Fiona Howie

Osborn Research Assistant (New Towns and Garden Cities)  - Town and Country Planning Association We have an exciting opportunity to join the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) as the Osborn Research Assistant.

📢 We're hiring! Osborn Research Assistant (New Towns & Garden Cities) This role works on a range of projects, with an emphasis on large-scale new communities inc. New Towns & Garden Cities.
Salary: £26 -28k p.a. Deadline: 1 Sep 2pm. www.tcpa.org.uk/osborn-resea...
#CharityJob #ResearchJob

Sign in water stating ‘caution - manatee area’

Haven’t spotted one yet but I live in hope. #summerhols

Life on the Front Line III

Do you work in the fast-paced, ever-changing, rock and roll world of town and country planning?

If so I would be grateful if you could take a few moments to have a read of this (and even more grateful if you would then share it as widely as possible).

samuelstafford.blogspot.com/2025/07/life...

Friday night at Yankee Stadium @ny-yankees.bsky.social

Off on hols tomorrow. Have to get up at 5am but have spent the last hour cleaning the kitchen because I don’t want the neighbour who will pop in to feed the cats to think I am slovenly.

Watched some women’s rugby league earlier today. Come on London Broncos!

An old suit of armour

Am back in Malvern for a couple of days and have spotted this gem for sale… Just wondering how I could get it back on the train.

Marks and Spencer strawberry and crème sandwich

Exciting times in the Howie household tonight…

Final day of LGA conference. Been a busy few days - lots of discussions on @thetcpa.bsky.social stand about new towns, planning for climate change, and the need for healthy homes. Also went to the Cratus disco last night!

This isn't about any specific decisions recently, but surely we need to move away from the outrage in the media about u-turns from government. Not always the case, but any government listening to legitimate concerns raised and making necessary amendments seems both reasonable and appropriate.

👋 We're at the LGA Conference in Liverpool. Please drop by to Booth C41 to say hello!

#LGAConf25 #LocalGovernment #LGA #TCPA

We did. But I am now glowing…

Second stop was Marmalade Lane - was so engrossed I didn’t take any photos.

Fear have also got a sunburnt forehead.

Day 2 of @thetcpa.bsky.social study tour. Stop this morning was Northstowe.

Third annual Stockfield Road street party.

London derby - Surrey vs Middlesex @kiaoval.com

When you say 'you can', I think you maybe mean some people could!

@thetcpa.bsky.social is in Parliament this morning in our capacity as secretariat of the All Party Parliamentary Group on #NewTowns. The APPG meeting will focus on regeneration across the UK’s 32 post-war New Towns, with the aim of learning from existing schemes to inform future renewal strategies.

Over half of English councils face insolvency under £5bn deficit, MPs warn Public accounts committee calls on government to urgently address deficit on high needs spending hitting at end of financial year Councils in England face being overwhelmed by billions of pounds in debts and reforms that are divorced from reality, according to an influential committee of MPs. In its inquiry into local government finances, the public accounts committee (PAC) told the Treasury and other departments to urgently address the estimated £5bn deficit on high needs spending – mainly on special educational needs – that will hit council balance sheets at the end of the financial year, potentially driving many insolvent. Continue reading...

Over half of English councils face insolvency under £5bn deficit, MPs warn

The highlight of my trot around the block this evening was seeing chalk drawings on the pavement. Hop scotch, four square (aka king sq, I think), and some dolphins. Was joyful.

There is still time to register for the workshop being held tomorrow (Wed 18th) about shaping the future of London.

Please help promote and share.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shape-the-...

Sunny evening in Cambridge

Planning Aid for London Planning Aid for London

Planning Aid for London (PAL) is running 2 workshops to help people shape the future of London & contribute ideas for responses to the Mayor of London’s consultation, Towards a new London Plan.

Mon 16 June 6pm E1W 2AP
Wed 18 June 6pm SE1 0HX

Info & register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/planning-a...

Agree LAs and HAs are focused on existing stock but also understand quality of S106 homes by house builders is why some HAs don’t want to buy them. HAs focused on long term quality for their residents inc low energy bills. Private sector S106 homes not all delivering that.

The role of infrastructure in good growth – Academy of Social Sciences

What role can infrastructure play in delivering “the right kind of growth, shared by all”?

In this @acadsocsciences.bsky.social blog, @michaelkenny.bsky.social and I explore some of the lessons that can be learnt from our @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk work.

One of our members has just reminded me that @thetcpa.bsky.social is 126 years old today.

[Suggestions for a fun birthday/anniversary GIF welcome]

🎂

At a @jrf-uk.bsky.social and @prospectmagazine.co.uk panel discussion on bold steps needed to deliver affordable homes. Interesting to hear about experiences in Finland and Spain. In the former they have almost tackled homelessness through continued investment in state subsidised affordable homes.

Planning Aid for London is running a workshop to support people to feed into the consultation on a new London Plan. Please consider coming along if relevant - or help us spread the word.

Early evening trot around Tooting Common

Thank you to @cprecountryside.bsky.social for hosting an interesting discussion this morning about how to diversify housing delivery. Very much enjoyed the venue as well. A little green oasis tucked away near London Victoria.