Reposted
British cities are too flat — and it’s holding back housing supply.
Our new blog shows a big density gap with France and Japan, driven by missing mid-rise homes.
Read more 👉 buff.ly/mm3GBRX
Our new blog shows a big density gap with France and Japan, driven by missing mid-rise homes.
Read more 👉 buff.ly/mm3GBRX
November 20, 2025 at 10:20 AM
British cities are too flat — and it’s holding back housing supply.
Our new blog shows a big density gap with France and Japan, driven by missing mid-rise homes.
Read more 👉 buff.ly/mm3GBRX
Our new blog shows a big density gap with France and Japan, driven by missing mid-rise homes.
Read more 👉 buff.ly/mm3GBRX
Reposted
Everybody loves brownfield-first. But where exactly should we densify our cities? And how?
Our new report shows Britain's density gap is wider in the biggest cities outside London than in the capital - and the inner city 'urban cores' up to 5km out from the centre are to blame.
Our new report shows Britain's density gap is wider in the biggest cities outside London than in the capital - and the inner city 'urban cores' up to 5km out from the centre are to blame.
November 20, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Everybody loves brownfield-first. But where exactly should we densify our cities? And how?
Our new report shows Britain's density gap is wider in the biggest cities outside London than in the capital - and the inner city 'urban cores' up to 5km out from the centre are to blame.
Our new report shows Britain's density gap is wider in the biggest cities outside London than in the capital - and the inner city 'urban cores' up to 5km out from the centre are to blame.
Reposted
Big cities like Birmingham could get many more people well connected to its city centre by a 30 minute public transport journey.
But this doesn't involve expanding the network - no new trams or new bus routes.
This is simply from making the existing network function better: integration.
Thread 🧵
But this doesn't involve expanding the network - no new trams or new bus routes.
This is simply from making the existing network function better: integration.
Thread 🧵
November 4, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Big cities like Birmingham could get many more people well connected to its city centre by a 30 minute public transport journey.
But this doesn't involve expanding the network - no new trams or new bus routes.
This is simply from making the existing network function better: integration.
Thread 🧵
But this doesn't involve expanding the network - no new trams or new bus routes.
This is simply from making the existing network function better: integration.
Thread 🧵
With universities under strain and further education fragmented, how can the government reach the 66% target? This blog explores the current geography of participation and the past role of polytechnics to see whether a different kind of institution is needed to meet this ambition. Check here⬇️
The Prime Minister has set out a new target for 66 per cent of young people to ‘participate in higher-level learning’ 👩🎓
How could Government achieve this?
Should England bring back Polytechnics? 👇
buff.ly/9fvdLaE
How could Government achieve this?
Should England bring back Polytechnics? 👇
buff.ly/9fvdLaE
Should England bring back polytechnics? - Centre for Cities
The story of former polytechnics show that increasing participation in higher-level learning should come from outside the existing university model and have an urban focus.
buff.ly
October 16, 2025 at 8:58 AM
With universities under strain and further education fragmented, how can the government reach the 66% target? This blog explores the current geography of participation and the past role of polytechnics to see whether a different kind of institution is needed to meet this ambition. Check here⬇️
Reposted
📅 Centre for Cities on: The New Towns Taskforce report
Our housing and planning experts @antbreach.bsky.social and @mauricelange.bsky.social will introduce key takeaways from the report and what they mean for the Government’s housing delivery plans.
Register here👇
buff.ly/QM52C1a
Our housing and planning experts @antbreach.bsky.social and @mauricelange.bsky.social will introduce key takeaways from the report and what they mean for the Government’s housing delivery plans.
Register here👇
buff.ly/QM52C1a
Centre for Cities on: The New Towns Taskforce report - Centre for Cities
Centre for Cities' housing and planning experts break down the New Towns Taskforce report and answer your questions on what it means for where and how we deliver housing.
buff.ly
October 3, 2025 at 11:03 AM
📅 Centre for Cities on: The New Towns Taskforce report
Our housing and planning experts @antbreach.bsky.social and @mauricelange.bsky.social will introduce key takeaways from the report and what they mean for the Government’s housing delivery plans.
Register here👇
buff.ly/QM52C1a
Our housing and planning experts @antbreach.bsky.social and @mauricelange.bsky.social will introduce key takeaways from the report and what they mean for the Government’s housing delivery plans.
Register here👇
buff.ly/QM52C1a
Reposted
Branch campuses are popping up in university 'coldspots'. Would attracting one in be a good way to achieve local growth?
Possibly. Though often these outposts only pop up in places already with an offer - specific strengths in their local economy. Worth investing in these first.
