CRP’s next LiveShare session: Keep Informed

6th October 2020 / Posted by CRP Team

We are now over halfway through the CRP programme of 16 LiveShares – thank you to all of those who have attended so far! We have been joined by experts from across the industries of transport, business and environment, discussing a range of topics to help facilitate knowledge sharing and lessons of best practice.

Continuing to bring industry experts together, our next LiveShare will be no exception, so make sure you tune in this Clean Air Day, Thursday October 8th at 2pm! This session will look at operating sustainably, a north-south perspective on UK transport and COVID-19. We will be joined by the London Borough of Lambeth, Transport for Greater Manchester and will also be speaking about the CRP Clean Air Villages programme. This session will bring both London and Manchester together, enabling a unified approach to clean transport and COVID-19 recovery. To reserve your space, sign up here!

If you are not able to make a session, don’t worry! All of our LiveShares are posted on the CRP YouTube channel for you to view and share whenever you like. Remember to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to receive all our LiveShare updates and upcoming sessions. We hope to see you very soon!

For more information, please contact CRP Guidance Manager Tomos Joyce.

World Environmental Health Day!

21st September 2020 / Posted by CRP Team

26th September 2020 has been declared as World Environmental Health Day by the International Federation of Environmental Health. The key theme for this year is disease pandemic prevention which is particularly important now more than ever because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Environmental health practitioners play a pivotal role, in disaster preparedness and response, investigating outbreaks of infectious diseases, prevention of spread of infectious diseases along with inspections of numerous food, health and other establishments to ensure compliance monitoring of pandemic regulations and protocols. Click here for more details on events and how to get involved.

For further information, please contact CRP Operations Manager Carol Quamina.

Mayor to commission major new research into future of central London

21st September 2020 / Posted by CRP Team

The Mayor of London has announced a major new piece of research into the future challenges and opportunities facing central London and the Canary Wharf area, which have both suffered a sudden and rapid reduction in footfall due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Mayor has commissioned the research to help City Hall and its partners understand the emerging trends that could affect London’s city centre economy, including cultural and economic changes that may become the new normal as the city recovers.

The London Transition Board has been leading on tackling the immediate challenges of reopening central London and ensuring a safe return to work for Londoners.

European Mobility Week 2020

21st September 2020 / Posted by Ross Phillips

From London to Lahti, 2,758 cities in 49 countries across Europe (and the world) will be putting a spotlight on zero-emission transport and mobility strategies to improve air quality and contribute to healthier cities, as part of European Mobility Week 2020. This is taking place from 16th – 22nd September 2020.

London are continuing to be part of this by encouraging active travel options by creating improved conditions for walking and cycling. This is critical as more Londoners go back to work and many are choosing more sustainable and active travel options.

Improving active travel options are a critical part of all CRP projects, particularly Healthy Streets Everyday. Recent COVID-19 rules have removed the possibility of many in-person events, but it is critical as more Londoners go back to work and choose sustainable and active travel options, and to increase safe space for walking and cycling provision for children going back to school, through School Streets.

Keep an eye out for brilliant online events and tools that improve cycling and walking in your area as part of European Mobility Week and Car Free Day 2020, and improve your cycling confidence through TfL’s new online, free cycling training.

Reducing Air Pollution could boost UK Economy by £1.6bn a year

21st September 2020 / Posted by CRP Team

A new study produced by CBI Economics, on behalf of the Clean Air Fund, has said 3 million working days are lost every single year because of air pollution.

According to the report, improving air pollution targets in line with World Health Organisation guidelines could not only prevent 17,000 premature deaths every single year, but it could also boost the economy by reducing premature deaths, sickness absence and lower productivity at work. This £1.6bn benefit would be on top of savings to NHS and social care budgets from treating fewer patients with health conditions associated with air pollution.

Now is the time to act on air pollution. Are you located in one of our village areas? Please see our Clean Air Villages page and get in touch.

For more information, please contact CAV Project Manager Kate Fenton.

Sails are up: Clean Air Villages manoeuvres forwards!

