cities

COVID-19 and the future of urban mobility

By Michael Hodson and Andrew McMeekin Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Urban Posted: June 12, 2020

COVID-19 has comprehensively disrupted urban mobility systems. Public transport authorities are running skeleton services, while streets are less congested. In the midst of lockdown conditions, urban mobility systems look unrecognisable. Here, Dr Mike Hodson and Professor Andrew McMeekin reflect on how different areas have responded to the lockdown, and discuss key considerations that will shape […]

Short-termism and the future of Britain’s cities

By Mike Emmerich Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Devo, Urban Posted: February 28, 2017

Ahead of the release of his book, Britain’s Cities, Britain’s Future, Mike Emmerich looks at the issue of short-termism in policy making and sets out some ways forwards for addressing the geographic imbalance of economic growth and productivity in the UK’s cities. Encouraging long-term thinking in policy making has long been a challenge, both with […]

Checklists alone cannot create age-friendly places: lived experiences matter

By Amy Barron Filed Under: All posts, Urban Posted: February 15, 2017

Thursday 16th February sees the Greater Manchester Ageing Conference, held by the GM Ageing Hub, of which MICRA, the Manchester Institute for Collaborative Research on Ageing, is a part . To celebrate the conference, and to highlight the policy implications of living in an ageing society, MICRA have teamed up with Policy@Manchester to deliver a week […]

The right to have rights: aspirations for a ‘just’ city?

By Tanja Müller Filed Under: All posts Posted: October 18, 2016

This month more than 25,000 delegates meet in Quito, Ecuador, for the Habitat 3 conference which sets out the United Nations’ New Urban Agenda – a guide to policies and approaches for the sustainable development and planning of cities and towns across the globe for the next 20 years. As part of The University of Manchester’s research […]

What does Habitat 3 mean for people affected by climate change?

By Joanne Jordan Filed Under: All posts Posted: October 17, 2016

How can Habitat 3 and the New Urban Agenda turn inequality talk into action?

By Diana Mitlin Filed Under: All posts, Urban Posted: October 14, 2016

Our divided society: challenges for achieving inclusive growth in the UK

By Neil Lee Filed Under: All posts, Inclusive Growth Posted: August 11, 2016

With talk of Brexit signalling a divided nation of haves and have nots, does the inclusive growth agenda offer a route to tackling inequality? Neil Lee outlines its potential strengths and limits. There are widespread concerns that, for many workers, economic growth has not been increasing living standards. These concerns are most obvious at the […]

Brave New Manchester? The dark side of devolution deals

By Graham Haughton Filed Under: All posts Posted: May 17, 2016

Devolving power to our cities and regions has been heralded as a ‘new era’ and an exciting opportunity for positive change. Manchester has led the way in England, becoming the first region to take control of its health and social care budget on April 1st. But, asks Graham Haughton, is there a ‘dark side’ to […]

Could smart cities be smarter about inequality?

By Joe Blakey Filed Under: All posts, Urban Posted: May 9, 2016

Our cities are unequal – in wealth, quality of life and our carbon footprints, amongst other factors. In the race to use technology to build so-called ‘smart cities’, Joe Blakey says we run the risk of locking-in, rather than tackling, those inequalities. Definitions and data When it comes to smart cities , Manchester is setting […]

A Grand Plan for the North needs to start with dreams

By Ed Cox Filed Under: Featured, Urban Posted: July 18, 2014

With growing calls for the UK to reverse an historic trend of chronic under investment in infrastructure, IPPR North’s Ed Cox believes it’s time to seek out the best and the brightest big ideas. The UK has “chronically underinvested in infrastructure, trailing that of other leading global economies.” That was the damning verdict of the RSA’s City […]