Open Space, People Space
An International Conference on Inclusive Environments
Edinburgh, Scotland: 27-29 October, 2004
OPENspace: the research centre for inclusive access to outdoor environments, is hosting a three-day conference in Edinburgh to review recent research and debate current issues surrounding good design for open space and social inclusion - spaces and places for the 21st century. The programme will include contributions from an international array of experts covering the major themes of the conference: children and young people; disability and social inclusion; health and restorative environments and tourism and leisure. Key speakers already confirmed include Jan Gehl, urban designer, Mark Treib, architect and modernist landscape historian, Judy Ling Wong, Black Environment Network, Ken Worpole, urban policy expert and Nilda Cosco, educational psychologist.
The conference is being held in Edinburgh, one of Europe's finest capitals, with a rich sense of history based around its medieval core and classical, eighteenth century 'New Town' (an ICOMOS World Heritage site). The venue is The Hub, headquarters for the Edinburgh International Arts Festival, located in the heart of the city, adjacent to Edinburgh Castle. The lively city environment includes the renowned Royal Botanic Garden, a rich array of art galleries, museums and theatres, and the exciting new Scottish Parliament building designed by Enric Miralles, demonstrating the best of contemporary design juxtaposed with the traditional. Post-conference visits will include opportunities to visit the dramatic rural landscapes of the Highlands and the Borders of Scotland.
Researchers, policy makers, designers, planners, managers, countryside and urban greenspace staff, and students are encouraged to attend. The conference will be of value to the design professions, social and environmental scientists, and those working in the social services, recreation and tourism, health care and community development.
http://www.openspace.eca.ac.uk/conference.htm

The Royal Town Planning Institute South West Branch 2004 Conference Programme, Guernsey 2004, "Planning in Perspective"
Thursday 30th September to Saturday 2nd October 2004
Keynote address by The Rt Hon John Gummer MP
The theme of this conference will cut across many boundaries and offers an opportunity to compare and contrast a broad range of planning perspectives. It will encompass a vision for planning, a policy perspective, tools to achieve outputs, and indicators of success. The conference also includes a study tour.
Ther keynote speaker will be The Rt Hon John Selwyn Gummer MP (Suffolk Coastal) a former Secretary of State for the Environment and regarded as one of the "greenest" Conservatives with strong views on global warming and town planning. In addition speakers include:
Bill Lockwood Chief Planning Officer - Island Development Committee, States of Guernsey; Mike Hayes (President RTPI) Corporate Director - Development & Environment, Watford Council, Charles Mynors Barrister and author - 2 Harcourt Buildings, Temple, Chris Shepley CBE Principal - Chris Shepley Planning Professor Malcolm Grant CBE Provost and President of University College London
http://southwest.rtpi.org.uk/diary/

Modern Spaces - Historic Places - Annual Conference EHTF (English Historic Towns Forum)
Lincoln 20-22 October 2004
EHTF has explored various aspects of improving the experience of the public realm for all users. This conference takes the subject further in order to explore the Government's 'liveabilty' agenda and to look at the subject from the point of view of national, regional and local agencies. We will also examine the impact of a major player on the City of Lincoln.
The historic City of Lincoln has been the subject of significant development pressure over recent years. The establishment of a new University in the heart of the city, adjacent to the Roman Brayford Pool, has brought major opportunities and challenges. The City has been identified for growth within the Regional Planning Guidance in order to become one of the East Midland's principal urban areas.
Whilst new public spaces have been created, the historic Public Realm is under stress. The local authorities are developing a partnership approach to the enhancement of Lincoln's public realm, seeking to bring together national, regional and local agencies, with the private sector, to tackle the issues. The conference will provide an opportunity to assess the success of these arrangements and whether they can be applied elsewhere.
EHTF is delighted that Peter Matthew from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Richard Simmons, the incoming Chief Executive of CABE will be giving key presentations at the event, along with contributions from many other public and private sector organisations.
Who should attend:
· Local Authority Officers and Elected Members across all of the disciplines - this is an area which requires joint working - including Town Centre Managers and Tourism Managers
· Community leaders, Civic and Amenity groups
· Private sector developers, manufacturers, architects, designers, landscape architects, house builders, contractors, retailers, arts and conservation professionals and consultants
· Policy makers, budget holders and strategic planners
www.ehtf.org.uk/events.asp

