Pippa Middleton - Barton Court, Kintbury footpath row. University of the Built Environment academic Matthew Smith offers legal perspectives around public rights of way

Pippa Middleton’s footpath battle exposes legal labyrinth around public rights of way

As a public inquiry weighs up a disputed route across the Berkshire estate owned by Pippa Middleton Matthews and her husband James Matthews, the case is shining a light on one of…

‘We don’t have an attraction problem’: Mark Farmer challenges built environment narrative  

By Linda Serck  Mark Farmer is not one for nominative determinism, where your name subconsciously decides your career path. Far removed from agriculture, he has spent 35 years in the…

New year, new career: How to change careers in 2026

  By Linda Serck January is traditionally a busy month for major career decisions. The break over Christmas offers space to reassess ambitions, while the start of the year inspires…

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…

Bricks with space invader

Should we bin the brick?

In light of the recent news on carbon-capturing bricks, University of the Built Environment Programme Leader James Ritson raises an essential challenge: even if bricks become more carbon-efficient, is it wise to…