Clyde Hill’s Affordable Housing Settlement Offers a Case Study in State-Led Planning Pressure
The wealthy Seattle suburb is close to settling a legal challenge over its growth plan by offering developers extra building rights in…
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ODOT cost reporting obscures 60% overrun on Oregon highway project, raising questions about transport transparency
An Oregon highway widening project hailed as a budget success actually ran more than 60% over its original cost estimate, according to…
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Austin moves to close 25-square-foot loophole in rental housing mould rules
Austin, Texas, is drafting new city code to replace a state rule that requires landlords to act only when mould covers 25…
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US mayors rank housing affordability as top crisis as costs squeeze cities
A new survey from the US Conference of Mayors finds affordable housing leading city leaders’ concerns as the rising cost of living…
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A transect for sprawl: can classifying suburban streets help London rethink its edges?
A planner’s thought experiment proposes a tiered system for rating commercial and residential streets by walkability. Could a similar taxonomy help London…
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Seattle School Board Member Challenges Washington State MAGA-Backed Initiatives
Seattle School Board member Joe Mizrahi has issued a detailed critique of three Washington State ballot initiatives funded by a hedge fund…
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Lessons from Los Angeles: How housing policies can deter new development – a cautionary tale for London
Los Angeles developers are scaling back projects despite huge housing demand, blaming pandemic-era rent protections and a mansion tax that encourages small-scale…
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Uber’s $10B robotaxi bet signals a shift in urban mobility, but London’s streets remain a different arena
Uber has announced a $10 billion investment in autonomous vehicles, intensifying the robotaxi race with Waymo, Zoox and Tesla. For London, the…
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US DOT road safety plan targets congestion and AV strategy, with implications for London’s Vision Zero approach
The US Department of Transportation’s 2026 National Roadway Safety Strategy prioritises rural and tribal communities and advanced technology to cut preventable crashes.…
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Why the predicted Portland ‘Carmaggedon’ never arrived — and what London can learn about traffic evaporation
A month-long closure of a mile-long section of I-5 in Portland was forecast to triple commute times. Instead, morning peak journeys increased…
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What the fall of Angkor reveals about the risks of low-density urban sprawl
A new analysis of the fall of Angkor, the ancient Khmer capital, draws parallels between its sprawling, low-density infrastructure and the vulnerabilities…
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Why urban beauty matters for community wellbeing and civic pride
Research and everyday experience show that beautiful places foster stronger communities, better mental health, and greater civic engagement. What can London learn…
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