👇
Possibly. Though often these outposts only pop up in places already with an offer - specific strengths in their local economy. Worth investing in these first.
👇
September 23, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Branch campuses are popping up in university 'coldspots'. Would attracting one in be a good way to achieve local growth?
Possibly. Though often these outposts only pop up in places already with an offer - specific strengths in their local economy. Worth investing in these first.
👇
Possibly. Though often these outposts only pop up in places already with an offer - specific strengths in their local economy. Worth investing in these first.
👇
Oxford and Cambridge account for more than a third of spin-outs that move from cities to the countryside, yet most settle in business parks on their peripheries. This reflects both the success of their local economies and the constraints of their current urban form.
Read the blog for more details⬇️
Read the blog for more details⬇️
BLOG | Spinning out: Are university spin-outs leaving cities for the countryside?
Cities are ‘nurseries’ for the creation of innovative firms that often end up elsewhere rather than ‘gardens’ where they take root🌱
Read our latest blog from @xuanrulin.bsky.social 👇
buff.ly/0RhafQR
Cities are ‘nurseries’ for the creation of innovative firms that often end up elsewhere rather than ‘gardens’ where they take root🌱
Read our latest blog from @xuanrulin.bsky.social 👇
buff.ly/0RhafQR
Spinning out: Are university spin-outs leaving cities for the countryside? - Centre for Cities
Many Oxford and Cambridge university spin-outs end up in business parks on the cities’ peripheries. This may reflect constraints on their urban form.
buff.ly
September 24, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Oxford and Cambridge account for more than a third of spin-outs that move from cities to the countryside, yet most settle in business parks on their peripheries. This reflects both the success of their local economies and the constraints of their current urban form.
Read the blog for more details⬇️
Read the blog for more details⬇️
Reposted
BLOG | Spinning out: Are university spin-outs leaving cities for the countryside?
Cities are ‘nurseries’ for the creation of innovative firms that often end up elsewhere rather than ‘gardens’ where they take root🌱
Read our latest blog from @xuanrulin.bsky.social 👇
buff.ly/0RhafQR
Cities are ‘nurseries’ for the creation of innovative firms that often end up elsewhere rather than ‘gardens’ where they take root🌱
Read our latest blog from @xuanrulin.bsky.social 👇
buff.ly/0RhafQR
Spinning out: Are university spin-outs leaving cities for the countryside? - Centre for Cities
Many Oxford and Cambridge university spin-outs end up in business parks on the cities’ peripheries. This may reflect constraints on their urban form.
buff.ly
September 16, 2025 at 8:48 AM
BLOG | Spinning out: Are university spin-outs leaving cities for the countryside?
Cities are ‘nurseries’ for the creation of innovative firms that often end up elsewhere rather than ‘gardens’ where they take root🌱
Read our latest blog from @xuanrulin.bsky.social 👇
buff.ly/0RhafQR
Cities are ‘nurseries’ for the creation of innovative firms that often end up elsewhere rather than ‘gardens’ where they take root🌱
Read our latest blog from @xuanrulin.bsky.social 👇
buff.ly/0RhafQR
Reposted
There is plenty to like about this pledge to help universities diversify income. But it really doesn't tackle the wider issues they face, or recognise their primary local roles in their home cities.
My blog on last week's announcement 👇
My blog on last week's announcement 👇
September 8, 2025 at 9:35 AM
There is plenty to like about this pledge to help universities diversify income. But it really doesn't tackle the wider issues they face, or recognise their primary local roles in their home cities.
My blog on last week's announcement 👇
My blog on last week's announcement 👇
Reposted
It's not just Oxbridge that are 'university towns' - they are a big presence in many other cities, often with struggling economies.
So @xuanrulin.bsky.social and I wanted to investigate the economic roles these institutions play in their cities, and what this might mean for national HE policy.
👇
So @xuanrulin.bsky.social and I wanted to investigate the economic roles these institutions play in their cities, and what this might mean for national HE policy.
👇
September 3, 2025 at 10:13 AM
It's not just Oxbridge that are 'university towns' - they are a big presence in many other cities, often with struggling economies.
So @xuanrulin.bsky.social and I wanted to investigate the economic roles these institutions play in their cities, and what this might mean for national HE policy.
👇
So @xuanrulin.bsky.social and I wanted to investigate the economic roles these institutions play in their cities, and what this might mean for national HE policy.
👇
UK universities are feeling the financial squeeze, and their future is uncertain.
So why does it matter? Our latest briefing breaks down the four big ways universities boost local economies - take a look⬇️
So why does it matter? Our latest briefing breaks down the four big ways universities boost local economies - take a look⬇️
NEW BRIEFING | Town and gown 🏙️🎓
How do local universities contribute to cities’ economic development as high-skilled employers, international exporters, catalysts for city-centre regeneration and innovators?
Read the briefing 🔎👇
buff.ly/qhkNzSi
How do local universities contribute to cities’ economic development as high-skilled employers, international exporters, catalysts for city-centre regeneration and innovators?
Read the briefing 🔎👇
buff.ly/qhkNzSi
September 3, 2025 at 10:51 AM
UK universities are feeling the financial squeeze, and their future is uncertain.
So why does it matter? Our latest briefing breaks down the four big ways universities boost local economies - take a look⬇️
So why does it matter? Our latest briefing breaks down the four big ways universities boost local economies - take a look⬇️
Reposted
BLOG | A tale of four cities: what local economic role do their universities play? 🎓
🔍@__robjohnson__ takes a look at Plymouth, Exeter, Coventry and Cambridge as examples for what different university roles mean for pursuing local growth.
Read now👇
buff.ly/qbbK0Ek
🔍@__robjohnson__ takes a look at Plymouth, Exeter, Coventry and Cambridge as examples for what different university roles mean for pursuing local growth.
Read now👇
buff.ly/qbbK0Ek
September 3, 2025 at 10:01 AM
BLOG | A tale of four cities: what local economic role do their universities play? 🎓
🔍@__robjohnson__ takes a look at Plymouth, Exeter, Coventry and Cambridge as examples for what different university roles mean for pursuing local growth.
Read now👇
buff.ly/qbbK0Ek
🔍@__robjohnson__ takes a look at Plymouth, Exeter, Coventry and Cambridge as examples for what different university roles mean for pursuing local growth.
Read now👇
buff.ly/qbbK0Ek
Reposted
PODCAST | The role of universities in city economies 🎙️
@andrewcities.bsky.social chats with the authors of our latest briefing 'Town and Gown' @rjson.bsky.social and @xuanrulin.bsky.social about the key ways in which universities contribute to city economies 🎓
Listen now 🎧👇
buff.ly/mBozliW
@andrewcities.bsky.social chats with the authors of our latest briefing 'Town and Gown' @rjson.bsky.social and @xuanrulin.bsky.social about the key ways in which universities contribute to city economies 🎓
Listen now 🎧👇
buff.ly/mBozliW
September 3, 2025 at 9:01 AM
PODCAST | The role of universities in city economies 🎙️
@andrewcities.bsky.social chats with the authors of our latest briefing 'Town and Gown' @rjson.bsky.social and @xuanrulin.bsky.social about the key ways in which universities contribute to city economies 🎓
Listen now 🎧👇
buff.ly/mBozliW
@andrewcities.bsky.social chats with the authors of our latest briefing 'Town and Gown' @rjson.bsky.social and @xuanrulin.bsky.social about the key ways in which universities contribute to city economies 🎓
Listen now 🎧👇
buff.ly/mBozliW
France, Germany and Japan all build more homes than England - both nationally and in their major cities.
What explains the gap? Check here to see what their planning systems have in common, and how England’s approach differs⬇️
What explains the gap? Check here to see what their planning systems have in common, and how England’s approach differs⬇️
NEW @centreforcities.bsky.social REPORT OUT TODAY!
In Planorama, Luka and I argue that if we want English planning to perform more like its international peers – Germany, France and Japan - it needs to BE more like them.
🧵 on what that means...
In Planorama, Luka and I argue that if we want English planning to perform more like its international peers – Germany, France and Japan - it needs to BE more like them.
🧵 on what that means...
REPORT | Planorama: How the English planning system can learn from abroad 🌍
This report looks at the commonalities between France, Germany and Japan's planning systems, and how the English system differs.
🧵👇
buff.ly/aiJzIL9
This report looks at the commonalities between France, Germany and Japan's planning systems, and how the English system differs.
🧵👇
buff.ly/aiJzIL9
August 1, 2025 at 9:11 AM
France, Germany and Japan all build more homes than England - both nationally and in their major cities.
What explains the gap? Check here to see what their planning systems have in common, and how England’s approach differs⬇️
What explains the gap? Check here to see what their planning systems have in common, and how England’s approach differs⬇️
Reposted
NEW REPORT | Checking out: The varying performance of high streets across the country 🛍️
Our new report finds that that there is large variation between the performance of city centre high streets.
🧵👇
buff.ly/UfCfnlF
Our new report finds that that there is large variation between the performance of city centre high streets.
