Nearly three years since planning approval from Cardiff Council the Welsh Government has still to make a final decision on Cardiff Parkway project.
More than two years and waiting for a Welsh Government planning decision on the Cardiff Parkway project is indefensible and only serving to deter investment into Wales says Huw Thomas leader of Cardiff Council in seen letter to the First Minister.
The Port of Cork Ringaskiddy Redevelopment is the first project named in the revised National Planning Framework published by the Government of Ireland today and noted as a signature project along with planned investments at Dublin Airport, Dublin Port and Shannon Foynes Port. The recognition of the importance of ports and airports to an island nation in the overarching document for future growth and development is significant and positive. The National Planning Framework (NPF) is the Government’s high-level strategic plan for shaping the future growth and development of our country out to the year 2040. The complexity in funding these critical strategic assets is also noted and significant: ‘The key ports and airports are State owned commercial entities with the capacity to raise their own finance and operate profitably. Hence, the need for Exchequer financing of the key strategic projects does not arise. However, enhanced access to these national infrastructure transport services, which are of strategic importance for Ireland’s connectivity, will require Exchequer funding.’ Given impending deadlines the progression of Port of Cork Company Ltd.'s Ringaskiddy Redevelopment cannot wait for the NPF to be approved in October, nor can the NPF be approved without clarity on this project that underpins the aims of Project Ireland 2040. I hope decisions on Cork Harbour that Ireland needs will be made before the Houses of the Oireachtas enter recess this week. In the words of someone who famously understood the strategic importance of Cork Harbour, perfection is the enemy of progress. https://www.npf.ie/
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I couldn't let this excellent article by Eric Keys pass without commenting. The scale of public investment associated with SRL is enormous. It could crowd out funding for other transport project for decades to come, including, potentially the future stages of the project. Communities in Melbourne's west and north are already underserved by (public) transport choices compared to the east; this project will only further entrench this and exacerbate inequality. Funding needed to create the conditions for the land use changes (jobs and dwelling growth around the station precincts) is also considerable. When costs associated with mega projects inevitably increase, the things that are cut are the interventions to catalyse these urban changes. Without the intensification of activity around the stations, this project risks ending up in the 'roads to nowhere, bridges over puddles' category. Funding for public transport (and active transport) is crucial, if we want our city to grow in a way that we're proud of. Investment in the right projects can re-shape the city and create opportunities that previously didn't exist. But it's not clear (as Eric notes) Why this project? Why now? And why not explore alternatives? https://lnkd.in/grh9hw3u
Lower Thames Crossing planning decision delayed until May 2025. The Government has delayed its decision on whether to award development consent for the £9bn Lower Thames Crossing project, fuelling concerns over its future. The decision was originally expected in June but was put back when the General Election was called. Under a revised programme, incoming Transport Secretary Louise Haigh was due to make a decision by 4 October. Haigh said the deadline was now to be further extended to 23 May 2025 in order to allow “more time for the application to be considered further, including any decisions made as part of the spending review”. The new road, totalling 23km with twin tunnels under the Thames, would connect to the A2 and M2 in Kent and the A13 and junction 29 of the M25 on the north side of the Thames. The project has been promoted as crucial for reducing congestion at the Dartford Crossing and supporting the government’s infrastructure and housing growth missions. It is also seen as an important test bed for innovative approaches to low-carbon design and construction. Environmental groups have raised significant opposition, citing various concerns about its ecological and environmental impact. And while the project will alleviate congestion at the Dartford Crossing, in the long-term, critics argue, it will increase overall traffic in the region and further foster car dependency. A joint venture between Bouygues Travaux Publics and Murphy is earmarked to deliver the main 4.2km long tunnel section for the massive Lower Thames Crossing project... Find out more 👉 https://lnkd.in/eXzb6s-B #LowerThamesCrossing #construction #constructionindustry
Several major transit projects are unfolding in and around Liberty Village BIA. While these projects represent a significant long-term investment and future benefit, they will involve many years of construction, impacting the BIA and the broader community. To better understand the impacts of this construction on people living and working in the area, the Liberty Village BIA undertook a Research and Needs Assessment Project with Third Party Public. The purpose of this project is to: - Understand different stakeholders’ pain points and concerns about construction impacts - Identify the “top problems” worth solving - Propose solutions to address construction-related challenges (including implementation and phasing) Attached is the Current State Report which includes information gathered through a background review and stakeholder engagement and covers: - The construction projects’ details, timelines, and anticipated impacts - What’s already happening to mitigate impacts - What we heard about pain points, problems worth solving, and solutions The Recommendations Report identifies the major impacts of transit-related construction in Liberty Village and solutions the LVBIA could pursue to mitigate the impacts of construction on local businesses and commercial properties. "The project has been graciously funded through the City of Toronto Construction Mitigation Grant Program and the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario | Agence fédérale de ...
