Rob Richardson
@drrobrichardson.bsky.social
Lecturer in Urban Planning & Placemaking at University of @Manchester.ac.uk Department of Planning, Property & Environmental Management | Urban design, planning, place & policy | Own views
Pinned
Housing, poverty, and digital exclusion: the multiple ways in which digital inequalities and housing inequalities intersect
Given the importance of digital technologies in shaping everyday life, it is widely accepted that digital exclusion is a key facet of poverty. Relatedly, housing inequalities, and the broader struc...
doi.org
New paper on the interactions between housing and digital inequalities. It highlights how the built environment shapes experiences of digital exclusion, and that housing can be an important focus for improving connectivity. Particularly salient at a time of increasing digitalisation in planning🏠💻
Reposted by Rob Richardson
This time of year can be difficult for some.
Spending time in nature, including street trees, can make a huge difference to our mental health, giving us a much-needed boost during the colder, darker months of the year. Have you tried soothing your worries by surrounding yourself with greenery? 🌲🌳
Spending time in nature, including street trees, can make a huge difference to our mental health, giving us a much-needed boost during the colder, darker months of the year. Have you tried soothing your worries by surrounding yourself with greenery? 🌲🌳
December 3, 2025 at 10:05 AM
This time of year can be difficult for some.
Spending time in nature, including street trees, can make a huge difference to our mental health, giving us a much-needed boost during the colder, darker months of the year. Have you tried soothing your worries by surrounding yourself with greenery? 🌲🌳
Spending time in nature, including street trees, can make a huge difference to our mental health, giving us a much-needed boost during the colder, darker months of the year. Have you tried soothing your worries by surrounding yourself with greenery? 🌲🌳
Reposted by Rob Richardson
RTPI commends the significant funding announced in today’s #budget but urges that long-term investment is key to building capacity.
The chancellor has pledged an extra £48m to boost capacity in the planning system.
Read reaction from @victoriartpi.bsky.social:
www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the...
The chancellor has pledged an extra £48m to boost capacity in the planning system.
Read reaction from @victoriartpi.bsky.social:
www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the...
November 26, 2025 at 4:13 PM
RTPI commends the significant funding announced in today’s #budget but urges that long-term investment is key to building capacity.
The chancellor has pledged an extra £48m to boost capacity in the planning system.
Read reaction from @victoriartpi.bsky.social:
www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the...
The chancellor has pledged an extra £48m to boost capacity in the planning system.
Read reaction from @victoriartpi.bsky.social:
www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the...
Reposted by Rob Richardson
#Carspreading / #Mobesity:
“the average width of cars on European markets grew by nearly 10cm between 2001 and 2020. Length increased by more than 19cm.”
Prices for parking and tax don’t recognise this - let alone the emissions or safety effect of larger vehicles.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
“the average width of cars on European markets grew by nearly 10cm between 2001 and 2020. Length increased by more than 19cm.”
Prices for parking and tax don’t recognise this - let alone the emissions or safety effect of larger vehicles.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
'Carspreading’ is on the rise - not everyone is happy
In the UK and across Europe, cars are becoming longer, wider and heavier.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 3, 2025 at 7:53 AM
#Carspreading / #Mobesity:
“the average width of cars on European markets grew by nearly 10cm between 2001 and 2020. Length increased by more than 19cm.”
Prices for parking and tax don’t recognise this - let alone the emissions or safety effect of larger vehicles.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
“the average width of cars on European markets grew by nearly 10cm between 2001 and 2020. Length increased by more than 19cm.”
Prices for parking and tax don’t recognise this - let alone the emissions or safety effect of larger vehicles.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Rob Richardson
Pleased to share the recording of the 3rd Brian Robson Lecture, delivered by Professor John Goddard OBE. His talk 'High Hopes, Hard Realities: Civic Universities at the crossroads' examines how UK civic universities can reconnect with their places.
📺 Full lecture: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uevw...
📺 Full lecture: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uevw...
Third Brian Robson Lecture
YouTube video by Spatial Policy and Analysis Lab at UoM
www.youtube.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Pleased to share the recording of the 3rd Brian Robson Lecture, delivered by Professor John Goddard OBE. His talk 'High Hopes, Hard Realities: Civic Universities at the crossroads' examines how UK civic universities can reconnect with their places.
📺 Full lecture: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uevw...
📺 Full lecture: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uevw...
