Turn bus garages into EV top up points – TfL Feb 18, 2019 Transport for London is exploring how its network of bus stations can be turned into top up charging points for emergency services vehicles and even private cars as part of a major revamp of its estate. Peter Elliot, Head of Development at Transport for London told delegates at the Smart Cities Development Conference that the […] Posted by: Nathan Spencer Read more
EV roll out sparks Manchester power upgrade call Feb 18, 2019 Manchester’s power network requires a significant upgrade to cope with the anticipated increase in use of electric vehicles (EVs), our Smart Cities Development Conference has heard. Steve Cox, Engineering & Technical Director at Electricity North West, told delegates that every morning, 223,000 vehicles are driven into Manchester. [emaillocker id=”71749″] He said: “If those EVs all […] Posted by: Nathan Spencer Read more
Uber’s exciting rural plans queried by Catapult chief Feb 18, 2019 Moves by Uber to expand into rural areas won’t work, our Smart Cities Development Conference heard. James Kelly, Head of Cities at the app-based ride hailing business, said the company is exploring a roll out of community transport services, recalling how he had used informal ride sharing early in his career to commute into work […] Posted by: Nathan Spencer Read more
Digital natives may quit cities, prop-tech boss warns Feb 18, 2019 The dystopian vison of future cities, painted in recent science fiction film Ready Player One, will come true if current patterns of high-rise development continue, a Crown Estates adviser has warned. Vanessa Lee Butz told our Smart Cities Development Conference that the ‘digital native’ generation will have different digital and human connections to their predecessors, […] Posted by: Nathan Spencer Read more
Plan for tomorrow’s tech, urges Catapult chief Feb 18, 2019 The importance of thinking about emerging technologies when planning development was the key message of the opening keynote presentation at our Smart Cities Development Conference. Nicola Yates, Chief Executive Officer of the Future Cities Catapult – which examines the application of innovation to the built environment, said: “Planners have to imagine a future world. If […] Posted by: Nathan Spencer Read more
Physical interaction to remain important in digitised future Feb 18, 2019 Personal contact will remain prized even as individuals spend an increasing proportion of their time on-line, a leading futurologist has told our London Property Club event. Tom Cheesewright predicted that the next ten years would see the transition to a new world in which the boundary between the digital and physical worlds becomes ‘seamless’. [emaillocker […] Posted by: Nathan Spencer Read more
Partnerships still on agenda post PFI – Government Property Chief Feb 18, 2019 Whitehall is still keen to pursue partnerships with the property industry despite the ‘unravelling’ of the HMRC’s STEPS property private finance initiative deal, the Chair of the Government Property Unit (GPU) has said. Liz Peace told delegates at our London event that the STEPS deal struck nearly 20 years ago with property company Mapeley, and […] Posted by: Nathan Spencer Read more
Planning in London ‘never more difficult’ – Madelin Feb 18, 2019 The planning system in London has ‘never been more difficult’, veteran developer Roger Madelin told delegates at our London Property Club event. Madelin, who heads the Canada Water development at British Land, said that he could not remember a more difficult time for development since he started out in the industry: “Planning in London has […] Posted by: Nathan Spencer Read more
Convert department stores into retirement homes – says leading developer Feb 15, 2019 Ailing department stores could be reconfigured to create town centre residential communities for older people, a leading retirement developer has said. Lex Cumber, Director of Cardiff-based Castleoak, told delegates at our South Wales Development Conference that big stores like House of Fraser contain a lot of floorspace that could be converted to house older people: […] Posted by: Nathan Spencer Read more
Cardiff leader calls for Plan B if M4 relief road isn’t approved Feb 15, 2019 A Plan B is needed ‘swiftly’ for South Wales’ traffic problems if the proposed M4 relief road is not given the green light, the Leader of Cardiff Council has warned. Speaking at our South Wales event Huw Thomas told delegates that his authority is ‘totally supportive’ of the plans. He said: “It’s a politically difficult […] Posted by: Nathan Spencer Read more
