iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

Landscape Research @landscaperesearch.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Following our AGM on Sept 5, we’re excited to welcome 3 new Trustees to the LRG Board: saida hammami, Charlotte L McLean & Charlotte Veal. We’re also pleased to confirm the re-election of Gillian Lawson and @ianmell.bsky.social 👉 Learn about our new Trustees: landscaperesearch.org/new-trustees...

132

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

Royal Town Planning Institute @rtpiplanners.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

A survey from the RTPI and YouGov reveals that the UK public has serious doubts about whether the next generation of new towns will meet future needs. These findings echo recommendations in RTPI’s Futureproof New Towns interim report: www.rtpi.org.uk/news/2025/au...

rtpi.org.uk

Public lacks confidence in the next generation of New Towns, but has clear ideas for getting them right, RTPI and YouGov survey finds

73% of Brits are not confident the next generation of new towns will meet community needs in 50 years’ time.

052

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

Local Partnerships @localpartnerships.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

localpartnerships.gov.uk/vacancies/as... localpartnerships.gov.uk/vacancies/pr...

001

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

Town and Country Planning Association @thetcpa.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

Do you have a passion for helping to create healthy, sustainable & resilient places that are fair for everyone? Vacancy: Osborn Research Assistant. This role works on a range of TCPA projects, with an emphasis on large-scale new communities. Deadline: Mon 1 Sept www.tcpa.org.uk/osborn-resea...

tcpa.org.uk

Osborn Research Assistant (New Towns and Garden Cities) - Town and Country Planning Association

We have an exciting opportunity to join the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) as the Osborn Research Assistant.

002

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

Trees For Streets @treesforstreets.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

Growing up and attending school surrounded by trees can make a significant difference in the development of our children. Studies have found that trees can: 📝 Improve test scores 🚫 Reduce behavioural issues 😁 Decrease the risk of depression 🧠 Improve cognitive development

031

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

Town and Country Planning Association @thetcpa.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

Free webinar: Tackling health inequalities through green & blue infrastructure (23 Oct) Prof Ben Wheeler & Dr Mark Ferguson will discuss opportunities/risks for planners when integrating greenspace & the benefits of a systems approach. Plus a Dorset Council case study www.tcpa.org.uk/event/tackli...

tcpa.org.uk

Tackling health inequalities through green and blue infrastructure - webinar - Town and Country Planning Association

Can green and blue infrastructure help reduce health inequalities? Join this free webinar that will delve into the latest research linking planning, green / blue space, and health inequalities. Led…

032

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

School of Environment, Education, and Development @uomseed.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

At this year's Labour Party Conf, among the @manchester.ac.uk expert panellists we are pleased to see: Ian Mell, Professor in Environmental & Landscape Planning discussing housing and infrastructure Caroline Bond, Professor of Educational Psychology discussing school absence #UKPolicy #PPEM #MIE

A list of The University of Manchester panellists at the Labour Party Conference. Listed alongside their headshots are Professors Arpana Verma, Ian Mell, Daniel Dresner, Caroline Bond and Duncan Ivison.

132

Prof. Ian Mell @ianmell.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

www.placenorthwest.co.uk/manchester-g... On paper this looks good - some of the rhetoric is a little OTT but that’s what you expect. It remains to be seen what they cost and who can afford to like their (including the 20% affordable). Also what will the impact be in Mayfield during construction

placenorthwest.co.uk

Manchester greenlights nearly 1,000 homes - Place North West

Landsec’s plans for 879 apartments at Mayfield and Great Places Housing Group’s ambitions for 82 affordable residences near Etihad Stadium can both progress now that city councillors have given them t...

010

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

Boston Office of Green Infrastructure @green-infrastructure.boston.gov · 30/07/2025

Join the Office of Green Infrastructure! We're hiring a Director of Green Infrastructure. Visit boston.gov/jobs and apply today!

