United Kingdom

The Popularity of 'Boring' Architecture and Planning

In a professional critique of his master plan for the new town of Poundbury in England - one of the first new towns under Prince Charles' Foundation for the Built Environment - Leon Krier reveals that the plan was 'meant to be boring'.

November 10, 2008 - bd

Parks Are Good For Your Health

Researchers in Scotland have concluded that areas without parks and green space have an increased risk of death and illness.

November 9, 2008 - BBC News

How New Retail Can Revitalize Cities

Where traditional shopping malls were all about creating retail-only internal spaces, new retail developments are mixing uses and returning to the street.

November 9, 2008 - Building Design

Britain To Try Road Tolling By Mileage

Transportation officials in Britain have announced plans for a road pricing system that tracks drivers' mileage to determine charges.

November 9, 2008 - The Times

Is 'Planning Gain' Really A Loss?

This article looks at the concept of "planning gain" -- in which cities gain amenities as concessions for allowing big developments -- and finds that the benefits are often outweighed.

November 8, 2008 - Evening Standard

Friday Funny: Mistranslation Ends Up on Road Sign

In Swansea, U.K., planners requested a translation via email of a road sign into Welsh. What they got back was not quite what they expected.

November 7, 2008 - BBC News

'Eco-Town' Plans Falter in UK

The UK's "eco-towns" are feeling the hurt of the current economic situation, with only one or two likely to move ahead.

October 30, 2008 - Guardian

Distribution of Waste

Dow Jones Architects of London are proposing to create "waste towers", designed to compress waste locally before transporting to landfills outside the city.

October 25, 2008 - BLDBLOG

Dyson Says Planning is 'A Blight on Progress'

James Dyson, the engineer who appears in vacuum cleaner ads in the States, rails against planners in Bath, England who he claims thwarted the engineering school he was attempting to found there.

October 17, 2008 - The Architect's Journal

Urban Explorers Venture into the Abandoned and Unknown

A growing group of people in Britain have taken to breaking into abandoned buildings and facilities. But they're not breaking in to steal things, or to squat. They just want to check the places out, which they call "urban exploring".

October 5, 2008 - The Independent

Dangerous Pockets of Methane Gas Discovered

Scientists along Russia's northern coast are reporting that methane, a greenhouse gas twenty times more potent than carbon dioxide, is being released into the atmosphere at an alarming new rate.

September 25, 2008 - The Independent

No Slowing Floodplain Development in Britain

Floodplain development has proven time and time again to be big trouble when heavy rains come. But in Britain, that's not stopping it.

September 13, 2008 - Guardian

Creating the Future in 'Transition Towns'

The "Transition Towns" movement -- a grassroots initiative to develop local energy and economic self-reliance -- is gathering momentum, especially in the UK.

September 11, 2008 - Guardian (UK)

Fighting for Height

Architect Richard Murphy's masterplan for Edinburgh's Haymarket is facing complaints about the height of the hotel. Murphy says, 'Our hotel will breach the skyline, and a jolly good thing too.'

September 6, 2008 - bd

The Quest for the Perfect City

The director of the Design Museum in London reflects on the mostly unfortunate quest for perfection in city planning and architecture, as the museum's new exhibit, Design Cities, opens.

September 3, 2008 - The Times Online

U.K. Planners Failing to Account for Women

A new study shows that city planners aren't following the guidelines established in last year's Gender Equality Duty, which requires planners to consider the different ways that women use public space.

September 2, 2008 - University of Cambridge

Group Says Public Drinking Ban Violates Public Space

Calling it a violation of public spaces, a new report from a civil liberties group in the UK has criticized the banning of public drinking in more than 600 places in England and Wales.

August 21, 2008 - Telegraph

The Rise of the 'House Cow'

With the price of food climbing, some families in the U.K. are taking to keeping small Dexter cows.

August 19, 2008 - The Sunday Times

The New King of Scotland

Allan Murray's architectural vision is habing a signficant influence on the future of development in Edinburgh. This column from The Times wonders if putting the future of a city in one man's hands is such a good idea.

August 15, 2008 - The Times

Friday Funny: Monkey Headed Southbound

Commuters on Ireland's N11 expressway were surprised to find that the cause of a massive traffic jam was a monkey on the loose.

August 8, 2008 - The Irish Times

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.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.