With a Labour government taking office, significant changes in UK planning are expected. Labour's key promises include a new National Planning Policy Framework within 100 days, mandatory local housing targets, and relaxing Green Belt rules to promote development. They also plan to develop new towns, set an ambitious target of 1.5 million new homes, and prioritize economic growth through infrastructure projects. These measures aim to boost housing supply and create jobs, but may face opposition from local communities and environmental groups. Only time will tell what such an outcome will be…
New towns, 1.5million homes and renewing the UK’s infrastructure…. what the new government has promised for the built environment: Keir Starmer’s party has won a large majority as many expected. As we gear up for the first Labour government for 14 years, here is a reminder of what they have pledged for the built environment #architecture #news
Rachel Reeves, Chancellor, is set to unveil a planning revolution, placing construction at the forefront of UK economic growth. The industry is seeing significant activity, with overseas buyers injecting cash, nearly 3,000 student beds planned in Glasgow and Newcastle, and an 88-apartment residential scheme submitted. Army barracks across England and Wales are slated for upgrades and expansion. Joint ventures are delivering Build to Rent schemes, while architects like James Stirling's modernist jewel are receiving overhauls. Despite a 40% drop in contract awards to top firms in June, progress continues rapidly at various megasites. Thavies Inn House offices from the 1950s will be rebuilt as a green Cat A office, and work is restarting on a 131-home scheme in Nottinghamshire. The Crown Commercial Service prepares to announce bid race plans, and contractors secure projects with developers like Logicor. Although the planning decision on the 74-storey One Undershaft tower is postponed, Get Living starts consultations for 500 homes on its final parcel of land. LDD Construction enjoys a record order book and opens a new regional office. Civils contractors call for urgent action on paused critical infrastructure projects. Jersey Wharf is set to provide 190 flats, while a contractor prepares to sign a deal for an AI-ready campus in Docklands.
King's Speech Highlights Sustainability Push: Are You Ready for the Future of Buildings? The #HouseOfLords returned earlier this week, for oath-taking ahead of the State Opening of Parliament. This marked the official start of the new parliamentary session. During the ceremony, which took place on Wednesday 17 July, King Charles delivered his speech outlining the government's agenda for the coming year. This gave us a glimpse into key priorities, and one that stood out for us was the UK’s commitment to a greener future. This includes a focus on #SustainableBuilding practices, which is crucial considering the significant contribution of building and construction to carbon emissions. For a comprehensive overview of the King's Speech and its implications for the built and natural environment, check out the RICS analysis: https://lnkd.in/epPuh3NR But how can businesses contribute? As building and construction contribute significantly to carbon emissions, sustainable building practices are becoming crucial. Sustainable building practices like #EnergyEfficientDesign, #RenewableEnergyIntegration, and #ResponsibleMaterialsSelection can dramatically reduce a building's environmental impact. Is your property meeting current energy efficiency standards? Karsons Consulting helps developers and businesses navigate the evolving landscape and achieve #SustainabilityGoals. Share your biggest hurdle when it comes to sustainable building practices in the comments below. Whether it's cost concerns, technical expertise, or navigating regulations, Karsons Consulting has the experience and resources to help you overcome these challenges. #KingsSpeech #UKParliament2024 #SustainableBuildings
Excited to share my recent submission to the Victorian Government’s Plan Victoria strategy consultation! In it, I present actionable solutions to the housing affordability crisis and introduce a fresh approach that ties together planning, construction labour force capacities, transport, infrastructure, and livability. Some of the key proposals include: * Maximizing Housing Output: By analysing labour intensity in different housing forms, I propose planning controls that optimise our limited construction labour supply, ensuring more homes can be built efficiently. * Innovative Infrastructure Funding: A unique development contribution model—with no levies—leverages land value uplift from government decisions and state government land sales to fully cover infrastructure costs, enabling developments to be fully serviced early on. * Balancing Density and Sprawl: While promoting higher densities within the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) to limit sprawl, my submission recognizes the need for modest UGB expansions over tome to maintain a long-term land supply and keep housing affordable. * Infill Development Strategy: I advocate for a selective approach to infill development that considers infrastructure and open space capacity, moving away from one-size-fits-all policies. * Reducing Traffic Congestion: I propose a congestion tax paired with an express bus system to reduce car dependency, ease congestion, and improve access to jobs. How can buses reduce congestion? A bus carrying 70 people takes a fraction of the space on the road of 70 cars or even 5 cars, therefore buses can be a game changer for congestion if they are well utilised and the use of a bus displaces someone's use of a car. These proposals also address two major challenges for climate change mitigation: the carbon footprint of current development patterns and the environmental impact of our transportation systems. Even if the chances of adoption are slim, bold proposals like these are necessary to spark meaningful change. And if there's a small chance that these ideas can contribute in some way to solving the housing affordability crisis, streamlining infrastructure provision, and mitigating climate change, it was worth the effort. All views expressed in the submission are solely my own
”Ireland could really do with another TK Whitaker-type plan" William Fry Chairman and Head of Projects & Construction, Liam McCabe speaks to the Financial Times on Ireland's need for a renewed vision in terms of the country's infrastructure and its economic future. Read the full article here. #WilliamFry #FinancialTimes #IrelandEconomy
Opinion: Ireland’s recent and ongoing planning reforms offer a significant opportunity to reshape the country’s development landscape. With bold policies and a stronger legal framework, the nation has a chance to unlock land, integrate infrastructure, and drive innovation. Notwithstanding, the key question remains: will these reforms be enough to overcome entrenched barriers and deliver the sustainable, compact growth that Ireland urgently needs?