012

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

Landscape Research @landscaperesearch.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

Reminder: LRG Board Nominations Close Soon! There’s still time to put yourself forward to join the Landscape Research Group’s Board of Trustees in 2025. Deadline for nominations: 3 August 2025 (this Sunday!) Find out more and apply via our website landscaperesearch.org/trustee-oppo...

landscaperesearch.org

Join LRG’s Team of Trustees in 2025 - Landscape Research Group

The trustees are crucial to LRG’s work. They ensure that the charity is well run, and they decide how the charity should go about meeting its aims, which are to advance landscape research and support ...

101

Prof. Ian Mell @ianmell.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

It’s really good to see this out - Some thoughts on grey/green belt for the Landscape Institute journal. Lots to consider with the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. How do we ensure that nature is essential infrastructure and change the rhetoric from build build build - to development with nature

040

Prof. Ian Mell @ianmell.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

I’m very not been in the Olympic park in London for a while but the phased residential and development of new GI and urban nature seems to be working well. New neighbourhoods, a vibrant atmosphere and a people centred approach to design.

020

Prof. Ian Mell @ianmell.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

Some great news for Planning, Property & Environmental Management at Manchester. Phil Black and colleagues have been nominated for the RTPI Patsy Healey Award for Academic Excellence. We were also nominated via the Rural Planning Futures book led by Mark Scott www.rtpi.org.uk/events-train...

rtpi.org.uk

The RTPI Awards for Research Excellence

The RTPI Awards for Research Excellence recognise and promote high quality, impactful spatial planning research.

010

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

Dr Matt Kirby @drmattkirby.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Blackheath and Greenwich looking more like a Savanna than a Common and Park on this hot London day! But #GreenInfrastructure providing "more than human" urban cooling benefits and interesting to see drought resistance of non-cut vs cut!

021

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

Landscape Research @landscaperesearch.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

We’re excited to announce that LRG is partnering with the School of Landscape Architecture at Beijing Forestry University (BFU) to co-host the 2025 International Landscape Architecture Symposium (ILAS). Call for Abstracts -- 15 August 2025 More info & submissions: landscaperesearch.org/ilas2025

landscaperesearch.org

ILAS 2025 Conference Announcement - Landscape Research Group

We are delighted to announce that Landscape Research Group (LRG) is partnering with the School of Landscape Architecture at Beijing Forestry University (BFU) for the 2025 International Landscape Archi...

101

Prof. Ian Mell @ianmell.bsky.social · 13/07/2025

I was talking to a friend about proportionality and biodiversity the other day. They have a wildlife focussed garden and it’s great but we discussed is it enough if not everyone is going the same. Here at work we’re doing small interventions. But how can we scale these up to ensure we get it right?

040

Prof. Ian Mell @ianmell.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

I was in Cambridge the other day and saw this building site. It used to be - I think - a timber merchants. So will it be big enough to be a neighbourhood and if your baseline for biodiversity was potentially 0% is that 280% increase meaningful. It so high density though so that’s good

110

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

Parks for London @parksforlondon.org.uk · 08/07/2025

We're delighted to see our letter published in The Guardian last week! Read it here: tr.ee/guardian-let... "Council budgets have fallen and there is no national strategy for green spaces, despite the huge benefits they offer, writes Ed Stannard."

tr.ee

Public parks offer value that privately developed spaces can’t match | Letter

Letter: Council budgets for parks have fallen and there is no national strategy for green spaces despite their huge value, writes Ed Stannard

001

Prof. Ian Mell @ianmell.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

I’ll be taking part in this event next week - if you’re interested in how green infrastructure can help create sustainable communities: How can we build infrastructure fit for the future? This might be for you. events.manchester.ac.uk/event/event:...

events.manchester.ac.uk

Creating sustainable communities: How can we build infrastructure fit for the future? | Events at The University of Manchester

010

Prof. Ian Mell @ianmell.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

I’ve just been on the castlefield viaduct for the first time in a while and it’s growing on me. Maybe it was the drizzle and mix of green and industrial architecture that lightened my mood. It could work as a connective route but is it a park. Lots for the National Trust to consider.

030

Prof. Ian Mell @ianmell.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

www.gov.scot/news/new-nat... This is a really interesting outcome. Whilst conservation and landscape protection are critical there are always downsides. It’s good that they had a consultation and have listened - is a 54/46 split sufficient though to show deeper meanings regarding the environment?

gov.scot

New National Park decision

No designation for Galloway and Ayrshire.

