25th April 2016

URBAN UPDATE
Main news from the Urban Design Group
HS1 Impact on Property Prices A free service for all individuals and organisations who care about life in cities
Sponsorship Opportunity Urban Design Graphics 2 towns and villages
Research Special Edition planners landscape architects architects conservation practitioners
Outdated and irresponsible practices rule the entire urban land market engineers surveyors masterplanners managers urban designers - urbanists
Global Study Finds Neighbourhood Design Helps Put Best Foot Forward for health professionals - politicians public
Health
People who live in activity-friendly neighbourhoods take up to 90 minutes more We are here to encourage anyone and everyone who wants to see better
exercise per week urban design the design of towns and cities streets and spaces
New Jobs

JOIN ABOUT REGIONS UD UPDATE EVENTS STREET PUBLICATIONS JOURNAL PRACTICE INDEX UNIVERSITIES JOBS

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Forthcoming UDG London Impact of HS1 on Property Prices?

Events Express regeneration?
@ The Gallery, 70 Cowcross Street
London EC1M 6EJ Domestic high-speed commuter services on the High Speed 1 line
between the Channel Tunnel and London commenced on 13
Free for members and Students
7 for non-members
December 2009. The towns affected are a real world experiment
in the impact of high speed rail. Two years ago we reported on
PRACTICE OF THE WEEK
changes on property prices in towns in the South East. Below are
Jane Jacobs Centenary some updated data, obtained from the Zoopla website. The towns
11 May 2016 - 6:15pm - 8:15pm shown in red benefit from the HS1 connection, either through the Ambitions for Notting Hill
http://www.udg.org.uk/events/jane-jacobs-centenary
junctions at Ebbsfleet cutting journey times to London by around
UDG AGM and Kevin Lynch Memorial Lecture - Sir Terry Farrell
10-20 minutes, or at Ashford where the time saving is an Gate Town Centre
8 Jun 2016 - 6:15pm - 8:15pm impressive 40 minutes. The towns in black print are included as a Public consultation strategy
http://www.udg.org.uk/events/udg-agm-and-kevin-lynch-memorial-lecture-sir-terry-farrell comparison.
Thomas Design
% price increase over past 10 years
Other Gallery Events Regeneration & Consultation
Slough, Berkshire 38.4
Housing under Parker Morris
19 April:
Faversham, Kent 34.1
Brighton, East Sussex 33.9
Are we making enough of the River Thames? Tonbridge, Kent 31.2
21 April
Crawley, Surrey 30.2
Create Streets Chelmsford, Essex 28.6
3 May Hastings, East Sussex 27.6
Open space protection, management and Canterbury, Kent 26.2
exploitation Ashford Kent 24.4
12 May
Dover, Kent 23.7
IHBC/UDG Urban Design and Ramsgate, Kent 22.4
PlaceMaking Event England 22.2
(followed by IHBC London Branch AGM) Margate, Kent 21.0
Wed 18 May 2016 - 13:30 to 16.00 Folkestone, Kent 20.4
Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners - 14 Regent's Wharf All
Saints Street, London, N1 9RL
The updated figures show that other towns in the South East of
England have performed better. We should be cautious about
Farrell Review and Place Alliance
interpreting the figures: for example East Kent was hit in 2011 by
Lucy Natarajan of Place Alliance,
the closure of the Pfizer research facility, along with Manston
Urban Design Londons remit regarding contextual
Airport in 2014, and has received bad publicity over the poor
development in historic places
performance of some of its high streets, such as Margate where
Esther Kurland, (Director, Urban Design
shop vacancy rates exceeded 36%.
London),
The Tottenham Court Road / Crossrail Station
The time savings may also be slightly misleading. For the
Masterplan
commute to jobs in the City of London, the HS1 St Pancras
Roger Hawkins from Hawkins Brown
terminal is not ideal. A 4 minute walk from Cannon Street Station
Architects,
brings the worker in front of the Bank of England. A 4 minute walk
Historic England London region - Update TDRC was commissioned by the Royal Borough of
from the platforms of St Pancras Station brings the worker to Kings
Nigel Barker, (Head of Planning, London Kensington & Chelsea to design and manage a public
Cross St Pancras Underground station with a further 15 minute
Region, Historic England). consultation strategy on the future of Notting Hill
journey ahead. Regeneration is a very long term process, and it
Booking Gate. As the town centre had become outdated and
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ihbcudg-urban-design-and-place-making-event-followed-by-ihbc-london-branch- also takes people time to adapt to new opportunities. Perhaps the
agm-tickets-24863745131 regeneration of the Kings Cross area, which is now fully underway, incoming planning applications for tall buildings were
and the continuing expansion of Canary Wharf, will see similar challenging the skyline, the strategy enabled local
turns in the fortunes of the towns of East Kent. residents and business owners to shape a new
development brief for the town centre.
Have you used the The strategy developed options to Refurbish, Refresh
Urban Design Graphics for Urban Design and
or Rethink? the town centre through potential new
development sites, improving notable local buildings,
journal archive yet? Planning and making public transport and access arrangements
more pedestrian-friendly, especially given the proximity
new edition of popular tourist destinations such as Kensington
100+ editions now available to sponsorship opportunity Palace and Gardens, and Portobello Road Market.
 The consultation programme included workshops on an
download free interactive model of the town centre, allowing
participants to test ideas for redeveloping sites at
UDG volunteers working over the holiday break have
different heights and to see potential impacts on the
completed the digitising of all available back copies of
neighbourhoods character. Ideas were also mapped
Urban Design. Well over 100 are now available to
around hot-spots in the local street network, where
download free.
pedestrians local or visiting, cyclists, car traffic and
public transport services needed to be re-designed
http://www.udg.org.uk/publications/journal
together, to reduce traffic dominance and improve the
atmosphere of local streets. Thinking about how best to
use possible development contributions ranged from a
potential new cultural centre, to relocating the entrance
Can you help with a letter of to Notting Hill Gate underground station.
support for the Select The public consultation strategy attracted a great
Committee Report on National response, including coverage in the Evening Standard,
and gave the Council clear principles for the subsequen
Policy for the Built draft Supplementary Development Document.
Environment? Final Call
The UK Government is currently contemplating how to
respond to the Select Committees recommendations.

The report is structured under four headings

Jobs
Assistant Urban Designer - PRP London
Creating better places: design, quality and
http://www.udg.org.uk/jobs/london-and-south-east/assistant-urban-designer-prp-london
standards
Building for the long-term: sustainability and
Urban Designer - PRP London
resilience
http://www.udg.org.uk/jobs/london-and-south-east/urban-designer-prp-london
Delivering more housing
Local leadership, delivery and skills
Urban Designer - JMP Birmingham
Its recommendations include compulsory design
http://www.udg.org.uk/jobs/west-midlands/urban-designer-jmp-birmingham
review, the appointment of a Government Chief Built
Environment Advisor, and the full adoption of Manual
for Streets. Community Planning Assistant JTP
http://www.udg.org.uk/jobs/london-and-south-east/community-planning-assistant-jtp

Download the report The first edition of Graphics for Urban Design and Planning
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201516/ldselect/ldbuilt/100/10002.htm inspired a generation of computer graphics and influenced the way 2 x Career Grade Officer (Design & Conservation) -
we tell the story of physical transformation. It has sold over 2,500 Islington Council
The UDG Executive invites you to send your views on copies in the UK alone. http://www.udg.org.uk/jobs/2-x-career-grade-officer-design-conservation-islington-council
the report to Greg Clark, Secretary of State for
Communities & Local Government. A new edition is being proposed to bring readers up-to-date with Senior Planning Officer - PO2 - London Borough of
current tools, techniques and processes, expanding significantly on
Enfield
By e-mail: the first edition.
greg.clark@communities.gsi.gov.uk http://www.udg.org.uk/jobs/london-and-south-east/senior-planning-officer-po2-london-borough-enfield

If your organisation is interested in co-sponsoring this second

By post: edition, which is to be published by ICE publishing, please contact Senior Urban Designer PO2 - Enfield Borough
Department for Communities & Local Government Bally Meeda on 01234 353870 or email Council
bally@urban-graphics.co.uk
2 Marsham Street http://www.udg.org.uk/jobs/london-and-south-east/senior-urban-designer-po2-enfield-borough-council
London
SW1P 4DF To advertise jobs in Urban Update please email
administration@udg.org.uk

Events and Webinars

London Architecture and Design Scotland Latest Lectures
http://www.ads.org.uk/category/news/
Smart to Future Cities
Say Hello to architecture
Urban IoT 2016
DtI London 26-27 April
on UrbanNous
https://smarttofuture.com/ IHBC New
http://ihbc.org.uk/events/ Improving the quality of new housing:
Negotiating improvements in delivery and
Urban Design London Museum of Walking design
Events coming up extensive programme some free, http://www.museumofwalking.org.uk/events/
some charged/ 175+VAT (Free for UDL subscribers)
http://www.urbandesignlondon.com/events-listing/
First Thursday Haiku on Foot
Thursday 5 May 6.30pm-8.00pm

Academy of Urbanism First Thursday Haiku on Foot Amy Burbidge is Design Action Manager at North
http://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/events/ Thursday 2 June 6.30pm-8.00pm Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit.
Academy Spring Debate http://www.urbannous.org.uk/housing-quality.htm
April 27 @ 2:30 pm - 8:30 pm
https://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/events/the-academy-spring-debate-and-award-shortlisting/
Centre for Cities Improving the quality of new housing: New
AoU Congress XI: The Future of Urbanism http://www.centreforcities.org/events/ issues for affordable housing.
9th June London
https://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/events/event-aou-congress-xi-the-future-of-urbanism-june/

BOBMK Events
Place Alliance Big Meet 5 http://bobmk.org.uk/our-programme/

Design Review
Friday 29th April Future of Transport and Innovation
http://placealliance.org.uk/whats-on/ Electric Vehicles, Buses, Pods etc
Thursday 28 APRIL 2016 Milton Keynes Andy von Bradsky is former Chairman of PRP, Chair of
the RIBA Housing Group, Board Member of the Housin
China Design Centre Forum and recent chair of the Government appointed
2016 China-UK Ideal Town and Garden City Summit Challenge Panel for the Housing Standards Review tha
Building Green, Liveable and Thriving Towns advised on UK standards for housing of all tenures.
26 April - London PTRC http://www.urbannous.org.uk/housing-affordable.htm
http://www.chinadesigncentre.com/index.php?c=article&id=177 Transport Practitioners Meeting 2016 Nottingham
29-30 June 2016 | Nottingham
Call for papers open. A better future for high streets and town centres.
https://www.ptrc-training.co.uk/Events/TPM2016.aspx Julian Dobson, Urban Pollinators
Landscape Institute http://www.urbannous.org.uk/from-agora-to-polis.htm
Beyond the Green Belt
Exhibition Towns and cities: Function in form
http://www.landscapeinstitute.co.uk/events/ Transport Planning Society Julian Hart, Lancefield Consulting
http://www.tps.org.uk/main/events/ http://www.urbannous.org.uk/cities-function-in-form.htm

Designing the business model: Sharing land uplift

East Midlands and unlocking long term value.
Delivering Successful Places - From Concept to Research Events
Feeling good in public spaces Dialogue series Yolande Barnes, Director of the World Research team
Reality
http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/health-wellbeing/feeling-good-in-public-spaces/#.Vr3l7vmLTZ4 at Savills
21 April http://www.urbannous.org.uk/development-economics.htm
http://rtpi.org.uk/events/events-calendar/2016/april/place-making/
Sensing the place experiences and wayfinding
27 April Weather in the City How Design Shapes the Urban
Climate
West Midlands Urban Design Forum CIHT
Sanda Lenzholzer
http://www.urbannous.org.uk/climate-and-city-design.htm
& All urban designers, architects, planners, and highway
Society of Road Safety Auditors Conference
MADE 21 June 2016 engineers should have a knowledge of this subject.
City Builder Academy http://www.ciht.org.uk/en/events/events-listing.cfm/society-of-road-safety-auditors-2016-conference

July 2016 UrbanNous Catalogue available on-line

http://made.org.uk/events
Highlights include Christopher Alexander, George
RIBA Ferguson, Hans Monderman and scores of others
www.urbannous.org.uk

Engage Liverpool RTPI Urban Nous is produced and operated by Fergus

https://www.engageliverpool.com/events/
Design in the Planning System Carnegie for the benefit of practitioners worldwide.
12 May - London
Yorkshire http://www.rtpi.org.uk/events/events-calendar/2016/may/design-in-the-planning-system/

Northern RICS
Sherford New Town Update
27 April - Plymouth
http://www.rics.org/uk/training-events/conferences-seminars/sherford-new-town-update/plymouth/

Design South East / Kent Design Placemaking and viability: delivering more and
http://www.kentdesign.org/events/ better quality developments.
Event Calendar 30 June - London
http://www.rics.org/uk/training-events/conferences-seminars/rics-viability-and-planning-conference-/london/
Urban Design around the World Latest Research, Policy and Practice

Australia Politics, Philosophy, Economics

Canberra must prepare for the effects of climate change 'We have lost the science of building cities' meet Joan Clos, the unofficial world
http://www.theage.com.au/act-news/canberra-must-prepare-for-the-effects-of-climate-change-20160421-gobq1s.html
leader for cities
http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/apr/18/lost-science-building-cities-joan-clos-un-habitat
University of Canberra to sign $1.7 billion deal to build new campus residences
The project will fund a new professor position in urban design and it will also be a When I say city I mean
reference site for research projects in housing design, urban design and public health. 100 different perspectives on what we mean by the c word
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/university-of-canberra-to-sign-17-billion-deal-to-build-new-campus-residences-20160420-gobfph.html http://fakeisthenewreal.org/whenisay/

Parklets blamed for attracting drunks?
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/city/why-are-these-parklets-on-bank-st-still-here/news-story/a6e9c995eb9ee797b22e8ba23f5e029c
Opposition spokesman claims that parklets lead to vagrancy and alcoholism?
Housing choice or future disaster? Whos right about the urban fringe controversy?
Outdated and irresponsible practices rule the entire urban land market
http://www.thefifthestate.com.au/property/residential-2/housing-choice-or-future-disaster-whos-right-about-the-urban-fringe-controversy/81729
Should housing associations act like commercial developers?
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/20/charity-housing-crisis-gentrification-walthamstow-glasspool-trust-natwest-private-developer
Essential Evidence The costs of free choice of schools
If parental school choice was replaced by a policy where each child travelled to their
nearest school car and bus travel vehicle miles travelled could be reduced. This could
lead to less congestion on the roads during the morning rush hour, less cars driving near
school gates, increased active travel and reduce C02 emissions.
www.travelwest.info/evidence

Canada New survey shows Americans believe civility is on the decline University of
National Urban Design Awards. Chicago
http://phys.org/news/2016-04-survey-americans-civility-decline.html
https://www.raic.org/awards/national-urban-design-awards---2016-recipients
Public perceptions are strongly influenced by how the media portray the society which
How booming cities made urban planning Canadas hottest job may not reflect reality. Aggression in the political system may exclude the majority of the
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/lists-and-rankings/best-jobs/2016-urban-planner-canadas-hottest-job/ public from participating and in the process destroying democracy.
O tempora, O mores! Cicero 63 BC.

China New research has measured the 'wealth effect' of upgrading the infrastructure in
UNESCO experience dawns on conservation of China's cultural
poorer sections of cities. University of Oxford
relics http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/unesco-experience-dawns-conservation-chinas-cultural-relics
Revamps, such as surfacing roads and joining them to the city grid, dramatically push up
land and property prices and release credit University of Oxford
Plots of land with 'good' roads went up by an estimated 72% based on real estate
India agents' appraisals compared with those next to dirt tracks
Bangalores urban canyons deafening 17% rise in property values (land and house), but this rise was found to be even highe
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), reveals a new study, which concludes that the - at 28% - when based on homeowners' valuations compared with other streets.
average noise level is 80 decibels (dB), in excess of the recommended 55 dB.
http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/others/Citys-urban-canyons-deafening/articleshow/51882506.cms
Rental values were also 36% higher compared with rents on properties situated next
The noise in the main roads Bangalore is no different to that of main roads anywhere else to dirt tracks.
day and night time noise levels will be in excess of WHO guidance. Homeowners' credit ratings also rose
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-04/uoo-rfa041916.php
Middle East Natural Environment
Middle East Smart Landscape Summit - 25-26 April 2016 Thinking City Scale about Urban Greening
https://www.zawya.com/story/Middle_Easts_largest_landscape_focused_summit_begins_in_a_week-ZAWYA20160419135841/ http://www.thefifthestate.com.au/sponsored/thinking-city-scale-about-urban-greening/81825

Living Infrastructure Report Card - RMIT Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design

protocol
https://sourceable.net/living-infrastructure-report-card/
South Africa
Social housing needed to create a more equal city Study: Cities have Individual Microbial Signatures
http://www.iol.co.za/weekend-argus/social-housing-needed-to-create-a-more-equal-city-2013501 http://www.asm.org/index.php/journal-press-releases/94139-study-cities-have-individual-microbial-signatures

Africas biggest mall to open shortly

http://www.iol.co.za/business/companies/africas-biggest-mall-opens-soon-2013337

Humans, Health, Society

UK Sleep Loss Detrimental to blood vessels
New homes eroding green belt 'at fastest rate for 20 years'
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/apr/25/number-of-green-belt-homes-planned-up-200000-in-four-years persons suffering from sleep loss had fewer high-density HDL lipoproteins, commonly
known as the good cholesterol transport proteins, than persons who slept sufficiently.
More than a quarter of a million houses now planned for Green Belt land Together with other risk factors, these results help explain the higher risk of cardiovascula
http://www.cpre.org.uk/media-centre/latest-news-releases/item/4278-more-than-a-quarter-of-a-million-houses-now-planned-for-green-belt-land disease observed in sleep-deprived people and help understand the mechanisms through
which lack of sleep increases this risk
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council vote for 20mph area limits will Kent County http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-04/uoh-sld042116.php
Council accede?
According to Rod King of 20s Plenty Kent is one of the only counties in England to not Fatty diets lead to daytime sleepiness, poor sleep University of Adelaide
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/news/news84342.htm
currently have mandatory 20mph zones
http://www.courier.co.uk/Victory-nears-20mph-zone-crusade/story-29151829-detail/story.html
Fructose alters hundreds of brain genes, which can lead to a wide range of diseases
St Helens Council set to make declaration on obesity UCLA scientists report that diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids can reverse the damage
If the 'Declaration on Healthy Weight'. is adopted, authorities will address factors that Conditions range from diabetes to cardiovascular disease, and from Alzheimers disease t
contribute to excess weight such as infrastructure and urban design and a culture "that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/fructose-alters-hundreds-of-brain-genes-which-can-lead-to-a-wide-range-of-diseases
may inadvertently advocate unhealthy behaviours".
http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/NEWS/14434592.St_Helens_Council_set_to_make_declaration_on_obesity/ Glucose-fructose syrup is routinely added to a wide range of foods, including jams,
marmalades, drinks etc USA citizens consume roughly 0.5kg a week.
2500 Home Masterplan approved for Elgin
http://www.scottishhousingnews.com/8841/2500-home-elgin-south-draft-masterplan-approved/ Certain genes, in healthy environments, can lengthen lifespan University of Buffal
Dopamine D2 receptor gene (D2R) significantly influences lifespan, body weight and
The scale of development has been reduced from 75 to 50 that is less than 10 locomotor activity, but only when combined with an enriched environment that included
houses per hectare. social interaction, sensory and cognitive stimulation and, most critically, exercise. The
http://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/News/14443038.Former_Village_of_the_Year_is_retaining_its_village_status____by_the_skin_of_its_teeth____due_to_continued_development__it_is_claimed/

