Twenty English cities are joining an existing eight in the government's "city deal" program, which gives local governments expanded planning and financial powers.
Local planning power is taking center stage across England as 20 new municipalities join the central government's City Deal program, which allows cities to bid for expanded planning and financial powers. With these recent additions, the program accounts for 71 percent of the English population and 68 percent of jobs.
The municipalities will be able to set and spend budgets and create their own investment funds in support of housing and office space.
"Conservative MP Greg Clark, the minister for cities, welcomed the announcement: 'Each city is unique, yet for decades Whitehall has treated them as being the same - there has been too little sense of place in government policy. City deals are a quiet revolution in the way Britain is governed. Rather than London laying down the law, cities have the right to do things their way.'"
Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, the architect of City Deal, said the UK would miss out on £41 billion a year if it continued focusing economic development on London and the south.
FULL STORY: Clegg Extends City Deal to 20 More English Zones
Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution
Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.
Dockless Bikes Seized as City of London Cracks Down on Parking
Lime and Forest paid £25,000 in fines to retrieve their property and are negotiating solutions with transportation authorities.
London Congestion Pricing Zone Has No Impact on Local Spending
The city’s cordon pricing scheme did not affect how much people spent at local businesses, new research finds.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.
USDOT Eliminates Environmental, Equity Considerations
A new memo rescinds Biden-era regulations that prioritized renewable energy, accessibility, and equity for historically disadvantaged communities.
Study: Drops in Transit Ridership Linked to Extreme Weather
Unsurprisingly, people are less likely to use transit during extreme weather events, which are becoming more common around the country.
Washington State May Cap Rent Increases at 7 Percent
House Bill 1217 was passed by the House and will move next to the state Senate.
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.
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments
City of Edmonds
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research