Dr Mark Smith

A light bit of hill walking at the weekend around Llandudno's Great Orme to the 200m summit

The changing tracks of land value capture in constrained policy contexts; A comparison of London’s Crossrail and Grand Paris Express Land value capture is often vaunted as having significant potential to fund public infrastructure, including mega transport projects like urban metro …

New open access publication of mine looking at how land value capture instruments support mega-transport projects focusing on Crossrail and GPE in Paris. We find these instruments can be used in different ways are an important part of wider funding packages.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Planning in a Failing State Planning in a Failing State - Reforming Spatial Governance in England; This topical book offers an analysis of the current state of the planning system in England and an evidence-based review of over ...

Delighted to say that Planning in a Failing State, in which I co-authored a chapter, is now available in paperback! policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/planning-in-...

I noticed these changes caught several drivers out during the recent Broadway roundabout roadworks! Now if we could just improve the pedestrian access to the community woodland opposite…

Sunday afternoon hike to the mighty Prenton Brook, one of the inland waterways on Wirral

Had a fun day exploring Cardiff (and Penarth) last week after a busy but productive planning, law & property rights conference

Attended & presented at the Planning, Law and Property Rights annual conference at Cardiff University last week, some really great and interesting work going on about densification and planning gain with a really collegiate atmosphere

A pre conference excursion to the most impressive Caerphilly Castle

Only one week to go until the 2025 PLPR (Planning, Law and Property Rights) Association Annual Conference in Cardiff!

Winter visit to Highley & back on the Severn Valley Railway. Coal consumption offset by traveling on public transport (4 trains+4 buses) on a round trip of Shropshire

It's been a long time since Private Eye's satire has made me audibly wince, but this is so to the point if it were a knife people would demand it be banned.

I'm certainly glad I did my Sunday Liverpool to Paris by train trip last September before these strikes started. Although the Liverpool services don't seem to be quite as badly disprupted.

Bristol to Portishead rail line final funding agreed The line, which was closed in 1964, could welcome passengers back by the end of 2027.

Good to see this scheme finally progress at long last (after 20+ years of delays), and good to see the power of devolution at work! More of this please www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

School headteacher backs "very exciting" cycle lane to keep children safe... but councillors claim "barking mad" scheme will "shrink" space for cars While primary school hopes new bike lane could encourage more children to safely cycle in, local politicians have expressed concerns the road will be narrowed and traffic slowed

More idiotic car brained councillors who seemingly hate children and don't want kids to be safe.
Councillors are supposed to represent all their constituents not just those who can afford to drive. I hope these get voted out
road.cc/content/news...

The fascinating thing about the map is these routes are also Wirral’s core bus routes, so you have an opportunity here to introduce bus priority alongside active travel through a total route transformation for achieving integrated sustainable travel (well, hopefully!...)

Campus looking very wintery this morning

A handy search tool from BBC verify on changes to new housing requirements in each local authority. Still big questions as to where these extra homes will go, who will build them and who will live in them... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A final look around the Merseyside Maritime Museum and International Slavery Museum at weekend before it closes for 3 year refurbishment

A walk around snowy Wirral today

To me, the key test will be when everyone starts refering to a 'Manchester style transport system' and can we have one too!...

Although it was much, much, much worse than this before the Conwy Tunnel was built and the main A55 ran though the town!...

I am looking forward to going to Cardiff for the PLPR - Planning, Law and Property Rights conference in March

The image features a bright yellow Merseyrail train with "Batteries On-Board" branding, set against a blue sky with some clouds. Two large £1 coins are prominently displayed above the train. The text reads "UNLIMITED WEEKEND TRAVEL FOR JUST £2" in bold yellow and white lettering. At the bottom, it says "METRO MAYOR LIVERPOOL CITY REGION."

🚆 HERE, FARE AND EVERYWHERE 🚆

🪙 For the entire month of January, enjoy unlimited weekend travel on Merseyrail for just £2!
🧒 And just £1 for kids!

🎡 Start off the year right and get out to see the best the Liverpool City Region has to offer!!

Cost of buying average home in England now unaffordable, warns ONS Only richest 10% can afford to buy as figures show average household needs 8.6 times disposable income to meet asking price Only the richest 10% of households can afford to buy an average-priced home in England, according to official figures laying bare…

Cost of buying average home in England now unaffordable, warns ONS

More than 50 new buses set to hit region's roads More than 50 new buses are set to hit Merseyside's roads.

More than 50 new buses are set to hit Merseyside's roads.

I guess this is the reason...

So why is my bus 45 min late?

Some interesting and inspiring talks today on career building and university life at our annual Research Staff Association Conference @LivResearcher @UoL_RSA

Liverpool car parking charges to go up by as much as 60% Cash-strapped local authority says large hike in charges will bring city into line with others

NEW: Car parking charges in Liverpool to be increased by as much as 60%

✍️ @liamthorp.bsky.social
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...