Those of us involved in planning and place-shaping need to make more creative, incisive use of AI. At the same time, we must work out how to plan for the radical socio-economic and urban changes that AI will probably bring about - very soon. A few thoughts here:

www.linkedin.com/pulse/ai-pla...

I’d never heard of Terry Burns until today. It seems he deserves our support and encouragement, as he champions Lords reform, just as the govt seems inclined to forget about it.

iandunt.substack.com/p/this-wedne...

I think this is really important. We need to take back the phrase “common sense” in city-building, from those who have weaponized it against actual common sense and pragmatic ideas for better cities.

"Looking over the data shows an odd trend: Mamdani's victory was built on the backs of people who don't own cars." www.jalopnik.com/1895759/nyc-...

“The humanities are not a luxury—they are where a society’s ethical and imaginative life takes shape. They won’t give us all the answers, but they keep us asking the right questions—and without that, no future worth having can be built.”

Knowledge + Understanding + Imagination = Creative Solutions

Absolutely right. But she goes on to say that the PM was right not to dive into a public enquiry until her report was made.

Badenoch’s response to the Home Secretary’s apology was shameful.

I’ve just finished bingeing on Alma’s Not Normal on #BBCiPlayer. It’s a remarkable piece of work, hilarious and tragic in equal measure- but the characters are unforgettable, and it was a huge relief to read in the final credits that they’re all ok. Truly brilliant.

“Labour condemned for allowing ‘new generation of slum homes’ in England”
This mis-informed Observer headline is referring to changes to planning regulations made by the previous government, allowing some types of business premises to be converted to housing without needing planning applications 1/2

#HomeAlone was never one of my favourite Christmas films. But watching it accompanied by a live symphony orchestra, with a delighted audience of several hundred children, definitely improved it. #Glasshouse

A very helpful starting point for considering options for reducing traffic and car-dependency. We really need a global data source like this that is constantly updated.

We’ve had viable solutions for mobility both within & between cities for a long time, like high-speed rail, prioritized public transit and networks of protected bike-lanes. We need leadership. And we need to stop letting “shiny new tech” distract us from implementing them. Image via UrbanThoughts11

Beautiful. Places people share deserve care and commitment.

Excellent @Cmmonwealth
explanation of so-called, ‘left-behind’ Britain.

The reality is more complex

Many towns have been at the forefront of successive govt
innovations for financialisation & exploitation

This is part of what must be challenged & fixed
👇🏾
two-towns.common-wealth.org

Some years ago, whilst working in Trinidad, I often went for a run on The Savannah in Port of Spain. I regularly passed people living rough on the Savannah and the image of one has always stuck in my mind: a young, homeless man asleep under a tree with a teddy bear at his feet…
1/

Perhaps, sadly, this stage must be gone through to arrive at a just & workable response - but I seriously doubt the willingness of most over-developed nations to accept any of the big changes that are needed. They/we should be listening to SIDS & supporting them.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c8...

How about switching to 3 categories: Developing, Sustainably Developed, and Over-Developed ?

I’m just taking this slowly at the moment - gradually migrating my ‘following”s and “followed by”s and thinking how best to make a useful first contribution to this new community, as I get away from the old channel that’s got too poisonous to wade through.