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Rob Richardson

@drrobrichardson.bsky.social
881 followers 2K following 94 posts

Lecturer in Urban Planning & Placemaking at University of @Manchester.ac.uk Department of Planning, Property & Environmental Management | MRTPI | Urban design, planning, place & policy | Own views

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Rob Richardson @drrobrichardson.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
End of a busy Welcome Week at @manchester.ac.uk It’s great to see the campus really come to life this week and to take in the excitement the students bring!
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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Happy World Car-Free Day to all who celebrate!
unep.org
World Car-Free Day on 22 September a great opportunity to reduce air pollution
Every year on or around 22 September, cities across the globe celebrate World Car-Free Day, encouraging motorists to give up their cars for a day. The event highlights the numerous benefits of going c...
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Prof. Ian Walker @ianwalker.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
The "War on Walking" is a great reframing of baked-in car dependency, and I'm sure I'll be using some of these images in future public talks
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Rob Richardson @drrobrichardson.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Reading the local news you’d think Greater Manchester was just motorways and car parks. Thank goodness for the black pudding contest!
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Rob Richardson @drrobrichardson.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Back from a great few days in Cardiff for UK-Ireland Planning Research Conference #UKIPRC2026. Always an enjoyable conference - the Tiger Bay walking tour this year especially
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Urban Truth Collective @urbantruth.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Don’t buy the lie about a war on cars. They’ve been waging a WAR ON WALKING for a century. #UrbanTruth #WarOnWalking
Same text message as in the post, on a new poster from the Urban Truth Collective. Background image is a massive wide freeway, splitting neighbourhoods and filled with cars. #CarDependency #Traffic #Congestion
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Town and Country Planning Association @thetcpa.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
🏘️ Design quality is often decided before planning, at the point land is valued. At Ensleigh & Mulberry Park in Bath, BaNES used Concept Statements to set design & affordability expectations before land was sold, turning quality into part of the site's value. Read more in the blog👇 buff.ly/L8Pn4jO
tcpa.org.uk
Why better placemaking starts at land valuation: Lessons from Ensleigh and Mulberry Park in Bath
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Gravel Influencer @gravelinfluencer.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
This study is a good reminder that building cities where children can thrive means reducing car dependency and designing streets centered around people
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Faculty of Humanities @uomhums.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
💷 #ClimateChange isn't just causing the environment to break down: it’s also causing the cost of everything to go up. But the concern isn't just with the impact on wallets. Rising costs also effect social inequality, political radicalization, and geopolitical instability: ow.ly/7oTy50ZzNbg
A photo of a wildfire with purple overlaid. Text reads: 'Climateflation: the idea that the causes, effects, and even attempts to mitigate climate change are making everyday life more expensive.'
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Driving is really expensive for all of us. And these studies are likely still underestimating the the climate and pollution costs, which we’re arrogant to assume we fully understand. #CityMakingMath
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The University of Manchester @manchester.ac.uk · 10/08/2026
How can canals like these cool us down in heatwaves? ⬇️☀️ Urban canals can reduce nearby temperatures by 1.5–2.3°C, reducing levels of heat stress for those nearby, meaning millions could benefit from this crucial cooling effect as temperatures continue to rise. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Urban Canals can reduce temperatures by up to 2 degrees
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Adam Schwarz @adamjschwarz.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
When the story of why humanity didn't stop climate change is written, it will feature front pages like this. Even as the skies blacken with climate change-induced wildfires, right wing media continue their relentless crusade against measures to tackle it.
The Times: Net zero risks blackouts. Below a photo of French wildfires.
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Rob Richardson @drrobrichardson.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Pleased the paper I co-authored with @profjtwhite.bsky.social and Gareth James @uofgussp.bsky.social on placemaking in post-devolution Scotland has been shortlisted for the RTPI Patsy Healey Award for Academic Excellence. Congrats to all finalists! @uomspal.bsky.social @uomseed.bsky.social
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Rob Richardson @drrobrichardson.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
What a difference creating places for people rather than cars makes
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Transport for New Homes @transportfornewhomes.org.uk · 13/07/2026
Latest post on the blog, we look at a new model for community-led regeneration and placemaking. www.transportfornewhomes.org.uk/large-scale-...
transportfornewhomes.org.uk
Large-scale housing site being delivered by the community
A new model for community-led regeneration, placemaking.
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Yonah Freemark @yonahfreemark.com · 07/07/2026
A new report from @frontiergroup.bsky.social shows how some states have reduced vehicle miles traveled per capita: frontiergroup.org/resources/wh... One key explanation: Land use! ⏬ States with higher population densities have less car travel! And states that grew through density reduced driving!
Higher population density is associated with less driving (note: New York state, with very high population density and low per capita VMT, is not shown).States that grew through increased density reduced driving rates
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Bob From Accounts 🚲 @bobfromaccounts.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
New separated cycle lanes popping up on Shaftesbury Ave. All it takes is political will + the removal of some unnecessary parking spaces. London is becoming a cycling city, reflecting a generational shift that recognises driving in urban areas as slow, inefficient use of time.
