Where are the projected 400 million air travelers coming to London supposed to land? Prime Minister David Cameron is caught between two politically difficult choices for how to manage the projected growth in passengers.
Coming off the crush of Olympic-sized tourism, pressures are again upon London to continue its expansion of its transportation network, this time at its airports. One such proposition is the construction of a brand-new airport. "The most ambitious is advocated by Norman Foster, one of Britain's most celebrated architects, who has called for an integrated air and high-speed rail hub built partly on reclaimed land adjacent to the Isle of Grain, on the south side of the Thames estuary about 40 miles from central London," reports The New York Times' John F. Burns.
With costs estimated to reach $80-$100 billion and a multi-decade timeframe, the new airport is a sizable gamble. The other option, building a third runway at Heathrow Airport, was canceled by Cameron's government two days after taking office.
Yet, as Burns states, "[w]ithout the additional runway [at Heathrow Airport], or a commitment soon to a new estuary airport, experts say, Britain will eventually become an aviation backwater." That, and concerns regarding the general economy remain high in Britain. The proposed estuary airport could create as many as 100,000 jobs.
FULL STORY: New Urgency on Airport Plan for Britain’s Cameron

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

Charlottesville Temporarily Has No Zoning Code
A judge ordered the Virginia city to throw out its newly revised zoning code, leaving permitting for new development in legal limbo.

In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won
A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.

Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide
Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont