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What does the 2026 UK Budget mean for the built environment? by Charlotte Morphet and Samer Bagaeen from the University of the Built Environment

What does the 2026 Budget mean for the built environment?

The Budget promises more powers for mayors, billions for infrastructure and housing, and fresh support for town centres. But will these measures deliver meaningful change? Charlotte Morphet, Programme Leader and…

Pedestrianising Oxford Street: turning commercial success into public value

As almost a kilometre of London's most famous shopping street prepares to go traffic-free, Professor Samer Bagaeen, Head of Town Planning, explores why its future depends on experience, attachment and…

Why planning and development surveyors sit at the heart of every project

By Linda Serck Ask most people who shapes a new housing development and they will probably point to planners, architects or developers. Yet behind every project that makes it from…
How Britain's gaybourhoods shaped the modern city - University of the Built Environment.

How Britain’s gaybourhoods shaped the modern city

Hurst Street, Birmingham By Linda Serck  Today, places such as Soho, Canal Street and Kemptown are celebrated cultural LGBTQ+ landmarks. Yet their origins lie in a hidden geography of social exclusion, secrecy and anonymity. What…

Samer Bagaeen: Housing delivery requires alignment across the system

By Professor Samer Bagaeen Head of the School of Town Planning The ‘Inside Housing: Build More Homes’ summit in London offered a timely opportunity to reflect on the current state…

Seven new towns: what can we learn from Bracknell?

By Linda Serck The government’s proposal to create seven new towns has reignited debate about how Britain builds communities at scale. Drawing on lessons from Bracknell’s post-war evolution, the University…

‘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…