referring to urban wellbeing, and they refer to policies aimed at urban liveability as placemaking.”   Should we think of placemaking more in terms of the relationship people have with the area where they live?
“when children play outdoors, they feel part of their larger community and engage with their urban environments. Yet migrant children and especially young females living in urban slums are further marginalized in their limited access to play spaces”.
 

PFAs and NanoPlastics - Why is this an urban design issue? –

Because towns and cities will have to be designed and retrofitted to deal with these, including the retrofitting of pollution control systems that go far beyond the current systems which are basically Victorian.  There's a massive opportunity and a responsibility for people from all backgrounds working within urban design to rise to these challenges. 
 
Cost to clean up toxic PFAS pollution could top £1.6tn in UK and Europe >>>>

Chemicals in sewage sludge fertilizer used on farms pose cancer risk, EPA says >>>>
 
Top pharmaceutical and IT companies threaten to quit Ireland if ban on ‘forever chemicals’ is introduced >>>>
 
Bloodletting recommended for Jersey residents after PFAS contamination >>>>

 

Built Environment 

Energy consumption in buildings: A compilation of current studies - Energy Reports
 



Fire resistance

It is often forgotten that the main driver for the production of building codes was the prevention of fire and its spread.  Legislation in England goes back over 800 years prohibiting in some cities thatched roofs, and requiring walls to be built of non-flammable materials, and timber to be protected.

In the USA it is common for houses to be built of timber, roofed in bitumen impregnated felt tiles, and clad in pvc sidings made to look like wooden weatherboard.  While these materials can be made to be fire-resistant, they are far from being fire-proof, and extremely vulnerable to wildfires. 
 
Defensible Space - Practical ways to protect your home from wildfire >>>>
This guide produced by California State Government recommends three zones:
Zone 0 – within 5ft Ember resistant
Zone 1- within 30 ft – kept clear of dead or dry vegetation and create space between trees
Zone 2 – within 100ft – vegetation kept under control, 10ft of bare earth to be kept around woodpiles, and fuel tanks.

  

Schemes

 
Rotterdam’s urban rethink makes it the city of 2025 >>>>
 
Architectural transformation in Istanbul reshapes urban ecosystem >>>>

Cornwall Council Government’s new housebuilding policy >>>>

 
UK
New homes: Scale of building challenge revealed by BBC housing tracker >>>>
 
Cornwall planning: 'Interference with landowners' human rights' is 'justified' to create Langarth Garden Village >>>>
 
Cornwall planning: Pods for homeless young people near Waitrose store >>>>

Sir Roger De Haan’s huge transformation of Folkestone harbour goes to planning committee >>>>
 
Councillors approve next steps of controversial East Sussex housing scheme >>>>
 

History

Roman settlement dig near Gloucester 'exceeded all expectations' >>>>

 

Natural Environment

Global assessment of nature-based solutions, urban challenges, and outcomes - Landscape and Urban Planning
Nature-based solutions (NbS) are becoming popular for addressing urban challenges in cities, such as sustainability and resilience.However, there is limited evidence on how effective NbS are in solving urban problems.  This study reviewed 547 examples of NbS in 197 cities worldwide, examining 799 outcomes related to biodiversity, health, and ecosystem services.  The study categorized the urban challenges and outcomes of NbS and assessed their effectiveness compared with alternative solutions.
Key findings:

  • NbS often address specific urban challenges with related outcomes, but rarely multiple outcomes at once.
  • Forests and trees, and general parks are common NbS for improving health and well-being.
  • Grasslands and gardens are mainly used to reduce biodiversity loss.
  • NbS typically show positive effects compared to non-NbS, particularly in improving microclimates and mental health.
  • There is limited evidence on NbS that achieve multiple benefits simultaneously, especially concerning both biodiversity and well-being.


Many species reach their heat limits at similar temperatures, leaving ecosystems at risk of sudden climate-driven collapse – new study >>>>
 
Earth’s Air War: Yale Study Reveals Why Complex Life Took So Long To Emerge >>>>
 
North Yorkshire street upgrade to help protect dark skies >>>>
 
 

Energy and Climate Change

Antarctic Ice Melt May Fuel Eruptions of Hidden Volcanoes >>>>