Celebrate Clean Air Day with CRP

15th June 2021 / Posted by Fiona Coull

Thursday 17th June is Clean Air Day, the UK’s largest air pollution campaign led by Global Action Plan. The day will bring together communities, businesses, schools and the health sector to improve understanding of air pollution and build awareness around the impact it has on our health, as well as what can be done to improve air quality.

This year the theme is on ‘protecting our children’s health from air pollution’. To support this, CRP have created some Top Tips and resources to help schools and businesses take simple actions to improve air quality and help safeguard future generations. Download CRP’s Clean Air Day materials here!

As part of Healthy Streets Everyday, CRP is holding a photo competition to celebrate Clean Air Day, with the lucky winner receiving a £250 prize!  

To enter, simply share a photo on Twitter or LinkedIn from one of the following themes, remembering to tag Cross River Partnership (@CrossRiverPship) and #CleanAirDay in your post:

  • A clean air walking or cycling trip
  • Enjoying urban nature
  • An electric vehicle in action
  • A  cargo bike in action

A winner will then be selected at random on Clean Air Day – Good luck!*

For further information about the HSE Programme take a look at our HSE Webpage or contact CRP Project Manager Fiona Coull, fionacoull@crossriverpartnership.org

*Terms and conditions apply

Clean Air Villages 3 Case Study Launch

25th May 2021 / Posted by CRP Team

CRP is proud to share five case studies developed as part of the Clean Air Villages 3 (CAV3) programme. The case studies aim to promote best practice, inspiring businesses, local authorities, BIDs, landowners, hospitals, residents and other groups to utilise tools available to reduce congestion and pollution.

Each of CRP’s CAV3 case studies brings a different theme/solution related to better air quality:

All of CRP’s Case Studies and flyers for each Clean Air Route are available on the CAV3 project page.

Clean Air Villages Directory: User Survey

24th May 2021 / Posted by Sefinat Otaru

The CRP Clean Air Villages Directory is continuing to help Londoners find local businesses that use zero/ ultra-low emission modes of transport, such as bicycles and electric vehicles, for their deliveries. The Directory is now in its third year, and we would like to know what you think about it so far.

Please complete this 5-question survey by 12pm, Friday 4th June 2021.

Thank you!

The Fitzrovia Partnership seeking Head of Place & Sustainability

24th May 2021 / Posted by CRP Team

The Fitzrovia Partnership are hiring for a senior role within the organisation. The new hire will lead on the Partnership’s sustainability and operations, in an evolving role with the opportunity for growth as the Partnership renews its mandate for 2022 and beyond.

The Head of Place and Sustainability will be a key strategic lead for the Partnership and its members, helping to design and implement a wide range of place interventions and services for those that shape the area.

If you are interested, please download the job description or contact Chief Operating Officer Lee Lyons for more information.

5th June is World Environment Day!

24th May 2021 / Posted by CRP Team

World Environment Day is just around the corner. It’s a fantastic day to take a moment – and action – to address pressing environmental issues. Launched in 1974, World Environment Day aimed at engaging businesses, governments and citizens around the world over environmental issues. Even city dwellers like CRP’s Greater London community can get involved.

Some great ways to help the environment every day:

CRP’s Staff Spotlight On: Susannah Wilks

24th May 2021 / Posted by Susannah Wilks

This week we are featuring CRP Director Susannah WilksSusannah has been working with CRP for 21 years, and has been the Director for the last 10 years.  She has enjoyed every minute of it!  

“Before working with CRP I got my degree in Urban and Regional Planning and had some spells working in UK Property Consultancies, Charity Fundraising, Councils and Academia. I love the fact that CRP works with all of these sectors on a daily basis, for the good of London and Londoners.

The best thing about CRP? The partners, of course!”

Planning Reform

24th May 2021 / Posted by Susannah Wilks

“The biggest shake–up to planning rules in a generation” stated Russell Gardner, Ernst and Young’s UK & Ireland Head of Real Estate, on the Planning Bill
announced in the Queen’s Speech on 11th May. As reported by Jonathan Knott in the Municipal Journal, Jonathan Carr-West, chief executive of the Local Government Information Unit also questioned the planning proposals, saying:

“Everyone agrees that we need to build many, many more houses in this country. It’s less clear that planning is what is preventing us from doing so.” 

Dr Carr-West asked: “Are major planning changes on permitted development totally compatible with rejuvenating town centres?” . He said that while the measures may reduce “the impact of nimbyism” they could also “draw concern over the loss of local democratic process”, warning that “a careful balance will need to be struck”.

London Councils issued a statement from their executive member for housing and planning Darren Rodwell, calling the planning overhaul “a complete disaster in the making”“We’re desperate for more affordable housing in the capital – but these reforms risk making the situation worse,” he said.

The planning white paper last year proposed creating three different zones with different purposes and degrees of development; “growth”, “renewal” or “protection”. However, The Times on 11th May reported that zones will be marked for growth or protection, with ministers “undecided on adding a third category for regeneration”.

London Councils says that moving to a zonal system would mean “fewer opportunities for local accountability and oversight”, making it “harder for councils to make sure the right sort of homes are built to the right standard in the right places”.

For further information please contact CRP’s Director Susannah Wilks.

 

NHS Sustainability Strategy Launch

24th May 2021 / Posted by CRP Team

On 4th June, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust will be launching their new Sustainability Strategy 2021-2031!

During a morning session at 10am, they will be providing an introduction to the strategy and highlighting the commitment to sustainability leaderships from senior management.

The afternoon session will include a presentation of ongoing projects that are turning the sustainability strategy into action.

For more details, please contact Trust Air Quality Manager, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, Tanja Dalle-Muenchmeyer.

Draft Environment SPD now Open for Consultation

24th May 2021 / Posted by CRP Team

In September 2019, Westminster City Council (WCC) announced a Climate Emergency and set the ambition for the council to be carbon neutral by 2030, with the whole city to follow suit by 2040. The City of Westminster is unique in that 86% of its emissions come from the built environment, a much higher proportion compared to other areas across the country. Having an up to date, ambitious and robust planning policy is a critical next step to achieving net zero across the city.

Last week, WCC launched the consultation on the draft Environmental Supplementary Planning Document (ESPD) as part of their ambitious programme to deliver on climate emergency commitments. The ESPD provides further detail and guidance on the City Plan’s environment policies, supporting our aspirations to create a greener, cleaner and healthier city.

The ESPD will help ensure that WCC drive emissions reductions and wider environmental sustainability through the city’s built environment. WCC will be holding a series of consultation events over the coming weeks focusing on the topics covered in the charters of the ESPD. The consultation draft of the ESPD is available here and the consultation is open for six weeks, until 28th June 2021, with an opportunity to send responses to the consultation.

Send a response to the consultation – planningpolicy@westminster.gov.uk

 

 

Fourth Plinth Commission: Vote Now

24th May 2021 / Posted by CRP Team

Six of the world’s most exciting contemporary artists have presented their ideas for the next Fourth Plinth commission, for 2022 – 2024! You can now vote for your favourite, whether that be ‘The Jewellery Tree’, ‘Antelope’, ‘GOPNOGO’, ‘On Hunger and Farming in the Skies of the Past 1957 – 1966’, ‘Improntas (Imprint)’ or ‘Bumpamna for Traflagar Square’.

You can learn more about the history of the Fourth Plinth, revisit previous commissions and explore the new shortlist here.