21st September 2020 / Posted by CRP Team

Business and community engagement is in full swing, with our team recruiting volunteers for the City of London Air Quality Ambassador Programme, advising businesses in Haringey on zero emission deliveries, consulting with businesses in Richmond about a cargo bike scheme, training ‘citizen scientists’ at King’s College Hospital, advising small businesses in Fitzrovia about preferred supplier and consolidation schemes, promoting a cargo bike scheme in Deptford, finding suppliers in New Covent Garden Market to take part in a zero emission consolidation of delivery scheme into the West End, exploring interest in a shared electric vehicle in Shepherds Bush and much, much more.

CRP has been working on Village Introductory Videos as a way of explaining to local businesses and communities what we are doing in their area. Vivacity traffic monitoring devices are being installed and Clean Air Walking Routes are being monitored.

For more information, please contact CAV Project Manager Kate Fenton.

Showing London in a new light

21st September 2020 / Posted by Susannah Wilks

CRP is excited to support a new project – Lighting London – led by Centre for London, which will explore how councils, developers and landlords can make the capital’s streets and public spaces more inviting and interesting at night, while reducing the city’s carbon footprint.

The research will build on the Illuminated River project which is lighting up central London’s Thames bridges in a new public artwork, the City of London’s lighting strategy, as well as the recommendations from City Hall’s Night-Time Commission. It will explore how light and darkness affect the lives of different groups of Londoners, how to use lighting more sustainably, and what it would take for London to become the best lit major city in the world.

This innovative research is funded by The Rothschild FoundationIlluminated River Foundation and Greater London Authority, and is sponsored by City of London Corporation and Cross River Partnership.

For more information about the Lighting London project please visit the main project page here.

As London emerges from the coronavirus crisis, its public spaces are in the spotlight. Preventing the spread of the virus will mean spending more time outdoors when meeting others as we head into autumn. This is a chance to review how London is lit and to enhance its attractiveness, making it an even more enjoyable place to be.

Lighting is one of the most overlooked aspects of urban design. For the most part, city authorities have historically taken a narrowly utilitarian approach, looking to lighting to makes roads and streets brighter, but with little thought for creative or environmental dimensions of light. The same is true for our homes and workplaces: buildings are too often illuminated in isolation from each other or in competition to out-shine their neighbours.

The final report will be published in winter and will make recommendations to help City Hall, London’s boroughs, developers and building owners to develop a stronger and more coordinated city-wide approach to lighting, and better light their buildings and spaces.

Ben Rogers, Founding Director of Centre for London said:

“Relatively little thought goes into the way London looks and feels at night. “Yet lighting has a huge impact on us, on our evening and night-time activities, on people who work at night, and even inside our homes from streetlights. With Londoners set to spend more time outside than ever as we head into autumn, now is an exciting opportunity to help policymakers develop a stronger and coordinated city-wide approach to lighting.”

Sarah Gaventa, Director of the Illuminated River Foundation said:

“Whilst researching the high luminance levels and light pollution along the banks of the Thames for our own Illuminated River project we were struck by the lack of both information and a coordinated approach to sustainably lighting our city. We felt there was an opportunity to bring together those with responsibilities, expertise and interests in this area to look at how we might collaborate and share our learning to create a more attractive sustainable and safe nightscape for London and approached Centre for London to develop a project. I am delighted that the Greater London Authority, the City of London Corporation and the Cross River Partnership have joined us as partners in this new initiative.”

Carolyn Dwyer, Director of the Built Environment at the City of London Corporation, said:

“The City of London Corporation is taking a number of steps to realise our vision of a 24/7 destination and we are delighted to be part of this revolutionary ‘Lighting London’ research. By exploring how all parties can work together to light our streets in a more sustainable way, we can further improve upon the safe, welcoming and accessible spaces that the Square Mile offers, while celebrating our rich heritage, culture and architecture around the clock. This opportunity aligns with our vision developed in the City Lighting Strategy to take advantage of emerging technology to enhance what it feels like to live, work and visit the City at night.”