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Rob Richardson @drrobrichardson.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
On the way back from an engaging few days at @gpean-planning.bsky.social World Planning Schools Congress at Aalto University. I presented my recent paper on Placemaking in Scotland in a lively session - much to discuss with other presenters and attendees on discretion, centralisation & more #WPSC26
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Rob Richardson @drrobrichardson.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Super (sunny) day in Morecambe to visit the Eden project site and hear about the Levelling Up Fund process. Exciting time for the town and its regeneration plans.
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Spatial Policy & Analysis Lab @uomspal.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
New paper from Xinyue Dong and Mark Baker examining the constraints facing neighbourhood forums in urban, unparished areas of England: www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/10.3828/...
liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk
Planning in the margins: reflections on forum-led neighbourhood planning in England | Town Planning Review
This article examines the institutional constraints facing neighbourhood forums in urban, unparished areas of England. Although neighbourhood planning aims to empower communities, neighbourhood forums remain non-statutory and rely on local planning ...
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Rob Richardson @drrobrichardson.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
This morning fulfilled my transport-nerd ambition of getting my local ‘parliamentary’ train service from Reddish South. The 5th least used station in the UK last year with 102 passengers in total. Just two trains a week - Stalybridge to Stockport (and back) on Saturday mornings.
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UN-Habitat @un-habitat.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
It is about recognizing that people experience cities differently based on gender, age, disability, income, and caregiving responsibilities - and ensuring these realities are reflected in how we design and manage urban spaces.
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Faculty of Humanities @uomhums.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
104 matches. 16 cities. One major climate cost. ⚽ Experts warn that the environmental cost of global sport is rising rapidly, and FIFA must change their approach to reduce football’s environmental impact. @manchester.ac.uk #FIFA #Football 🔗 www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/e...
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Rob Richardson @drrobrichardson.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
One of the many reasons we take the Urban Design & International Planning students to Vienna. The city does so much on placemaking and urban liveability.
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Rob Richardson @drrobrichardson.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Really interesting to find out about town centre regeneration in Leigh and Ashton with Wigan Council yesterday. Loads of great things going on, and lots to learn about navigating complex national regen funding to shape places locally
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Town and Country Planning Association @thetcpa.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
This short guide highlights the design & placemaking interventions that local authorities can use to enhance the climate resilience of places. This resource is sponsored by LUC, as part of the TCPA & @rtpiplanners.bsky.social 's Climate Guide: www.tcpa.org.uk/resources/de...
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Urban Truth Collective @urbantruth.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Remember, if you plan cities for cars and traffic, you get cars and traffic. If you plan cities for people and places, you get people and places. Via Fred Kent & @ppsplacemaking.bsky.social. #UrbanTruth
Same text as in post
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Campaign for Better Transport @bettertransport.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Transport accounts for 3/4 of total UK oil consumption. What people urgently need is: • Good, affordable public transport • Safe walking & cycling • 'Mobility hubs' which bring together public transport, shared cars, bikes & e-scooters road.cc/news/16-orga...
road.cc
“The UK deserves real transport choice for everyday journeys”: 16 organisations call PM to invest in active travel to combat rising fuel prices
Sixteen organisations are calling on the PM to set a national mode shift target, invest in buses, rail and active travel to give people affordable alternatives to driving, and reduce reliance on volat...
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Rob Richardson @drrobrichardson.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
And a missed opportunity to encourage people to drive less instead
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John Munro @johnmunro.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
#UKCarCulture has well established that collaborating with nasty regimes is preferable to taking the chance that a car owner might encounter inconvenience. No surprises here.
bbc.co.uk
UK loosens Russian oil sanctions as fuel prices rise
The waiver reflects increasing supply concerns over certain fuels due to the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
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Natalie Bennett @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
#ClimateAdaptation As in so many areas of security, the UK is terribly under-prepared www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
UK ‘built for climate that no longer exists’ and needs urgent changes to survive global heating, report warns
Landmark report calls for widespread air conditioning and says UK temperatures forecast to exceed 40C by 2050
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Rob Richardson @drrobrichardson.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Popped into the Inspiration exhibition, part of the @railway200.bsky.social celebrations, at Stockport station earlier this week. A great initiative and it was fun to take part in the occasion!
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Rob Richardson @drrobrichardson.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
What an empty car park tells us about the UK's debt problem www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Also that people are happy to pay £1000s/year to General Motors and Shell, but not a few £s to the council to fund public services. Which would otherwise be collected through higher taxes if not parking fees
bbc.co.uk
What an empty car park says about one of the UK's poorest areas
The BBC has been speaking to people living in one of England's poorest communities.
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Royal Town Planning Institute @rtpiplanners.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Calling all planning practitioners, researchers, students & academics: There's only 1 month left to enter the 2026 Awards for Research Excellence, which recognise & promote high-quality spatial planning research from RTPI-accredited planning schools. Enter today: www.rtpi.org.uk/researchawards
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Rob Richardson @drrobrichardson.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Notwithstanding some really important issues, the ‘high street’ is becoming an increasingly mythical construct. The high street from say the 1970s, before out of town shopping centres and retail parks, and well before online retail, is long gone www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Don't ignore plight of High Streets, voters say, as local elections approach
Failing High Streets fuel a wider sense of political discontent which could prove crucial in the upcoming elections for English councils in May.