Count me in
How ambitious ‘forest city’ plan for England could become a reality
How ambitious ‘forest city’ plan for England could become a reality
Cross-party coalition behind proposals hope eco-friendly scheme for million people could begin before end of decade
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Count me in
Reposted by Rob Richardson
“As a mum and a wheelchair user, pavement parking puts me and my children in danger every day. I don’t understand why drivers think they can block pavements — they’re for pedestrians.” - Aideen, campaigner
Join our campaign against pavement parking https://bit.ly/4hWpLxM
Join our campaign against pavement parking https://bit.ly/4hWpLxM
November 18, 2025 at 7:49 AM
“As a mum and a wheelchair user, pavement parking puts me and my children in danger every day. I don’t understand why drivers think they can block pavements — they’re for pedestrians.” - Aideen, campaigner
Join our campaign against pavement parking https://bit.ly/4hWpLxM
Join our campaign against pavement parking https://bit.ly/4hWpLxM
Reposted by Rob Richardson
Most politicians ignore the massive costs of car-centric mobility and still pretend pushing cars is somehow a win for society. Meanwhile, the proven benefits of active mobility get dismissed and every cent invested is scrutinized. Feels like a severe case of #CarBrain gripping our collective mindset
November 19, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Most politicians ignore the massive costs of car-centric mobility and still pretend pushing cars is somehow a win for society. Meanwhile, the proven benefits of active mobility get dismissed and every cent invested is scrutinized. Feels like a severe case of #CarBrain gripping our collective mindset
Reposted by Rob Richardson
Valuing What Matters: From Tick-Box to Stewardship – Reclaiming Social Value as a Driver of Trust, Equity, and Lasting Change
Mark Swift, LPIP Hub Place Fellow, argues that social value in public spending must move beyond compliance and tick-box exercises.
https://ow.ly/mp9x50Xtqok
Mark Swift, LPIP Hub Place Fellow, argues that social value in public spending must move beyond compliance and tick-box exercises.
https://ow.ly/mp9x50Xtqok
November 19, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Valuing What Matters: From Tick-Box to Stewardship – Reclaiming Social Value as a Driver of Trust, Equity, and Lasting Change
Mark Swift, LPIP Hub Place Fellow, argues that social value in public spending must move beyond compliance and tick-box exercises.
https://ow.ly/mp9x50Xtqok
Mark Swift, LPIP Hub Place Fellow, argues that social value in public spending must move beyond compliance and tick-box exercises.
https://ow.ly/mp9x50Xtqok
Reposted by Rob Richardson
Coming up in a couple of weeks!
The third annual Brian Robson Lecture - 'High Hopes, Hard Realities: Civic Universities at the crossroads' - will be delivered by Professor John Goddard OBE on 27 Nov 2025. Book your place via the following Eventbrite link. We hope you can join us there!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/high-hopes...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/high-hopes...
High Hopes, Hard Realities: Civic Universities at the crossroads
Get ready to dive deep into the challenges and opportunities facing civic universities today at High Hopes, Hard Realities - see you there!
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Coming up in a couple of weeks!
Fascinating discussion on New Towns Taskforce Report to Government with @uomseed.bsky.social @alliancembs.bsky.social. Loads to digest from locations and community engagement to infrastructure and delivery. Glad to see placemaking a key part, with new ‘towns’ debate moving beyond housing numbers
November 10, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Fascinating discussion on New Towns Taskforce Report to Government with @uomseed.bsky.social @alliancembs.bsky.social. Loads to digest from locations and community engagement to infrastructure and delivery. Glad to see placemaking a key part, with new ‘towns’ debate moving beyond housing numbers
Reposted by Rob Richardson
Join the RTPI's #WorldTownPlanningDay 2025 online programme, which brings together case studies from the UK and around the world, fostering the exchange of ideas globally.
👉Register for the free webinars at:
www.rtpi.org.uk/wtpd
This year's theme is 'With Planning We Can'
👉Register for the free webinars at:
www.rtpi.org.uk/wtpd
This year's theme is 'With Planning We Can'
November 3, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Join the RTPI's #WorldTownPlanningDay 2025 online programme, which brings together case studies from the UK and around the world, fostering the exchange of ideas globally.
👉Register for the free webinars at:
www.rtpi.org.uk/wtpd
This year's theme is 'With Planning We Can'
👉Register for the free webinars at:
www.rtpi.org.uk/wtpd
This year's theme is 'With Planning We Can'
New paper on the interactions between housing and digital inequalities. It highlights how the built environment shapes experiences of digital exclusion, and that housing can be an important focus for improving connectivity. Particularly salient at a time of increasing digitalisation in planning🏠💻
Housing, poverty, and digital exclusion: the multiple ways in which digital inequalities and housing inequalities intersect
Given the importance of digital technologies in shaping everyday life, it is widely accepted that digital exclusion is a key facet of poverty. Relatedly, housing inequalities, and the broader struc...
doi.org
October 29, 2025 at 11:00 AM
New paper on the interactions between housing and digital inequalities. It highlights how the built environment shapes experiences of digital exclusion, and that housing can be an important focus for improving connectivity. Particularly salient at a time of increasing digitalisation in planning🏠💻
Reposted by Rob Richardson
The design of your city can help make you healthier, study finds.
(That should be ANOTHER study)
“A new study in Nature found when people moved from less walkable U.S. cities to more walkable ones, they increased their levels of physical activity & saw health benefits.”
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
(That should be ANOTHER study)
“A new study in Nature found when people moved from less walkable U.S. cities to more walkable ones, they increased their levels of physical activity & saw health benefits.”
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
The design of your city can help make you healthier, study finds
A new study in Nature found when people moved from less walkable U.S. cities to more walkable ones, they increased their levels of physical activity and saw health benefits.
www.cbc.ca
October 26, 2025 at 8:10 PM
The design of your city can help make you healthier, study finds.
(That should be ANOTHER study)
“A new study in Nature found when people moved from less walkable U.S. cities to more walkable ones, they increased their levels of physical activity & saw health benefits.”
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
(That should be ANOTHER study)
“A new study in Nature found when people moved from less walkable U.S. cities to more walkable ones, they increased their levels of physical activity & saw health benefits.”
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
Reposted by Rob Richardson
Five years on from the Government’s consultation on pavement parking in England and there is still no action.
Meanwhile, Susanne and her son Joseph, a wheelchair user, found freedom in Scotland, where there pavement parking is restricted. Read about their story here 👇 http://bit.ly/4hicmQe
Meanwhile, Susanne and her son Joseph, a wheelchair user, found freedom in Scotland, where there pavement parking is restricted. Read about their story here 👇 http://bit.ly/4hicmQe
Pavements are for people – not for parking
How the pavement parking ban in Scotland is transforming things for one family.
www.livingstreets.org.uk
October 21, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Five years on from the Government’s consultation on pavement parking in England and there is still no action.
Meanwhile, Susanne and her son Joseph, a wheelchair user, found freedom in Scotland, where there pavement parking is restricted. Read about their story here 👇 http://bit.ly/4hicmQe
Meanwhile, Susanne and her son Joseph, a wheelchair user, found freedom in Scotland, where there pavement parking is restricted. Read about their story here 👇 http://bit.ly/4hicmQe
This looks good, and definitely needed. This part of the city always feels chaotic to me, so a more pleasant and calm space like the plans suggest would really help
𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀
👉Plans unveiled to ‘put the gardens back into Piccadilly Gardens’ www.placenorthwest.co.uk/plans-unveil...
👉Plans unveiled to ‘put the gardens back into Piccadilly Gardens’ www.placenorthwest.co.uk/plans-unveil...
Plans unveiled to 'put the gardens back into Piccadilly Gardens' - Place North West
Manchester City Council has announced multi-million-pound proposals to upgrade the much-maligned public space as part of a two-phase project that will eventually include an overhauled transport interc...
www.placenorthwest.co.uk
October 18, 2025 at 8:13 AM
This looks good, and definitely needed. This part of the city always feels chaotic to me, so a more pleasant and calm space like the plans suggest would really help
Reposted by Rob Richardson
Do you work in planning, a housing association or housing policy in local or national government? 🏘️
Join us for this event on 26 Nov by emailing [email protected] with your name, role, organisation and any dietary/access requirements.
Join us for this event on 26 Nov by emailing [email protected] with your name, role, organisation and any dietary/access requirements.
October 15, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Do you work in planning, a housing association or housing policy in local or national government? 🏘️
Join us for this event on 26 Nov by emailing [email protected] with your name, role, organisation and any dietary/access requirements.