Ellie Stout, Head of Grants, The Rothschild Foundation said:

“The Rothschild Foundation is proud to be supporting the development of a coordinated city-wide approach to lighting which will consider design, economic vitality and, crucially, the environmental impact of lighting in the capital.”

Susannah Wilks, Director of Cross River Partnership said:

“Cross River Partnership (CRP) is very pleased that ‘Lighting London’ sustainably will support our government, business and community partners to harness light (and dark) in addressing many of our urban challenges, together.”

CRP’s practical steps towards zero emissions urban logistics – World Car Free Day Summit 2020

21st September 2020 / Posted by CRP Team

CRP was delighted to present a practical workshop at this year’s virtual international World Car Free Day Summit. The session demonstrated examples of low emission freight strategies that businesses can implement across their operations, to not only improve air quality for urban areas, but also increase efficiencies, reduce costs, and develop more robust future-proof methods of delivery.

From last mile deliveries and consolidation, to cycle freight and fleet electrification, the workshop led the audience through practical case studies from CRP’s Clean Air Villages project and the outcomes and considerations from CRP’s rich collection of freight related past projects it has led over the years. In spite of the economic crisis brought about from the global pandemic, there is a renewed effort to accelerate transitions to car-free methods of delivery, with businesses using this time to evaluate their transport methods as customer and consumer behaviour shifts. The World Car Free Day Summit 2020 was a brilliant chance to hear examples from across the world on how healthy cities can thrive with less cars, lower pollution, and more opportunities for pedestrian priority spaces.

You can watch the whole ‘Practical steps towards zero emissions urban logistics’ workshop here and see all of the sessions as part of the summit here.

For more information, please contact CRP Communications and Business Development Manager Joshua West.

SEUL wins big at the Global Good Awards 2020! 

21st September 2020 / Posted by CRP Team

Here at CRP, we and our partners truly embed sustainability and innovation across all of our projects, past and present. We are delighted to be recognised at this year’s Global Good Awards 2020, with our Smart Electric Urban Logistics (SEUL) project, delivered in collaboration with UPS and UK Power Networks, picking up not one, but two awards!

  • The Silver Technology for Good Award – recognising technology products that have generated a positive impact for the environment or community and helped to improve quality of life for people or the planet either on a local, national or international level.
  • The Bronze Special Judges Award for Innovation – recognising the three most innovative entries from across all categories in the 2020 awards programme.

We’d like to thank our valued partners for their continued expertise, support and drive to deliver positive change across London as part of our projects. These awards wouldn’t be possible without you! The SEUL project has now come to an end, however the EV Fleet-Centred Local Energy System project is currently live, building on the technology and lessons learnt as part of SEUL to deliver further efficiencies, cost savings and revenue generation for the electrification of vehicle fleets to reduce emissions and air pollution.

For more information, please contact CRP Project Manager Sefinat Otaru.

Have a listen to our first HSE Podcast: How the Hackney School Streets Hotline has helped to Implement School Streets!

21st September 2020 / Posted by Fiona Coull

The Healthy Streets Everyday (HSE) Programme is pleased to release our very first podcast! Have a listen to Joseph Lindsay from Lambeth Council talking to CRP’s Fiona Coull about his experiences of using the Hackney School Streets Hotline! Listen here

The hotline service has actively helped several Local Authorities with the implementation of school streets, including Haringey, Bromley, RichmondBrent and Lambeth. As the service enters its final few weeks of operation, we encourage booking a 30 minute time slot in advance of the hotline’s weekly Monday operating hours to avoid disappointment. CRP and its partners are extremely grateful to the Mayor’s Air Quality Fund for making this Schools Streets Hotline possible.

The Hackney School Streets Hotline is a free telephone service aimed at helping HSE Partners and London Boroughs to design and implement successful School Streets. The hotline service, which has been available from the 6th of April to the 28th of September 2020, was also made available to ALL London Boroughs in July, helping to provide tailored one-to-one support as well as up-to-the-minute, site specific advice from The London Borough of Hackney – a HSE partner who has years of direct ‘on the ground’ experience in implementing School Streets.

For further information about the service, including how to book a session, please contact HSE Project Manager Fiona Coull.