Urban Futures Now

Blog & Comment

Writing beyond the journal: essays, comment pieces, and dispatches from the field.

15 pieces

What Keir Starmer's speech could have said after the 2026 local elections
Essay 12 May 2026

What Keir Starmer's speech could have said after the 2026 local elections

A fictional speech based on radical, but entirely feasible, evidence based ideas.

Read on Substack →
The power of Public-Civic Partnerships (PCPs)
Essay 29 March 2026

The power of Public-Civic Partnerships (PCPs)

How cities can shift from austerity and unlock fairer, greener and more resilient communities

Read on Substack →
Transforming city travel - mobility justice for all
Urban 24 March 2026

Transforming city travel - mobility justice for all

A Conversation with Hannah Kettle-Pettavel on the 'WHAT in the World' podcast

Read on Substack →
What can UK New Towns learn from Community led housing?
Housing 22 February 2026

What can UK New Towns learn from Community led housing?

Ecological Design, Democratic Governance, and Community Ownership in Next‑Generation Settlements

Read on Substack →
Doughnut economics, degrowth and decoloniality
Essay 10 February 2026

Doughnut economics, degrowth and decoloniality

New directions for the Doughnut Portrait method

Read on Substack →
RETHINKING CITIES IN AN AGE OF CRISIS
Essay 31 January 2026

RETHINKING CITIES IN AN AGE OF CRISIS

An interview with Miray Özkan in 'City and Society' Magazine

Read on Substack →
Urban regeneration, Lilac Grove and the future of housing
Housing 28 January 2026

Urban regeneration, Lilac Grove and the future of housing

BBC Rethink podcast

Read on Substack →
Leeds Plan B
Essay 17 December 2025

Leeds Plan B

A manifesto for the People and city of Leeds

Read on Substack →
Creating the social city
Urban 8 December 2025

Creating the social city

Listen now on the 'A is for Architecture' podcast

Read on Substack →
A CIVIC PLAN FOR A CLIMATE EMERGENCY Building the 1.5 degree city
Climate 2 December 2025

A CIVIC PLAN FOR A CLIMATE EMERGENCY Building the 1.5 degree city

A discussion document for policy makers & civic leaders in the wake of COP30

Read on Substack →
Coronavirus: we’re in a real-time laboratory of a more sustainable urban future
Urban 24 November 2025

Coronavirus: we’re in a real-time laboratory of a more sustainable urban future

What we still need to do to learn from the 2020 pandemic. [first published in The Conversation 2020)

Read on Substack →
Beyond Emergency Mode
Essay 14 November 2025

Beyond Emergency Mode

Lessons from grassroots climate action in Leeds for COP30 in Belem

Read on Substack →
What’s the solution to Broken Britain?
Essay 14 November 2025

What’s the solution to Broken Britain?

Ideas for the autumn budget and beyond

Read on Substack →
From motorway city to active travel city.
Urban 12 November 2025

From motorway city to active travel city.

Some reflections on how to build a safe, sustainable future

Read on Substack →
No more #punchgates.
Essay 19 December 2019

No more #punchgates.

We need a safe country for the many not just the few

Read on Substack →

Ready to Make Change?

After three decades of research and activism, I'm always looking for partners who want to create sustainable, just, and resilient futures.

Start a Conversation →