Join us for this event on 26 Nov by emailing [email protected] with your name, role, organisation and any dietary/access requirements.
Reposted by Rob Richardson
⏰ Deadline approaching for our Heritage and Placemaking survey! This is your chance to share your experiences and influence our upcoming report and #HeritageDebate2025! Complete the survey and submit your case studies by Friday 17 October ⭐️ forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...
Fill | Heritage & Placemaking Survey
The Heritage Alliance is planning to publish a report that showcases how heritage makes places better. This will explore how the heritage sector is helping to create vibrant, creative, thriving, and sustainable...
forms.office.com
October 6, 2025 at 9:01 AM
⏰ Deadline approaching for our Heritage and Placemaking survey! This is your chance to share your experiences and influence our upcoming report and #HeritageDebate2025! Complete the survey and submit your case studies by Friday 17 October ⭐️ forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...
Reposted by Rob Richardson
Some of the urbanism happening in New York City…is stunning.
October 12, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Some of the urbanism happening in New York City…is stunning.
Reposted by Rob Richardson
New blog post: Will ‘build, build, build’ put local planning at risk?
www.transportfornewhomes.org.uk/build-build-...
www.transportfornewhomes.org.uk/build-build-...
Will ‘build, build, build’ put local planning at risk? - Transport for New Homes
Will developers be able to bypass local plan production?
www.transportfornewhomes.org.uk
October 13, 2025 at 7:04 AM
New blog post: Will ‘build, build, build’ put local planning at risk?
www.transportfornewhomes.org.uk/build-build-...
www.transportfornewhomes.org.uk/build-build-...
Reposted by Rob Richardson
Please join us for the 3rd Brian Robson Lecture delivered by Professor John Goddard on 27 Nov 2025 at the University of Manchester. Book your place via the following Eventbrite link. We look forward to seeing you there!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/high-hopes...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/high-hopes...
www.eventbrite.co.uk
September 29, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Please join us for the 3rd Brian Robson Lecture delivered by Professor John Goddard on 27 Nov 2025 at the University of Manchester. Book your place via the following Eventbrite link. We look forward to seeing you there!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/high-hopes...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/high-hopes...
Reposted by Rob Richardson
Failing to adopt a national approach to 20mph as an urban/village norm in England increased 2024 casualties by 15,000 per annum and insurance costs by £2bn. Read our latest press release coinciding with the release of the DfT 2024 road casualty stats. bit.ly/4gIBPlJ
October 1, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Failing to adopt a national approach to 20mph as an urban/village norm in England increased 2024 casualties by 15,000 per annum and insurance costs by £2bn. Read our latest press release coinciding with the release of the DfT 2024 road casualty stats. bit.ly/4gIBPlJ
Feeling decidedly autumnal on the @manchester.ac.uk campus now. Great to see the buzz of activity as the semester and year gets going!
September 29, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Feeling decidedly autumnal on the @manchester.ac.uk campus now. Great to see the buzz of activity as the semester and year gets going!
Tempting to ask ‘when is a town not a town?’ but in fairness most of this feels about right. Placemaking principles especially - clear vision for each town, supported through development-wide master plans and design codes.
New Towns Taskforce: Report to government
www.gov.uk
September 28, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Tempting to ask ‘when is a town not a town?’ but in fairness most of this feels about right. Placemaking principles especially - clear vision for each town, supported through development-wide master plans and design codes.
Interesting day in Derby speaking with fellow placemaking researchers
September 26, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Interesting day in Derby speaking with fellow placemaking researchers
Reposted by Rob Richardson
"Infrastructure alone is not enough. Truly #justcities must prioritise #safety, #connection, and #dignity for the most #vulnerable. By centring care in planning, cities can become places where everyone can move freely, live well, and belong."
Read Jac Torres-Gomez and her family's #perspective
Read Jac Torres-Gomez and her family's #perspective
How Our Toddlers and Teenagers Must Be Seen as Planners not Passengers
An Intergenerational Call for Active Transport Justice
open.substack.com
September 24, 2025 at 2:19 PM
"Infrastructure alone is not enough. Truly #justcities must prioritise #safety, #connection, and #dignity for the most #vulnerable. By centring care in planning, cities can become places where everyone can move freely, live well, and belong."
Read Jac Torres-Gomez and her family's #perspective
Read Jac Torres-Gomez and her family's #perspective