‘Disruptive but doable’: University professor on Heathrow’s £49 billion expansion plans

By Linda Serck The UK Government announced on 25 November it will back Heathrow Airport’s third runway scheme. It forms the basis of the airport’s £49 billion expansion plans that…

Urban resilience: Why our cities must be designed to absorb, adapt, and transform

By Linda Serck In July 2025, the UK Government published its new Resilience Action Plan which states that “crises and emergencies do not respect borders”. It also declares that resilience…

How digital technology is redrawing the map of urban planning

By Linda Serck Digital technology is now one of the core tools shaping how cities understand risk, prioritise investment and design for long-term resilience. Professor Samer Bagaeen, Head of Town…

How Gothenburg became a blueprint for the sustainable city

Here's how a Swedish city has become a shining example of a sustainable city and the future of the built environment. Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden. Home…

What is NIMBYism (and is it a problem)?

Where does 'Not in My Backyard' opposition to new development come from, and what are the potential impacts of this philosophy? In the United Kingdom, urban planners have long had…

Forget the 15-minute city – Nordhavn wants you to have everything you need in five

An old industrial harbour in Copenhagen has become the centre of the city's plans for a sustainable future. Here's how it plans to offer its residents access to all their…

What are smart cities (and are they the future of the built environment)?

Are smart cities another marketing buzzword in the built environment, or are they really the future of our urban infrastructure? You may well have heard of smart homes and smart…

Circular cities 101: how do they work?

Applying the circular methodology to our urban planning and infrastructure could be an effective way to reduce the built environment's contribution to the climate crisis. Despite accounting for less than…

All buildings great and small: the spectacular rise of tiny homes

What are tiny homes, and why is this radical approach to homeowning starting to pick up momentum and popularity in the UK? The UK is currently experiencing a housing crisis,…

How can we deal with urban sprawl?

Urban sprawl is significantly impacting society, the economy and the environment. Here’s why (and how) urban planners should address it. The human race is growing exponentially. In November 2022, the…

Urban regeneration, defined: here’s why it matters

Urban regeneration is the process of bringing derelict and deprived cities back to life. Here's how it works, with several examples from across the world. From industrialisation and war to…

Green belt planning: is the grass always greener?

While the concept of the green belt has been a major political talking point in recent months, it's actually been the subject of debate since it was introduced into the…