Urban Update 21 February 2025

Monday 24 February 2025

News and Research

 

 

Natural Environment 

 
Environment Agency produces update on suite of  evidence of natural flood management >>>>
This is an excellent and easy to read set of documents that list the range of options for improving flood resilience, and asses the varying benefits and level of confidence based on current research. 
River and floodplain management  - river restoration, floodplain management and wetland restoration, leaky barriers, beavers, offline storage areas
Woodland management – catchment woodland, cross-slope woodland, floodplain woodland, riparian woodland
Run-off management – soil and land management, run-off pathway management, headwater drainage management
Coastal and estuary management – saltmarsh, beach, reef, dune, aquatic vegetation
 
Restoring wildlife habitats in wealthy nations could drive extinctions in species-rich regions >>>>
 
Protected habitats aren't enough to save endangered species: Models show species are impacted by far-off threats >>>>
This is a surprising study showing that species are affected by what is happening 10s of kilometres away from specific habitats. 
 

 

 

Movement

 
Understanding pedestrian dynamics using machine learning with real-time urban sensors - Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science
 
All Aboard: Light Rail, Mobility Justice, and the Future of Public Transit in Austin, Texas - Urban Affairs Review
This case study examines Project Connect, a major transit expansion in Austin, Texas, highlighting the influence of a unified, justice-oriented coalition.     It covers advocacy for less-well off groups, ensuring that they are involved in decision making, and sustained engagement.  The paper recommends linking transit to land use, housing, and other critical elements.

 

 

Energy and Climate Change

 
Understanding the coupling effect of multiple urban features on land surface temperature in Europe - Urban Forestry & Urban Greening

  • The height of trees and evapo-transpiration (the process by which water is transferred through trees from the land to the atmosphere) have significant cooling effects, especially in warmer regions.   Mature tree cover provides significant cooling benefits.
  • The more intensely an area is built up, including impervious surfaces and building volume, the greater is the increase in land surface temperatures, particularly in densely populated regions (Mid-Europe, British Isles).
  • Distance from the sea buffers urban heat in coastal regions (Mediterranean, British Isles).
  • The cooling effect of water transfer from the land to the atmosphere diminishes in the Iberian Peninsula at higher values.
  • Urban planning strategies tailored to specific regions are crucial for mitigating urban heat.

Integrating ecological and urban structure features is essential.
 
World's sea-ice falls to record low >>>>

 

 

Politics, Philosophy, Economics

 
More than 1.4 million homes with planning permission left unbuilt, report finds >>>>
 
Most of UK’s big build-to-rent developers owned by foreign private equity firms >>>>
 
Gwynned House prices plunge as council acts on second homes >>>>
 
Explaining housing rents: A neural network approach to landscape image perceptions - Habitat International
This study investigates factors influencing housing rents, including looking at people’s subjective perceptions as well as factors such as factors like building age, nearby amenities, and detailed indoor facility conditions.  The model developed  which includes image perceptions and physical features explains 73.92% of rent variations.

Key Findings:

  • Building age and floor area are the strongest predictors of rent, followed by distance to the Central Business District and image perceptions.
  • Image perceptions improve rent prediction models more than physical features alone.
  • Perceptions of safety, beauty, and wealth have a stronger impact on rents than other image perceptions.

 

 

History

Why Ancient Roman Concrete Was So Durable >>>>
Research finds that very small fragments of lime within the concrete heal cracks that form. 
 
London’s first Roman basilica found under office basement >>>>
 
The story of ancient Mesopotamia and the dawn of the modern world >>>>

 

 

Humans, Health, Society

 
 Europe's population projected to 2100 with and without migration >>>>
Without inward migration the population of some countries are projected nearly to halve.   Uses Eurostat population projections, UK Office for National Statistics data 

Perceived inequality and variability in the expression of parochial altruism – Evolutionary Human Sciences
“parochial altruism” is a jargon term that is intended to mean a type of behaviour that involves being kind and helpful to one’s own group, but not helpful to people outside the group.
This study suggests that diversity (ethnic/religious/language) itself may not be the primary cause of social problems. Instead, inequalities in wealth, well-being, and representation between groups are more likely to create conflict.  Social problems can be best tackled by reducing inequality.
 
The relationship between perception and landscape characteristics of recreational places with human mental well-being – Scientific Reports
This study is based on 40 recreational areas in southwestern Germany regarding their landscape characteristics and their effect on human mental well-being. 