010

Prof. Ian Mell @ianmell.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

London has any number of flaws - housing, costs, jobs, wages but it does know how to do green infrastructure. Yes I know it’s high end GI but on a sunny day it looks splendid and is a nice walk to the Camley Street Nature Reserve. The GLA have looked to maximise space I for nature and it works

010

Prof. Ian Mell @ianmell.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

It’s now a month until the oasis gigs but the fences (and there are a lot of fences) won’t be taken down just to be put up again. So that’s 2 months of partial use. Also it’ll be very interesting to see if the city council enforce the remediation works to get the park back up to scratch…

010

Prof. Ian Mell @ianmell.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Parklife has been in this weekend and it seems to have gone off without any problems. The whole thing though does place a lot of restrictions on residents (including me) so it’s good to see this fund in place. However, none of these project support those continuities around the park directly

110

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

Centre for Landscape Regeneration @clr-cambridge.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

The fourth edition of the @lunz-hub.bsky.social Hub Newsletter is now available to read. Subscribe for updates on activities, events, and publications from the Hub community for Spring 2025. View the Newsletter here ➡️ bit.ly/3QJTmOf Subscribe to the Newsletter here ➡️ bit.ly/4bp3zsK #LUNZHub

033

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

Urban Studies Foundation @urbanstudiesfoundation.org · 08/05/2025

📢 To celebrate the release of C.P. Pow: Selected Essays (2025), USF will dedicate one 2025 International Fellowship in his memory — for an urban scholar from or working in East & Southeast Asia. 🔗 Learn more: ow.ly/u7KN50VOxlH

053

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

School of Environment, Education, and Development @uomseed.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

We’re delighted to welcome distinguished economist and politician Elisa Ferreira to the Department of Planning, Property and Environmental Management as an Honorary Professor. A series of events and activities will coincide with Professor Ferreira’s upcoming visit this November.

manchester.ac.uk

Professor Elisa Ferreira joins The University of Manchester

Professor Ferreira is an economist (MA in European and Regional Policies and PhD in Economics, U. Reading) and politician from Portugal, who most recently served as the European Commissioner for Cohes...

032

Prof. Ian Mell @ianmell.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

www.theguardian.com/environment/... - yep sensible commentary here about the role of Natural England and their role in safeguarding nature and offering constructive advice. They are stoping development - just asking that poor quality development is improved.

theguardian.com

Natural England chair rejects ministers’ claim that nature blocks development

Exclusive: Tony Juniper, who will oversee nature restoration fund, says claims ‘not fully backed by evidence’

000

Prof. Ian Mell @ianmell.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

bills.parliament.uk/bills/3819 This is interesting but aren’t some of these action/guidance roles already done by Natural England and Defra - will this just add another level of bureaucracy that will then be overruled by government in the UK?

bills.parliament.uk

Green Spaces Bill - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament

Current version of Green Spaces Bill with latest news, sponsors, and progress through Houses

000

Prof. Ian Mell @ianmell.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Sadiq Khan to announce plans to build houses on London green belt - this will cause uproar. The argument for using low ecological/social value green space is logical - as this is not parks or public green space. It does need thinking through though. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

theguardian.com

Sadiq Khan to announce plans to build houses on London green belt

Mayor to make major policy shift and say scale of housing crisis requires breaking taboo

000

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

ucdplanning.bsky.social @ucdplanning.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

UCD Planning School would like to congratulate Mark Scott @markscott-ucd.bsky.social and other contributors (John Sturzaker, Nick Gallent, Gavin Parker, Amy Burnett, Ian Mell) in collaboration with @rtpiplanners.bsky.social, for their valuable contribution to rural planning. Well done.

062

Prof. Ian Mell @ianmell.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

I really enjoyed presenting about how green space design travels between geographies and culture in east and southeast Asia yesterday at the @ihrlibrary.bsky.social History of Gardens and Designed Landscapes seminar - some great questions and a lovely crowd. www.history.ac.uk/seminar/hist...

