There is no such thing as “a sick note culture.” There is a record high NHS waiting list, crippling housing costs, widespread food poverty, stagnant wages and inadequate benefit rates, a broken social care system, dire mental health services, and closed Sure Start centres.

Keep Off The Grass!

A sad day, as the brilliant manager of University of Westminster Press, Philippa Grand, is moving on to another role. She has been pivotal to the growing success of UWP and will be much missed. The latest publications she has overseen during her time with us available here: uwestminsterpress.co.uk

Have you read Under the Hornbeams yet? It's an incredible book by Emma Tarlo about two guys who lived in Regents Park. One the best books about park life I've ever read. faber.co.uk/product/978057…

To celebrate the current University of Westminster exhibition celebrating 100 years of Umbro UK, I dug out a few of my favourite #NUFC #umbro shirts from the attic. The top two were worn (by Liam O'Brien, Gavin Peacock et al) in the memorable 91/92 and 92/93 seasons.westminster.ac.uk/news/westminst…

When I went to Paris in the summer of 2022, lots of people told me that one legacy of 2024 Olympics would be to make the city swimmable. Less than two years later, there are genuine concerns about whether it is safe to let athletes swim in the River Seine.

Join for an afternoon symposium exploring city responses to hosting the Olympic Games and their subsequent legacies and sustainability. It is a free event on 07 May 2024, 2:00 pm–7:30 pm. Do not forget to book your place. Here is the link ucl.ac.uk/urban-lab/even…

Open access critical commentary by Mahir Yazar examines how episodic #populist backlashes manifest on an urban scale and highlights the need for urban scholars to pay more attention to the phenomenon. ow.ly/ON9850Rcnym
#UrbanClimate

Hey Google, find me a video that epitomizes our current planetary status.

With a circumference of 2km, the Grand Ring will be an iconic feature of #Expo2025 Osaka Kansai. With just under 1 year until opening, Site Design Producer @SouFujimoto shares his inspirations & insights on the structure & the overall site layout
bie-paris.org/site/en/focus/…

We’re transforming Finsbury Circus Gardens – the City’s oldest and largest public park – into a tranquil haven for people to relax outside. Find out how we’re boosting visitor numbers, climate resilience, and biodiversity in the Square Mile. loom.ly/pwmbaF8

I'd love to see a similar event organised in London

Also the day we finalised the Planning Perspectives special issue on Olympic Urbanism. The issue includes 10 papers on a range of cities/issues + an extended editorial. Launches 7th May at a special event being held at UCL East campus.

Programming parks. How do organized events and activities affect the inclusivity of urban green spaces? tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10… I thought this was already out but have just had email saying to publicise! Written with my fine colleagues Andrew Smith Goran Vodička

For all you dedicated or even mildly interested followers of football fashion I recommend this, on until April 28 - not often you find Alf Ramsey and Paul Smith in same exhibition case westminster.ac.uk/news/westminst…

Several of the papers that feature in the special issue of Planning Perspectives dedicated to Olympic Urbanism are now available online. They include papers on Beijing and Tokyo, plus cross-city analyses of: security; sustainability; and the growth of the Games. tandfonline.com/toc/rppe20/0/0

1/10 ‘If the The Olympic Games were a city, how has it evolved over the last decades?’ As Paris 2024 gets ready for the Games, it is worth revisiting what the event requires from cities. New paper with Dato Gogishvili Sven Daniel Wolfe Martin Müller 🧵doi.org/10.1080/026654…

I suppose it's so we can justify having Professors of Urban Experience(s).

An important article for all UK based geographers heading to @IGC2024Dub in Dublin. #SailRail theguardian.com/travel/2024/ap…

This was the moment back in December - captured by Guy Osborn - when my Urban Studies Journal paper on festival fences became a physical exhibition Regent Street Cinema. Would love to install this somewhere else, if anyone has any suggestions. HERA #Festspace