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Dr Mark Smith

@drmark-smith.bsky.social
30 followers 41 following 36 posts

Social scientist and planner at Liverpool University

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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Off to Cardiff for the 2026 UK &Ireland Planning Research Conference to talk about our research on what civic societies think and go about suburban densification.
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
A world in miniature! Some fabulous creations at the Severn Valley Railway's brick weekend earlier this month
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Attended the North Liverpool Housing Conference as part of the Liverpool Architecture Festival, with lots of fascinating topical discussions around providing homes. Also really insightful to tour The City of Liverpool Collage and learn of challenges in supplying skilled workers to labour markets.
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
May is time for my annual cycle rides to Eastham Country Park to see the bluebells and later the rhododendrons
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Braved the bank holiday heat to walk to Hilbre Island in the Dee estuary at low tide to try and spot some seals
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Could be worse, here is how one London council has responded to pavement parking issues, and yes, that is car parking spaces marked out on half the pavement!...
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Really good to attend today's Civic Voice Conference in Liverpool with some great presentations and debate on community participation and action plus reusing the built environment. All in a quirky, unusual venue too!
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
They don’t build them like this anymore! – fascinating to relax and travel in an expertly restored 1930’s GWR autocoach as a highlight of last month’s ‘branchlines’ weekend at the Severn Valley Railway. Carbon offset by traveling there by train and bus!
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
That stretch of road is a literal slalom and bus divers do very well to navigate it each day, and is why highways measures really need to be included any bus franchising programme
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
Dresden transport museum - well worth a visit for a transport geek like me!
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
Had a really fun time travelling across Europe by train and tram for a project meeting earlier this month, albeit with flights at each end
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
A light bit of hill walking at the weekend around Llandudno's Great Orme to the 200m summit
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
New open access publication of mine looking at how land value capture instruments support mega-transport projects focusing on Crossrail and GPE in Paris. We find these instruments can be used in different ways are an important part of wider funding packages. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
The changing tracks of land value capture in constrained policy contexts; A comparison of London’s Crossrail and Grand Paris Express
Land value capture is often vaunted as having significant potential to fund public infrastructure, including mega transport projects like urban metro …
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
Delighted to say that Planning in a Failing State, in which I co-authored a chapter, is now available in paperback! policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/planning-in-...
policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk
Planning in a Failing State
Planning in a Failing State - Reforming Spatial Governance in England; This topical book offers an analysis of the current state of the planning system in England and an evidence-based review of over ...
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
I noticed these changes caught several drivers out during the recent Broadway roundabout roadworks! Now if we could just improve the pedestrian access to the community woodland opposite…
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 23/03/2025
Sunday afternoon hike to the mighty Prenton Brook, one of the inland waterways on Wirral
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
Had a fun day exploring Cardiff (and Penarth) last week after a busy but productive planning, law & property rights conference
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
Attended & presented at the Planning, Law and Property Rights annual conference at Cardiff University last week, some really great and interesting work going on about densification and planning gain with a really collegiate atmosphere
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
A pre conference excursion to the most impressive Caerphilly Castle
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
Only one week to go until the 2025 PLPR (Planning, Law and Property Rights) Association Annual Conference in Cardiff!
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
Winter visit to Highley & back on the Severn Valley Railway. Coal consumption offset by traveling on public transport (4 trains+4 buses) on a round trip of Shropshire
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Adam Bell @adambell.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
It's been a long time since Private Eye's satire has made me audibly wince, but this is so to the point if it were a knife people would demand it be banned.
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
I'm certainly glad I did my Sunday Liverpool to Paris by train trip last September before these strikes started. Although the Liverpool services don't seem to be quite as badly disprupted.
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
Good to see this scheme finally progress at long last (after 20+ years of delays), and good to see the power of devolution at work! More of this please www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Bristol to Portishead rail line final funding agreed
The line, which was closed in 1964, could welcome passengers back by the end of 2027.
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Real Gaz on a proper bike: gazza_d@toot.bike @gazza-d.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
More idiotic car brained councillors who seemingly hate children and don't want kids to be safe. Councillors are supposed to represent all their constituents not just those who can afford to drive. I hope these get voted out road.cc/content/news...
road.cc
School headteacher backs "very exciting" cycle lane to keep children safe... but councillors claim "barking mad" scheme will "shrink" space for cars
While primary school hopes new bike lane could encourage more children to safely cycle in, local politicians have expressed concerns the road will be narrowed and traffic slowed
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
The fascinating thing about the map is these routes are also Wirral’s core bus routes, so you have an opportunity here to introduce bus priority alongside active travel through a total route transformation for achieving integrated sustainable travel (well, hopefully!...)
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
Campus looking very wintery this morning
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
A handy search tool from BBC verify on changes to new housing requirements in each local authority. Still big questions as to where these extra homes will go, who will build them and who will live in them... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 05/01/2025
A final look around the Merseyside Maritime Museum and International Slavery Museum at weekend before it closes for 3 year refurbishment
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 05/01/2025
A walk around snowy Wirral today
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
To me, the key test will be when everyone starts refering to a 'Manchester style transport system' and can we have one too!...
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
Although it was much, much, much worse than this before the Conwy Tunnel was built and the main A55 ran though the town!...
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
I am looking forward to going to Cardiff for the PLPR - Planning, Law and Property Rights conference in March
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Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region @lcrmayor.bsky.social · 23/12/2024
🚆 HERE, FARE AND EVERYWHERE 🚆 🪙 For the entire month of January, enjoy unlimited weekend travel on Merseyrail for just £2! 🧒 And just £1 for kids! 🎡 Start off the year right and get out to see the best the Liverpool City Region has to offer!!
The image features a bright yellow Merseyrail train with "Batteries On-Board" branding, set against a blue sky with some clouds. Two large £1 coins are prominently displayed above the train. The text reads "UNLIMITED WEEKEND TRAVEL FOR JUST £2" in bold yellow and white lettering. At the bottom, it says "METRO MAYOR LIVERPOOL CITY REGION."
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 09/12/2024
Cost of buying average home in England now unaffordable, warns ONS
theguardian.com
Cost of buying average home in England now unaffordable, warns ONS
Only richest 10% can afford to buy as figures show average household needs 8.6 times disposable income to meet asking price Only the richest 10% of households can afford to buy an average-priced home in England, according to official figures laying bare…
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Wirral Globe @wirralglobe.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
More than 50 new buses are set to hit Merseyside's roads.
dlvr.it
More than 50 new buses set to hit region's roads
More than 50 new buses are set to hit Merseyside's roads.
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
I guess this is the reason...
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
So why is my bus 45 min late?
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
Some interesting and inspiring talks today on career building and university life at our annual Research Staff Association Conference @LivResearcher @UoL_RSA
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Liverpool ECHO @liverpoolecho.co.uk · 03/12/2024
NEW: Car parking charges in Liverpool to be increased by as much as 60% ✍️ @liamthorp.bsky.social www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...
liverpoolecho.co.uk
Liverpool car parking charges to go up by as much as 60%
Cash-strapped local authority says large hike in charges will bring city into line with others
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Dr Mark Smith @drmark-smith.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
If you are interested in active travel and urban planning, check out my latest journal article in Town Planning Review www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/10.3828/...
liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk
Stepping up a gear? Understanding why active travel has difficulty gaining traction in urban planning decision making in northern England’s rustbelt | Town Planning Review
Walking and cycling (active travel) are an important carbon neutral means for accessing new development which improves public health and maximises the opportunities created for all of society. Across ...
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