Policy@Manchester Articles

Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues

Policy@Manchester Articles
Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues
Child, adult, and elderly man in a garden.

Positioning green infrastructure as essential infrastructure in the UK

Ian Mell By Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Environment, Urban Posted:

As the impacts of the climate and biodiversity emergencies become clearer, there is a growing need to rethink how infrastructure is developed and managed in the UK. The planned redundancy of concrete and steel as building materials makes sustainable urban development problematic. However, the EU, via their Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) research programme, and the UK […]

Four children in white t-shirt uniforms are smiling and running

Transforming children and young people’s futures through PE, school sport, and physical activity

Sarah MacQuarrieAlexandra Hennessey author headshot By and Filed Under: All posts, Education, Health and Care, Health and Social Care Posted:

Today’s children and young people encounter multifaceted challenges, including mental health concerns, reduced physical activity, and persistent inequities in access to sports. As the post-pandemic landscape reshapes our society, physical education (PE), school sports, and physical activity (PESSPA) emerge as critical tools in fostering healthier, happier, and more resilient children and young people. In this […]

two workers with high-viz jackets and blue helmets are stood in a construction site looking at an I-pad

Getting it right: are hydrogen standards good enough?

Profile picture of Dr Chris Jones By Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Environment, Renewables, Research and development, Science and Engineering Posted:

Hydrogen has the potential to be an important industrial feedstock and fuel. There are, however, various ways to produce and use it, leading to diverse supply chains with different environmental implications. Two considerations for the role of hydrogen in a low carbon economy stand out – ensuring that hydrogen production and supply has sufficiently low […]

Plastic bottles which have been crushed together into cubes.

Plastics policies are changing the game—but are SMEs being left behind?

Headshot of authorMaria Sharmina By and Filed Under: Energy and Environment, Environment, Growth and Inclusion, Renewables Posted:

The UK plastics policy landscape is undergoing major changes. While consultations stress the importance of avoiding harm to SMEs, policies often lack concrete measures against such harm. Research by the University of Manchester indicates that current and forthcoming plastics policies, shaped by these consultations, would affect stakeholders across the plastic supply chain differently, with SMEs […]

Woman and young girl washing their hands at the sink

Water reuse for sustainable practices in new housing infrastructure

Claire HoolohanAlison BrowneElla Foggitt By , and Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Environment, Urban Posted:

Demand for water will outstrip supply within the next 25 years in England. Changing patterns of water use – for example, as a result of increasing hygiene standards –  are intersecting with long-standing infrastructural challenges of ageing water and sewerage networks. In this article, Dr Ella Foggitt, Dr Claire Hoolohan and Professor Alison Browne assess […]

Image of a nuclear power station in the background with the bottom of an electricity pylon and a yellow grassy field in the foreground.

Is advanced nuclear the route to low-carbon hydrogen production?

By Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Research and development, Science and Technology, UK economy Posted:

There is increasing recognition that a UK net zero future will feature a significant role for hydrogen as an energy vector. The UK currently relies heavily on natural gas for heat, industry and power production. If net zero ambitions are to be realised, this must be replaced with either increased electrification (powered by low-carbon sources) […]

People walking on lord street in Southport, Merseyside in front of the historic wayfarers shopping arcade

Addressing the UK’s heritage skills crisis: why we must act now

Headshot of Eric Lybeck By Filed Under: All posts, Education, Urban Posted:

In 2019, the world watched as flames consumed the Notre Dame Cathedral, an irreplaceable cultural treasure. Yet, against all odds, the cathedral is poised to reopen this year, a testament to extraordinary skill and determination. In stark contrast UK restoration projects can take decades – or fail to materialise in favour of demolition. In this […]

E-scooters along wall

Getting around: digital platforms and public transport systems

Headshot of Andy Lockhart By , and Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Urban Posted:

Over the last 15 years, digital mobility platforms for ride hailing like Uber, bike sharing like Beryl, e-scooter rental like Lime and journey planning apps like Citymapper have become common in urban societies. They are often seen as ‘disrupting’ the organisation of existing public transport systems and creating competition. In this article from our On […]

An illustrated image of multiple model green hydrogen molecules

How green is hydrogen?

Amanda Lea-Langton By Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering Posted:

Development of a low carbon hydrogen-based economy is seen as a major part of achieving net-zero emissions across the world. Hydrogen is a flexible and potentially non-polluting fuel because it only produces water when it is used in fuel cells or burnt. However, the production of hydrogen can have a high carbon footprint depending on […]

Football on stadium grass

Protecting Premier League football clubs through tighter regulation

Black and white headshot of Prof Nick Lord By and Filed Under: All posts, Urban Posted:

The Football Governance Bill sets out to establish a new Independent Football Regulator (IFR) for English men’s elite football. As these plans for a new regulator continue to unfold, research conducted by the Department of Criminology at The University of Manchester has found that the ownership structures of many English Premier League football clubs share […]

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Articles give the views of the author, and are not necessarily those of The University of Manchester.

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