Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 27/09/2026The Master Oak, Stanmore. Thought to date from the reign of Henry VIII, its heft is likely due to a clutch of acorns buried by a squirrel that grew together and fused over the centuries. 000
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 24/09/2026Have you ever wondered how the proposed Local Government Reorganisation correlates with the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of 5th-9th century England? Of course not! But I made a map of it anyway. Compare LGR, devolution and SDS boundaries...now with added "Heptarchy Mode". apps.curtography.uk/lgr/ 171
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 22/09/2026We were on Rainham Marshes on Sunday. Here are some Paper Wasps that have built their home at either end of a steel handrail. I wonder if they join up in the middle? 020
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 20/09/2026I've delved into the distressing statistics around the human and financial cost of homelessness in England. It's grim. apps.curtography.uk/ta/apps.curtography.ukEngland's Homelessness BillWhat homelessness and temporary accommodation cost every council in England, and what they have left to pay for it. 296 housing authorities, 2020-21 to 2025-26. 041
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 12/09/2026After a year of hard work, RCKa is delighted to launch the consultation draft of the London Plan Small Sites Design Code—a potentially transformative planning policy for new homes across the city. consult.london.gov.uk/london-small... 031
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 11/08/2026That’s a shame I just bought myself a brand new pair of sexpestacles. 130
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 02/08/2026The draft #LondonPlan introduces the concept of Broad Locations of Growth: areas of green belt expected to deliver 56,100 homes. There are ten BLGs, covering 50 stations in all. I've mapped every one—so come join me on a jaunt around the fringes of London. curtography.uk/2026/08/02/b...curtography.ukBLG Gazetteer - CurtographyA long journey around the ten Broad Locations of Growth established by the draft London Plan. 051
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 28/07/2026My first monthly column for the AJ: what if there are too many architects? 020
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 28/06/2026Handsome new mansion block nearly finished close to Enfield Chase. This is the future of the suburbs, and it's dense(r). 040
Reposted by Russell CurtisAnon Opin @anonopin.bsky.social · 10/06/2026Young people can't afford to live. They've done everything they were told to do, studied, went to university, they are the best "trained" generation ever, but it's not enough anymore. If you don't think this ends in a major upheaval or uprising in the next few years, you're blind 1219814
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 11/05/2026It was my birthday yesterday, so what better way to celebrate than scraping every London borough's website to create an interactive map showing the winning candidate for every ward (apart from Newham, which has failed to publish its numbers, for some reason). Enjoy! smallsites.london/Election2026...smallsites.londonLondon Local Elections 2026 – Ward MapInteractive ward-level results for the 2026 London local elections. Click any ward to see the full candidate breakdown. 1113
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 10/05/2026Why is it that only Brent and Newham have failed to release the number of votes cast for each candidate in Thursday’s election? 000
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 24/04/2026More golf course shenanigans, this time in this weekend’s @financialtimes.com—online now, and in print tomorrow. Looking forward to another social media pile-on this weekend! www.ft.com/content/1380...ft.comIs it time to pave over London’s golf courses?Often underused green spaces are being targeted as a creative solution for sclerotic housebuilding rates in the capital. But environmentalists are calling the plan a duff 040
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 23/04/2026Fairway or driveway? Coverage of my ongoing research into the potential for golf courses to make way for housing in this BBC In Depth article, published today. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...bbc.co.ukWhy golf courses are in the crosshairs of Britain's housing crisisAre golf courses the right places to build housing, or are they simply a soft target? 101
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 13/04/2026I’ve been asked to deliver the annual lecture for the Planning Officers’ Society in a couple of days’ time, so if you want to learn more about our research into suburban intensification and the strategic potential of small site housing, see here 👇🏻 www.planningofficers.org.uk/events/pos-a...planningofficers.org.uk POS 012
Reposted by Russell CurtisGiles Wilkes @gilesyb.bsky.social · 06/04/2026www.thetimes.com/travel/inspi... How about "valuable new development unlocked" as a better characterisation?thetimes.comOne in five golf clubs at risk as developers eye lucrative landRising land values, mounting costs and weak finances are forcing golf course owners to consider redevelopment, with closures expected to accelerate 3038259
Reposted by Russell CurtisAnon Opin @anonopin.bsky.social · 05/04/2026Why do local campaign groups always turn out to be NIMBYs? Why not campaign for improvements to local infrastructure that will help the local community, rather than against every-fucking-thing?! 131446
Reposted by Russell CurtisMatthew Pennycook MP @matthewpennycookmp.bsky.social · 01/04/2026"With several other European nations reeling from the fresh surge in oil and gas costs, the UK's wind-heavy power system may act as a blueprint for other countries also seeking to reduce fossil fuel exposure". www.reuters.com/business/ene...reuters.comRecord wind output helps shield the UK from worst of Iran war falloutRecord output from wind farms has helped boost total clean power supplies in the United Kingdom to new highs so far in 2026, and allowed power firms to pare use of fossil fuels to multi-year lows. 12612
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 21/03/2026After 40% of the city was destroyed by allied bombing, Terni built back some really extraordinary buildings—many by Roman architect Mario Ridolfi, whose fountain in Tacito Square preceded the war. 050
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 02/03/2026Micropenis sufferers are easily identifiable by the four interlocking circles found on the front and rear of their cars. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...theguardian.comUS man issues challenge to disprove his claim of having world’s smallest penis to raise micropenis awarenessNorth Carolina’s Michael Phillips revealed that he had a 0.38in member in bid to reduce stigma of the condition 000