experiment, conducted using mice found that mice in an enriched environment lived
anywhere from 16 to 22 percent longer than those in a deprived environment, depending
on the level of D2R expression.
http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2016/04/056.html
USA
Silicon valley at risk from sea level rise The Lancet: People who live in activity-friendly neighbourhoods take up to 90
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/apr/22/silicon-valley-sea-level-rise-google-facebook-flood-risk
minutes more exercise per week

San Francisco plans to bury a freeway in a tunnel and create a park above
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/05/san-franciscos-plan-to-bury-a-freeway/476418/
Richmond contract for Bus Rapid Transit cleared
http://www.richmond.com/news/local/article_09dddedc-8677-5aaa-a22e-c4c23960d395.html
Built Environment
Four visions for the future of housing
1. Local and community led but fragmented
2. Mass housebuilding despite the skills shortage
3. Renting rights with fewer long term homes
4. Little change and an increasingly polarised society
http://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2016/apr/20/landlord-prefabs-future-housing-crisis-shelter
1. Not everywhere has a housing crisis
2. Housing is a reflection of the structure of the economy, and social patterns, including
income and wealth inequality.
White, Green or Black Roofs? 50 year lifecycle assessment - - Berkley Lab
White best at reflecting solar radiation and mitigating climate change
Black roofs (bitumen) pose health risk if used in cities with high summer temperatures
http://newscenter.lbl.gov/2014/01/21/white-green-or-black-roofs-berkeley-lab-report-compares-economic-payoffs/
No great surprises there, but the research also looks at the costs including maintenance
and replacement.
Energy, Climate Change
Global Urban Climate Change Governance Survey survey: Climate change now a
mainstream part of city planning - MIT
Most cities, have not yet identified ways to link climate planning and economic
development. Urban planners in Alberta, however, have studied the cost savings
associated with limiting metropolitan sprawl and concluded that denser development could
save $11 billion in capital costs over the next 60 years, and $130 million in annual
maintenance.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-05/miot-gsc052814.php
Possibility of a 10000 year energy supply using polymers to adsorb Uranium
dissolved in sea water
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-04/drnl-aie042116.php
1.5 C vs 2 C global warming: New study shows why half a degree matters -
European Geosciences Union
The additional 0.5C would mean a 10-cm-higher global sea-level rise by 2100, longer
heat waves, and would result in virtually all tropical coral reefs being at risk.
http://www.egu.eu/news/230/15c-vs-2c-global-warming-new-study-shows-why-half-a-degree-matters/
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-04/tl-tlp033116.php
Global Study Finds Neighborhood Design Helps Put Best Foot Forward for Health
https://health.ucsd.edu/news/releases/Pages/2016-04-01-study-finds-neighborhood-design-helps-health.aspx
4 cities around the world. Nearly 7,000 adults ranging from 18 to 65 years old participated
by using an accelerometer monitoring system to objectively record moderate-to-vigorous
physical activity for approximately one week.
Four environmental attributes stood out as having the most impact on physical activity:
net residential density,
intersection density (connected streets),
number of parks and
public transit density.
Mixed land use and distance to nearest public transport point were not related to physical
activity.
The difference in physical activity between participants living in the most and least activity-
friendly neighbourhoods ranged from 68 min/week to 89 min/week, which represents 45
59% of the 150 min/week recommended by guidelines.
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(15)01284-2/abstract
Higher greenness was linked to significantly lower rates of diabetes, hypertension
and high cholesterol, as well as fewer chronic health conditions - University of
Miami
Residents of high greenness blocks exhibit a 14 percent risk reduction for diabetes, a 13
percent reduction for hypertension and a 10 percent reduction for lipid disorders.
"Going from a low to a high level of greenness at the block level is associated with 49 fewe
chronic health conditions per 1,000 residents, which is approximately equivalent to a
reduction in the biomedical aging of the study population by three years, Incorporating
more green -- trees, parks and open spaces -- in low income neighborhoods could also
address issues of health disparities, which have been recently highlighted in research
journals and the national media.
http://www.sciencenewsline.com/news/2016042201530053.html
Causes of childhood obesity complex, but families, media play key roles Universit
of Illinois
Risk factors
20 genes that heighten peoples risk for obesity
using electronic media while dining
Studies also have found that people who are engrossed in watching TV or using their
computers tend to eat mindlessly, consuming greater amounts of unhealthy foods and
ignoring feelings of fullness
TV advertising of food especially high sugar, high fat foods
indulgent parents