Design Reviewed Urban Housing. Lessons learnt from projects reviewed by CABE's expert design panel
Focusing on design, this 36 page booklet examines a number of key issues for the planning of high-density housing at the beginning of a new century. Six case studies of housing projects from around England are included: Meridian South, Lewisham, London; New Islington, Manchester; Vaux Brewery, Sunderland; King's Crescent, Hackney, London; St Mildred's Tannery, Canterbury; Accordia, Cambridge. Each case study includes sections on development design, site history, key issues and lessons learnt.
http://www.cabe.org.uk/publications/

Planning Theory Volume 03 Issue 02 - July 2004
Where is feminism in planning going? Appropriation or transformation?
Barbara Rahder and Carol Altilia York University, Toronto, Canada
The desire called civil society: a contribution to the critique of a bourgeois category
Kanishka Goonewardena and Katharine N. Rankin University of Toronto, Canada
Towards a reconstruction of the public interest criterion
Stefano Moroni Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Book Review
Webster, Chris and Lawrence Wai-Chung Lai, Property Rights, Planning and Markets: Managing Spontaneous Cities, reviewed by E.R. Alexander
http://www.sagepub.co.uk/JournalIssue.aspx?pid=105732&jiid=504283

EUROPE / UK / WALES "REVIT Annual Conference"
16./17. September, Cwmbran, Wales
Meeting of European professionals in brownfield development, a cooperation of Torfean and Medway (UK), Stuttgart (D), Nantes (F), Tilburg and Hengelo (NL), free of charge!
for info ask: angela.canellas@torfaen.gov.uk
The Revit Annual Conference is a two day event comprising a series of workshops and exhibitions focusing on transnational cooperation in developing brownfield sites. Examples of brownfield site developments will be given by the City of Stuttgart, Nantes Metropole, Communaute Urbaine, City of Tilburg, City of Hengelo, Medway Council and Torfaen County Borough Council.
http://www.architecture.com/go/Events/CPDEvent_1208.html

The 11th International Symposium on Spatial Data Handling
23rd-25th August 2004 - University of Leicester
The Conference is to be held the week after the International Geographical Congress which will be held in Glasgow, Scotland in 2004.
For further information email: sdh2004@le.ac.uk
Information will be available on the web at: www.geog.le.ac.uk/sdh2004

Urban Design Week 2004 - Creating successful communities
This year Urban Design Week takes place from 13-19 September, with a theme of 'creating successful communities'. Organised by the Urban Design Alliance (UDAL), the week incorporates events held across the country to promote and celebrate good urban design.
Highlights will be UDAL's annual conference and lecture, to be held in Greenwich, London. Details to be posted shortly.
If you want to hold an event during Urban Design Week please contact the UDAL secretariat on info@udal.org.uk or telephone 020 7251 5529.
http://www.udal.org.uk/

News from Sapling Events Listing http://www.sapling.org.uk/events/ :

CREATIVE COMMUNITIES - Art as a tool for community engagement
16 September 2004, Liverpool, England
Community arts are increasingly being used to stimulate people to be actively involved in decision-making and in giving neighbourhoods a sense of pride and ownership. It is a particularly effective way of involving local communities in positive activities.
This seminar will look at how the medium of arts can encourage consultation, empowerment, and bring communities together. The day will feature a range of projects which have had a positive impact on community engagement using successful techniques. It will also look at how to develop a community arts strategy and obtain funding.
Contact person(s): Laura Gaffney
E-mail: laura@pfanet.org.uk
http://www.pfanet.org.uk/

Garden Cities & New Towns: The Heritage, Conservation & Redevelopment Challenges
17 September 2004, City Discovery Centre, Bradwell Abbey, Milton Keynes, UK
Garden cities and new towns are subject to pressures from national policy for urban intensification and use of previously developed land. Several are formally identified as the budding points for major expansion as part of the Deputy Prime Minister’s Communities Plan.
This conference will focus on the way in which the relatively modern heritage created in the garden cites and new towns should best be managed in the light of pressures for development.
Contact person(s): Nancy Easter Garcia
E-mail: nancy@tcpa.org.uk
Tel: 020 7930 8903
Fax: 020 7930 3280
http://www.tcpa.org.uk/

Social Housing Exhibition 2004
22-24 September 2004, International Convention Centre, Birmingham, UK
The National Housing Federation's Annual Conference and Social Housing Exhibition is the UK's most highly regarded and focused event for those involved in the provision of social housing. Each year more than 1300 delegates and 500 visitors attend the event. The exhibition features over 120 exhibits from leading suppliers to the sector.
The exhibition is organised by Foremarke Exhibitions Ltd. For details about visiting or exhibiting please e-mail nhf@foremarkeexhibitions.com