  • Perceived naturalness and perceived bird diversity significantly improve mental well-being.
  • Human impact (infrastructure, Human Footprint Index) negatively affects mental well-being.
  • Perceived naturalness is linked to actual bird diversity and negatively linked to human impact.
  • Strong perception of birds boosts mental well-being, but high birding expertise can hinder restoration.
  • Perceived restoration and beauty in images correlate with on-site emotional experiences.
  • Perceptions of naturalness in images align with on-site perceptions.

Limitations: the analysis didn’t cover ethnic/cultural background – previous research has suggested that white graduates favour a natural landscape, whereas other cultural groups may prefer parks that are more built-up.
 
Urbanization, housing, and inclusive design for all? A community-based participatory research investigation of the health implications of high-rise environments for adolescents - Cities
This Canadian study investigated how adolescents perceive high-rise and dense urban environments' impact on their health using a Community-Based Participatory Research approach and the Theory of Affordances (how an environment opens-up possibilities) to identify designs that positively and negatively affect adolescent health.
Positive features:

  • "High density" local activity environments with multiple amenities.
  • High-quality pedestrian social infrastructure linking built and social environments.

Negative features:

  • Poor cleansing, maintenance, and perceived social discord.
  • Risky or limited design legibility (in this paper legibility means “features, amenities, designs with an ambiguous or dangerous use/purpose”)., hindering autonomy.

Limitations – paper is jargon-heavy, only 22 adolescents participated.
 
 

Built Environment 

 

Schemes

 
‘First of its kind’ sustainable skyscraper gets green light from City of London >>>>
 
Masterplan for 1,200 new homes at Cumberland Basin unveiled >>>>
 
Initial plans revealed for large 400-home estate in Essex town >>>>
 
Kent population soars by 18% but house-building can’t keep up - new survey >>>>
 
'Bristol can do better' as concerns rise over 'semi-slum' new town >>>>
 
London’s Thames Tideway tunnel now fully connected >>>>
 
Architect Neave Brown's modernist Hampstead Heath ex-council flat on sale for £750k >>>>
 
Glasgow Central Mosque given category-A listing >>>>
 
Hundreds of Wales’ old chapels and churches should be 'repurposed for social housing' >>>>
 
Users’ experiences of park accessibility and attractiveness based on online review analytics Scientific Reports
Commercial facilities (cafes, restaurants, paid attractions) influence the park experience and attract diverse users.  They are also linked to perceptions of improved park quality and maintenance.
However, commercialization can restrict use by people on lower incomes.  The paid amenities as can be viewed as being exclusive.
Recommendations:

  • Balance commercialization with public access and affordability.
  • Prioritize “use value” over “exchange value.”   Ie…. Focus on how useful the park is to people, rather than how much money can be made from it.
  • Enhance service quality and natural landscapes to meet diverse user needs.
  • Increase the affordability of entry tickets, food outlets, and recreational facilities.
  • Combine social media data on park use  with other sources for inclusive planning as social media tends to bias towards middle and higher income groups.

 
Walkability Versus Liveability: Changes in Neighbourhood Satisfaction After Relocation to a Walkable, Mixed-Income Community in Austin, Texas – Health Environments Research & Design Journal
This study looked at the changes in people’s perceptions after they moved to the new walkable, mixed-income community of “Mueller” carefully masterplanned  on a 300 hectare former airfield. 

  • Relocation generally increased residents' satisfaction with liveability. Improvements were seen in environmental quality, social cohesion, and trust in neighbours.
  • There were significant improvements for lower-income residents, including reduced  isolation, better relationships with neighbours and greater safety,

Implications for Practice:

  • Walkable, mixed-income communities can improve liveability and reduce inequities.
  • Focus on crime safety, natural surroundings, walkable destinations, and air quality.
  • Design for the specific population characteristics (e.g., families with children).
  • Provide diverse and affordable housing options.
  • Integrate health, liveability, and equity benefits into planning and design.
  • Prioritize perceived walkability for families with children.
  • Specific design features to incorporate:
    • Extensive parks and open spaces (20% of land).
    • Innovative housing design (shared courtyards, elevated units) to balance density with privacy and social interaction.
    • Pedestrian-friendly streets (narrower streets, landscape buffers).