Spatial Policy & Analysis Lab

A free flat for a fortnight: the German city offering perks to fight depopulation Eisenhüttenstadt, once a socialist vision but now at risk of becoming a ghost town, seeks to ditch its far-right image

Interesting article about how East Germany's Eisenhüttenstadt (iron hut town) wants to fight depopulation: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

The latest issue of Town & Country Planning journal will soon be in the post!

In this free preview article, Prachi Rampuria, Soham De and Peter Neal discuss the masterplan for a sustainable urban extension to Letchworth, the world’s first Garden City: www.tcpa.org.uk/sample-journ...

Three weeks on: How our high streets report sparked a national conversation - Centre for Cities Central government has an active role in improving high streets' performance and renewing city centres.

✍️ Three weeks on: How our high streets report sparked a national conversation...

@andrewcities.bsky.social reflects on the feedback received and discussions had in response to our recent report Checking Out 👇

Research Associate: Mission Oriented Innovation Policy for Sustainability:Manchester

We’re hiring! Join us at MIOIR as a Postdoc on an international project exploring why mission-oriented policies for sustainability sometimes fail—and how to fix them. 🌱
 
Collaborate with teams in Canada and Poland on real-world policy challenges.
 
🗓 Apply by 12 Sept 👉 bit.ly/4oc0QJh

UN's top court says healthy environment is a human right Experts say the non-binding advisory opinion could mark a turning point in international climate law.

Cities, closest to people and communities, are already scaling up solutions and driving progress through subnational collaboration, delivering faster, fairer, more inclusive climate action. A greener, more just future is still within reach, but we must act now. www.euronews.com/green/2025/0...

Trees on city streets cope with drought by drinking from leaky pipes Urban trees lining streets fare better in dry spells than those in parks – now it seems that leaky water pipes are the reason for their endurance

Trees growing on city streets are more resistant to drought than trees in parks because they are drinking from an unusual water source: leaky pipes.

Professor Ada Wossink leads key discussions at Westminster Energy Forum Ada Wossink, Professor of Environmental Economics, delivered a keynote address and chaired part of the proceedings at the Westminster Energy, Environment & Transport Forum conference.The event provide...

🌿 Shaping the future of land use and natural capital.

Professor Ada Wossink led key discussions at the Westminster Energy, Environment, and Transport Forum conference, shaping conversations on ecosystem preservation, climate adaptation & land use.

🔗 Read more: www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/p...

Research funder pivots to tackle UK’s ‘five biggest challenges’ Nuffield Foundation says it wants to generate ‘viable solutions to the key social questions facing the country’ under new strategic direction

A key funder for social policy research is shifting its strategic focus to tackle what it called the UK’s five biggest social and economic challenges, backed by a £150 million investment, reports @patrickjack.bsky.social
#AcademicSky

Congratulations to our PPEM colleagues on being shortlisted for the RTPI's Patsy Healey Award for Academic Excellence!

Meet the SEED Change-makers: how students are driving social impact at Manchester What happens when students are given the space, support, and encouragement to take action on the issues they care most about? At The University of Manchester’s School of Environment, Education and Dev...

What happens when students are given the space, support, and encouragement to take action on the issues they care most about?

The SEED Change-maker programme provides our students with the tools, confidence and platform to turn passion into action.

We're two years in, and just getting started

We won’t let residents block big new towns, says planning minister Labour has pledged to build ­1.5 million homes over the parliament, a goal that requires a doubling or more of present building rates

This Labour government is bringing forward the next generation of new towns.

In doing so, we want the active support of local leaders and communities, but be in no doubt that site selection will ultimately be based on what is in the national interest.

www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

🎓 Congratulations to our @manchester.ac.uk humanities graduates!

From languages to law, philosophy to social sciences, our graduates are turning their studies into action for a fairer, more inclusive world. 🌎

Read more ⤵️
www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/h...

Nuno's project 'Coproducing a research agenda for responsible & transparent AI-capabilities for decision support in urban governance' aims to co-produce a research agenda for responsible & transparent AI capabilities that genuinely help with decision-making in urban governance

Cecilia's project 'Land commodification & housing affordability under capitalist urbanisation: Global dynamics & local resistance in Peru UK & US' examines how intensified financial capitalism & speculative real estate dynamics are deepening housing precarity across global cities

Congratulations to our members Cecilia Wong and Nuno Pinto who have both received @urbanstudiesfoundation.org Seminar Series Awards. Full details from the Urban Studies Foundation: t.co/myNJYdqefq

We bring together expertise in integrating spatial thinking, methods, and techniques into the planning, policy, and governance of cities and regions. We provide understanding into and solutions for the grand challenges facing cities and regions.

More: www.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/planning/res...

Hello Bluesky! We're the Spatial Policy & Analysis Lab - a group of researchers in the Dept of Planning, Property & Environmental Management at the University of Manchester

We are happy to reveal the fourteen projects supported in our 2025 Seminar Series Awards!
👉 Read more about the grants here: www.urbanstudiesfoundation.org/2025/07/09/a...

Milestone devolution bill offers new powers for mayors but resourcing concerns remain, says RTPI

Today's milestone English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill offers new powers for mayors — but resourcing concerns remain.

Read our statement for more: https://www.rtpi.org.uk/news/2025/july/milestone-devolution-bill-offers-new-powers-for-mayors-but-resourcing-concerns-remain/

Deborah Prentice stood with Duncan Ivison in front of a background of trees and town-square buildings.

Introducing the UK's first cross-city innovation partnership with @cam.ac.uk.

University collaboration is better than competition to boost innovation.

Professor Deborah Prentice and Professor @duncanivison.bsky.social write @timeshighered.bsky.social.

www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/univ...