🧵👇
buff.ly/UfCfnlF
July 10, 2025 at 7:01 AM
NEW REPORT | Checking out: The varying performance of high streets across the country 🛍️
Our new report finds that that there is large variation between the performance of city centre high streets.
🧵👇
buff.ly/UfCfnlF
Our new report finds that that there is large variation between the performance of city centre high streets.
🧵👇
buff.ly/UfCfnlF
Exciting to see our work featured in MHCLG’s latest housing stats release!🙌
I'm really pleased about this! Our big local housebuilding data digitisation project has been recognised in MHCLG's newest housing statistics release
It was a massive effort from the team @antbreach.bsky.social @jrevans.bsky.social @xuanrulin.bsky.social
It was a massive effort from the team @antbreach.bsky.social @jrevans.bsky.social @xuanrulin.bsky.social
June 20, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Exciting to see our work featured in MHCLG’s latest housing stats release!🙌
BtR is now an important part of housing growth in large cities, where private developers have struggled to keep up.
Want to see where it’s happening across the UK and how it’s helping deliver new homes?
Check out our latest briefing⬇️ or explore the highlights in the 🧵
Want to see where it’s happening across the UK and how it’s helping deliver new homes?
Check out our latest briefing⬇️ or explore the highlights in the 🧵
May 21, 2025 at 9:04 AM
BtR is now an important part of housing growth in large cities, where private developers have struggled to keep up.
Want to see where it’s happening across the UK and how it’s helping deliver new homes?
Check out our latest briefing⬇️ or explore the highlights in the 🧵
Want to see where it’s happening across the UK and how it’s helping deliver new homes?
Check out our latest briefing⬇️ or explore the highlights in the 🧵
Reposted
What could the Planning & Infrastructure Bill mean for the new towns? 🏘️
The Bill lays the foundations it's up to Government to put them in the right places and ensure they are the best they can be.
Read our latest blog from @mauricelange.bsky.social 👇
The Bill lays the foundations it's up to Government to put them in the right places and ensure they are the best they can be.
Read our latest blog from @mauricelange.bsky.social 👇
What could the Planning and Infrastructure Bill mean for the new towns? - Centre for Cities
The Planning & Infrastructure Bill lays the foundations for new towns. Now it is up to Government to put them in the right places and ensure that they are the best they can be.
buff.ly
March 19, 2025 at 9:30 AM
What could the Planning & Infrastructure Bill mean for the new towns? 🏘️
The Bill lays the foundations it's up to Government to put them in the right places and ensure they are the best they can be.
Read our latest blog from @mauricelange.bsky.social 👇
The Bill lays the foundations it's up to Government to put them in the right places and ensure they are the best they can be.
Read our latest blog from @mauricelange.bsky.social 👇
Reposted
Where is population growing? 📈
#CitiesOutlook2025 showed Milton Keynes, Northampton and Peterborough as the fastest-growing cities in terms of population over the last decade.
This blog from @xuanrulin.bsky.social looks at what’s behind this growth👇
#CitiesOutlook2025 showed Milton Keynes, Northampton and Peterborough as the fastest-growing cities in terms of population over the last decade.
This blog from @xuanrulin.bsky.social looks at what’s behind this growth👇
Where population is growing - Milton Keynes, Northampton
Cities Outlook 2025 showed Milton Keynes, Northampton and Peterborough as the fastest-growing cities over the last decade.
buff.ly
February 24, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Where is population growing? 📈
#CitiesOutlook2025 showed Milton Keynes, Northampton and Peterborough as the fastest-growing cities in terms of population over the last decade.
This blog from @xuanrulin.bsky.social looks at what’s behind this growth👇
#CitiesOutlook2025 showed Milton Keynes, Northampton and Peterborough as the fastest-growing cities in terms of population over the last decade.
This blog from @xuanrulin.bsky.social looks at what’s behind this growth👇
Historical data shows the Green Belt quickly achieved its goal of urban containment since its introduction in 1955.
Today, it is a major obstacle to meeting the government’s housing targets, with green belt authorities around the capital facing the largest housebuilding shortfalls.
Today, it is a major obstacle to meeting the government’s housing targets, with green belt authorities around the capital facing the largest housebuilding shortfalls.
January 31, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Historical data shows the Green Belt quickly achieved its goal of urban containment since its introduction in 1955.
Today, it is a major obstacle to meeting the government’s housing targets, with green belt authorities around the capital facing the largest housebuilding shortfalls.
Today, it is a major obstacle to meeting the government’s housing targets, with green belt authorities around the capital facing the largest housebuilding shortfalls.
Reposted
Delighted to be able to release the data from the @centreforcities.bsky.social Restarting Housebuilding series on GitHub today. We are making the most comprehensive dataset that exists on housebuilding at the local level in England since 1946 available for wider use. github.com/CentreforCit...