Reposted by Russell CurtisMaurice Lange @mauricelange.bsky.social · 03/02/2026I've learned everything I can about this chart and what it means for planning for more houses in cities. The report is out tomorrow! You can watch me talk about the chart and more at the launch event tomorrow, 2pm. Sign up here: www.centreforcities.org/event/what-b... 057
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 23/01/2026Is this where Trump tears a youngster from his family and drags him thousands of miles away to an unfamiliar, foreign land? 020
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 13/01/2026"It looks like you're a bit of a racist. Would you like me to suggest some clip art?" 020
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 06/01/2026Homelessness is increasing, and the financial and human costs are climbing. We have all the tools we need to solve it...so why aren't we using them? I've written an article for @news.architectsjournal.co.uk on the collective action we now need to take. www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/fast-ho...architectsjournal.co.ukFast homes at scale: ‘We’ve all the tools we need to solve homelessness’The solution to the UK’s homelessness crisis already exists. It just needs political will, planning nous and determination to bring it about 032
Reposted by Russell CurtisJames Ball @jamesrball.com · 09/12/2025Absolutely amazing chart from @peterkellner.bsky.social's piece in @thenewworldmag.bsky.social today: www.thenewworld.co.uk/peter-kellne... 601588618
Reposted by Russell CurtisAnon Opin @anonopin.bsky.social · 28/11/2025If divorced dads whose kids don't see them could go back to dressing up in superhero outfits and climbing up buildings instead of ushering in fascism I think we'd all be better off quite frankly. 1545656
Reposted by Russell CurtisArchitects' Journal @news.architectsjournal.co.uk · 19/11/2025Architects have reacted with cautious optimism to the government’s plan to automatically approve housing applications near train stationsarchitectsjournal.co.ukArchitects welcome default ‘yes’ for housing near transport hubsArchitects welcome default ‘yes’ for housing near transport hubs 031
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 30/10/2025Slight detour while in Croydon for a client meeting yesterday to swing by @anfurman.bsky.social’s exquisite tiled facade at Croydon Colonnade. You just want to rub your hands all over them. Delicious. 2215
Reposted by Russell CurtisMary Elkington 💙💛🇺🇦 @maryindevon.bsky.social · 27/10/2025Great post from @russellcurtis.com I've been banging on about this 1 - Para 84 comes from gummers modern mansions - retained in NPPF. Result: only self builds going are > 200m2 monsters with super big budgets. 1/n russellcurtis.com/2025/10/18/g...russellcurtis.comGoing Solo - Russell Curtis"Micro" development: the case for a new category of planning application to remove the planning barriers for single family homes. 231
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 08/10/2025"Despite numerous difficulties including securing Planning Consent, consents from the Environment Agency and United Utilities, as well as other statutory bodies, a scheme was agreed in 2019 and the footbridge laid in place in 2020." Here's the infrastructure project that required these permissions: 220
Reposted by Russell CurtisJonn Elledge @jonnelledge.bsky.social · 28/09/2025 "There are other questions the CPRE does not ask. Chief among them: if there is so much brownfield land available in the middle of a housing crisis, then why on Earth aren’t we already building on it?" Everything continues to be awful so I've returned to my comfort zone.newstatesman.comNo, brownfield land won’t solve the housing crisisBrownfield building sounds too good to be true – and it is 127918
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 27/09/2025Difficult to believe my suggestion didn’t make the cut, but here it is anyway: a recommendation for a series of new settlements on the train line between London and Cambridge, including Ashwell & Morden…the most isolated—but well-connected—station in England. russellcurtis.com/2024/11/10/g...russellcurtis.comGet on board - Russell CurtisA submission to the New Towns Taskforce proposing how 100,000 people could be housed around south Cambridgeshire's rural train stations. 070
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 22/08/2025Our Highgate Newtown Community Centre for Camden Council—including 41 beautiful homes for refugee families and a 2,000 sqm community facility—is shortlisted for the New London Awards. nla.london/projects/hig...nla.londonHighgate Newtown Community CentreHNCP transforms a former drill hall in Camden into 41 affordable homes for refugees and over 2,000sqm of flexible community space. The scheme delivers an inclus 280
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 21/08/2025We’ve been here before, right? The halfwits’ moral panic seems to work on a 25 year cycle. 010
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 20/08/2025We really enjoyed being part of this fantastic collaboration between design team, contractor and manufacturer. Full integration, from strategic planning policy to turnkey installation. www.bdonline.co.uk/home/rcka-in...bdonline.co.ukRCKa installs prototype modular solution to housing crisis outside City HallThe home can be installed in under two hours and a prototype scheme is planned for Havering later this year 031
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 20/08/2025The alabaster windows at Orvieto cathedral really are something. 1111
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 09/08/2025Allotments have been in the news this week, so I've done a bit of mapping work to understand whether building homes on them might help solve the housing crisis. (Spoiler alert: it won't). russellcurtis.com/2025/08/09/g...russellcurtis.comGrowing Pains - Russell CurtisBuilding homes on London's allotments won't solve the housing crisis. The capital's comedic carrots and amusing marrows are safe, for now. 021
Reposted by Russell CurtisJim Gleeson @geographyjim.bsky.social · 30/07/2025Very useful analysis from Seattle of the prices charged when one home is replaced with one or more new homes. A 1-for-1 replacement results in a home nearly three times as expensive, but replacing one home with 9+ new ones involves average prices that are around half the original. 196
Reposted by Russell CurtisArchitects' Journal @news.architectsjournal.co.uk · 30/07/2025RCKa has submitted an application for a new ‘kit of parts’ 2,200m² adult education college on Sutton High Street, south Londonarchitectsjournal.co.ukRCKa reveals proposals for new college on south London high streetRCKa reveals proposals for new college on south London high street 011
Russell Curtis @russellcurtis.co.uk · 23/07/2025Aah, this is lovely—well done wonderful RCKa team. 020