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The London Economic @thelondoneconomic.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
As predictable as night following day
thelondoneconomic.com
Oil giant BP sees profits more than double as Iran war pushes oil prices up
BP have announced huge profits for the first quarter of the year thanks to the spike in oil prices caused by the Iran war.
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Pr Carlos Moreno - IAE Paris1 Sorbonne University @carlosmorenofr.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Amazing job by www.urbantruthcollective.com 🙌 👍🏼 The real “urban conspiracy” isn’t proximity, it’s distance. The “One-Hour City” traps millions in long commutes, car dependence and lost time. We need cities of proximity, time, and quality of life 🙏🏻 @brenttoderian.bsky.social @urbantruth.bsky.social
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Living Streets @livingstreets.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
It's happening! 📢 On Tuesday, MPs will consider an amendment to enable local leaders to ban pavement parking in their area. We need you to help us get this amendment on to the Bill. Ask your MP to agree to Amendment 265 when it's considered on Tuesday: bitly.livingstreets.org.uk/4tMU2Uq
An image of a person with a pushchair down a residential street near inconsiderately parked cars. The person is wearing striped clothing and walking past a black car. The setting includes brick buildings and a view of houses on a hill in the background.
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The University of Manchester @manchester.ac.uk · 17/04/2026
Scientists at The University of Manchester have developed a new way to measure how traffic contributes to rising urban temperatures, revealing that everyday vehicle use can play a measurable role in making cities warmer. doi.org/10.1029/2025...
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Rob Richardson @drrobrichardson.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
New paper with @profjtwhite.bsky.social & Gareth James has been finalised in Progress in Planning. We explore Scotland’s placemaking agenda compared to rest of the UK, identify several implementation challenges, and consider how best to deliver placemaking through planning doi.org/10.1016/j.pr...
doi.org
Redirecting
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Rob Richardson @drrobrichardson.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
Final couple of days of the MUD-Lab MSc Urban Design & International Planning study tour complete. We finished the week with Donau City, campus of the University of Business and Economics, and Aspern Seestadt. Now a bit of time for everyone to finish exploring Vienna before heading home tomorrow
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Rob Richardson @drrobrichardson.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Great first few days of the MUD-Lab Study Tour in Vienna with MSc Urban Design & International Planning students. So far we’ve visited the Ringstrasse, historic centre, Mariahilfe Strasse and Museumsquartier, Nordbahnhof development and Alterlaa. No better place to consider design, past and present
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Rob Richardson @drrobrichardson.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
It was fun taking first years round Fallowfield last week as part of my placemaking module. Gathering observations and ideas for their SWOT analysis coursework. My recce earlier in the week was much sunnier than the field visit itself!
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ManchesterSCI @manchestersci.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
🚗 SCI Annual Lecture Highlights Professor Henrietta Moore explored the hidden costs of car dependency in Roadkill: Unveiling the True Cost of Our Toxic Relationship with Cars. The talk challenged car-centric planning and called for “social collectivity at the core of urban design.”🌍 🔗Read more 👇
blogs.manchester.ac.uk
“Not a drive to the future we imagined” SCI annual lecture with Professor Dame Henrietta L. Moore.
A reflection on Dame Henrietta L. Moore’s SCI lecture on car dependency, urban design, and why car‑centred lifestyles no longer fit the 21st century.
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Urban Truth Collective @urbantruth.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
This is good advice every day, assuming of course that your local city or suburb hasn’t been specifically and deliberately designed to make you essentially car dependent… #UrbanTruth
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Rob Richardson @drrobrichardson.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Really sad to see, in a city centre which has already had so much fire damage in recent years. Huge relief that it looks like the fire service managed to prevent major damage to Central Station.
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Urban Truth Collective @urbantruth.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
Wait, we’re afraid of walkable distances now? #UrbanTruth
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Creative Manchester @uomcreativemcr.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Now exhibiting in the Samuel Alexander Glass Corridor: MossWorlds – Re-Storying Urban Lives 📅 Until 2 March 2026 📍Sam Alex Glass Corridor The exhibition is based on an interdisciplinary research project undertaken at The University of Manchester during 2024-5, supported by Creative Manchester.
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Rob Richardson @drrobrichardson.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
Meanwhile bus fares to the excellent interchange/many other town centre stops remain frozen at £2, for those put off by the extra 40p/hour. Town's parking charges increase 'defies belief' www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Stockport traders fear parking charges increase that 'defies belief'
Traders in Stockport fear an increase in parking charges will have a negative effect on business.
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Rob Richardson @drrobrichardson.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
There’s one month left to enter the RTPI North West Awards for Planning Excellence. If you have a project, plan, or team that deserves recognition, do consider a submission: www.rtpi.org.uk/find-my-rtpi...
rtpi.org.uk
North West Awards for Planning Excellence | Championing the power of planning
The RTPI North West Awards for Planning Excellence 2026 showcase and celebrate the best plans, projects, homes and people - enter now!
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