Parts of Europe may be exposed to dengue outbreaks
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-04/uu-poe042016.php
Europe will soon be hit by deadly 'once-in-a-century' extreme weather every year
Severe wildfires, river floods and windstorms will affect certain areas of the continent
every year
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/climate-change-global-warning-europe-extreme-weather-study-a6998516.html
Building Cool Cities for a Hot Future
http://theconversation.com/building-cool-cities-for-a-hot-future-57489
Shared family meals reduce risk of obesity
https://illinois.edu/blog/view/6367/352569
Problems finding your way around may be earliest sign of Alzheimer's disease
University of Washington
The hippocampus, which is associated with long-term memory storage, the recognition of
new surroundings and the creation of cognitive maps, is well-established as an early targe
for Alzheimer's-related damage.
https://source.wustl.edu/2016/04/problems-finding-way-around-may-earliest-sign-alzheimers-disease-study-suggests/
Running is an effective way to prevent the progressive decline in bone mineral
density that occurs with age
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-04/f-sf-tmy041916.php

Movement
Nederlands introduce BikeScout - warning lights within road surface at cycle
crossings that flash when a cyclist is approaching
http://www.fastcoexist.com/3059049/at-dangerous-intersections-this-technology-warns-drivers-that-a-bike-is-coming
http://heijmans.nl/en/bikescout/
The same technology could be used as an alternative to pelican and puffin crossings,
where there are concerns that green light phase leads to drivers being overconfident, and
reducing their vigilance.
Air pollution
Even low levels of air pollution appear to affect a childs lungs
By age eight, the lung function of children living within 100 meters of a major roadway was
on average 6 percent lower than that of children living 400 meters or more away.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160412091357.htm
Diesel Engine Cars fail Real Life Emission Tests
Tests have been carried out on a total of 56 different vehicle types in Germany and 37
different vehicle types in the UK, over a period of 6 months.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-publishes-findings-of-diesel-emissions-testing-programme
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/518437/vehicle-emissions-testing-programme.pdf

Research highlights deadly effects of indoor pollution University of Surrey

In 2012 indoor air pollution was linked to 4.3 million deaths globally, compared with 3.7
million for outdoor air pollution. Urban dwellers typically spend 90% of their time indoors
we should consider whether we really want schools, offices or hospitals to be built within
these environments.
http://www.surrey.ac.uk/mediacentre/press/2016/your-home-harming-you-new-research-highlights-deadly-effects-indoor-pollution

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