GitHub - CentreforCities/local_housebuilding_1946_2022: Local authority housebuilding data 1946-2022, digitised in 2024 by Centre for Cities
Local authority housebuilding data 1946-2022, digitised in 2024 by Centre for Cities - GitHub - CentreforCities/local_housebuilding_1946_2022: Local authority housebuilding data 1946-2022, digitis...
github.com
January 23, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Delighted to be able to release the data from the @centreforcities.bsky.social Restarting Housebuilding series on GitHub today. We are making the most comprehensive dataset that exists on housebuilding at the local level in England since 1946 available for wider use. github.com/CentreforCit...
Reposted
📢#CitiesOutlook2025, our annual health check of UK cities economic performance, is out now.
🏙️🔎2025 needs to be a year of growth delivery by the Government. What must policy do to boost wages across the country?
Read the report 👇
https://buff.ly/3DPaUp0
🏙️🔎2025 needs to be a year of growth delivery by the Government. What must policy do to boost wages across the country?
Read the report 👇
https://buff.ly/3DPaUp0
January 20, 2025 at 6:00 AM
📢#CitiesOutlook2025, our annual health check of UK cities economic performance, is out now.
🏙️🔎2025 needs to be a year of growth delivery by the Government. What must policy do to boost wages across the country?
Read the report 👇
https://buff.ly/3DPaUp0
🏙️🔎2025 needs to be a year of growth delivery by the Government. What must policy do to boost wages across the country?
Read the report 👇
https://buff.ly/3DPaUp0
Check out my blog on demolitions: what happened in the postwar period and the lessons for today🏙️
A return to 1960s demolition rates is unlikely, but efforts to improve housing quality should include higher demolition rates of privately owned stock, with a flexible zoning system and public fundings.
A return to 1960s demolition rates is unlikely, but efforts to improve housing quality should include higher demolition rates of privately owned stock, with a flexible zoning system and public fundings.
Brilliant blog from colleague @xuanrulin.bsky.social diving into the dirty D-word in UK housing policy - Demolitions.
The private sector simply doesn't demolish as much as it should. This is a function of the planning system - market doesn't respond as it should, particularly in high value cities.
The private sector simply doesn't demolish as much as it should. This is a function of the planning system - market doesn't respond as it should, particularly in high value cities.
December 20, 2024 at 4:49 PM
Check out my blog on demolitions: what happened in the postwar period and the lessons for today🏙️
A return to 1960s demolition rates is unlikely, but efforts to improve housing quality should include higher demolition rates of privately owned stock, with a flexible zoning system and public fundings.
A return to 1960s demolition rates is unlikely, but efforts to improve housing quality should include higher demolition rates of privately owned stock, with a flexible zoning system and public fundings.
Reposted
Where should the new towns go? And why is our thinking on new towns important for more than just new towns?
Read my new report for @centreforcities.bsky.social – out today!
Read my new report for @centreforcities.bsky.social – out today!
December 10, 2024 at 3:21 PM
Where should the new towns go? And why is our thinking on new towns important for more than just new towns?
Read my new report for @centreforcities.bsky.social – out today!
Read my new report for @centreforcities.bsky.social – out today!
Reposted
Deck the malls: which cities are Christmas visitor hotspots? 🎄
Christmas is a period when visitor spend in UK cities grows across the country, with an increase in 2023 of around 12 per cent on the prior two months🎁
Read our latest blog from @oscarselby.bsky.social👇
loom.ly/qb8fyD8
Christmas is a period when visitor spend in UK cities grows across the country, with an increase in 2023 of around 12 per cent on the prior two months🎁
Read our latest blog from @oscarselby.bsky.social👇
loom.ly/qb8fyD8
Deck the malls: which cities are Christmas visitor hotspots? - Centre for Cities
This blog looks at the period between November 5th - when the Oxford Street Christmas lights come on - until the last day of Christmas shopping on December 24th to see where the UK’s Christmas visitor...
loom.ly
December 11, 2024 at 9:34 AM
Deck the malls: which cities are Christmas visitor hotspots? 🎄
Christmas is a period when visitor spend in UK cities grows across the country, with an increase in 2023 of around 12 per cent on the prior two months🎁
Read our latest blog from @oscarselby.bsky.social👇
loom.ly/qb8fyD8
Christmas is a period when visitor spend in UK cities grows across the country, with an increase in 2023 of around 12 per cent on the prior two months🎁
Read our latest blog from @oscarselby.bsky.social👇
loom.ly/qb8fyD8