011

Prof. Ian Mell @ianmell.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

Very excited to receive this in the post today - working with the @rtpiplanners.bsky.social myself John Sturzaker, Mark Scott, Nick Gallent, Gavin Parker and Amy Burnett have considered with the future holds for rural planning in the UK and Ireland - well worth checking out

045

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

Centre for Landscape Regeneration @clr-cambridge.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

🗺️ Report out: Land Management in the Cairngorms Surveying 18 landholdings across nearly 40% of the Park, we explore how land managers are blending tradition with innovation—farming, forestry, conservation, tourism, and more. 🔗 Read the full report: www.clr.conservation.cam.ac.uk/projects/cai...

clr.conservation.cam.ac.uk

Cairngorms Land Management Survey | Centre for Landscape Regeneration

New Report: Understanding Land Management in the Cairngorms National Park circle-s-01.png The Cairngorms National Park is a rich and varied landscape that supports a broad spectrum of land use and ma...

032

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

School of Environment, Education, and Development @uomseed.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

How can land value capture policies contribute to the Gov's house building plans and help fund affordable housing and public infrastructure? Dr Sotirios Thanos, Dr Eero Valtonen, and Prof Anupam Nanda have provided evidence to the Housing, Communities & Local Government Committee inquiry.

committees.parliament.uk

032

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

School of Environment, Education, and Development @uomseed.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

The UK government's Nature Restoration Fund will change habitat regulations with the aim to balance nature and economic growth and 'get Britain building again'. Professor Graham Haughton and Dr Ian Thornhill highlight a cautious welcome for the fund - via @theconversation.com #NatureRestoration

theconversation.com

Time to stop blaming bats and newts for blocking development? A new fund could support nature and ease building delays

Tens of thousands of planned new homes are said to be stuck in limbo because of concerns about their effect on nature.

102

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

Local Government Association (LGA) @local.gov.uk · 28/04/2025

Supported by LGA Peer Challenges, Bury Council has made substantial improvements in governance, performance, and engagement. Here's a case study to explain how they did it: orlo.uk/kTIqW #LocalGov #LGAPeerChallenge #PeerSupport #BuryCouncil #Bury

Blue background with a darker blue speech bubble. Inside the speech bubble reads 'Bury Let's do it'.

001

Prof. Ian Mell @ianmell.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

This Thursday I'll be giving a talk about traditional/contemporary green space and parks design use in easter and southeast Asia for the Institute of Historical Research (IHR) - you can come in person (6pm Senate House, UoL) or register online - see below www.history.ac.uk/events/motif...

history.ac.uk

Motifs, policies, and functions in East and Southeast Asia: "green space" as a travelling concept

000

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

Alessandro Rigolon @alerigolon.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

When looking at these two photos of Seattle's waterfront, it's clear that most people prefer the bottom one. So why don't we remove more highways to create spaces for people? (1) State DOTs prioritize thoroughfares over places and (2) City leaders lack imagination and political courage. What else?

Photo of Seattle's waterfront. Top with a highway in 2016. The bottom with large pedestrian spaces and bridges in 2025

1031444

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

Urban Studies Foundation @urbanstudiesfoundation.org · 15/04/2025

📣 USF International Fellowships 2025 - apply now! This fully-funded program offers 3-9 month sabbatical research visits for urban scholars from the Global South. Read more & apply here: urbanstudiesfoundation.org/funding/inte... Deadline 16th July 2025

USF International Fellowships 2025 - deadline 16th July 2025

03644

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

Phil Stevenson @philstevenson.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

Apply now for a four year Research Fellowship at Kew. £41,020 per annum Closing Date 20/04/2025 opportunity to become an independent researcher with some startup funds for research and travel. careers.kew.org/internal/vac...

careers.kew.org

Kew Research Fellow (Trait Diversity and Function) - Careers | Kew GardensMenuClose menu

01625

Reposted by Prof. Ian Mell

Mark Tewdwr-Jones @marktewdwr-jones.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

The latest title in the Routledge @rtpiplanners.bsky.social RTPI Library book series is Rural Planning Futures edited by @markscott-ucd.bsky.social John Sturzaker Nick Gallent @gavinparker.bsky.social Amy Burnett & @ianmell.bsky.social www.routledge.com/RTPI-Library...

035