Public Affairs Events

Urban Futures: An LSE and Centre for Cities series

We're partnering with the Centre for Cities to deliver a series of four online panel events focused on the future of the UK's cities. LSE academics will speak alongside politicians, local council leaders, leading industry figures, and commentators, and will seek to answer the key questions facing our urban areas as we ensure that they are fit for future generations.

The Urban Futures series will be chaired by Andrew Carter, Chief Executive of the Centre for Cities 

Decarbonising the UK's housing stock

Tuesday 23 April, 12 - 1 pm

Prof Nick Robins - Professor in Practice for Sustainable Finance at LSE’s Grantham Research Institute and co-founder of the Financing the Just Transition Alliance - will lead a discussion on the vexed question of the carbon emissions related to the UK's housing stock. How can we create energy-efficient, carbon neutral and climate resilient housing? What policy is needed to accelerate the decarbonisation of the UK’s housing stock?

Prof Robins will be joined by Dr Alan Whitehead MP, Shadow Minister for Energy Security, and Emma Fletcher, Low Carbon Homes Director at Octopus Energy. Register to attend the panel here.

Past events

What next for fiscal devolution in urban areas?

Neil Lee panel

Prof Neil Lee, Professor of Economic Geography at LSE and Chair of the Regional Studies Association, explored what fiscal devolution should look like, how it should connect to the wider question of the UK’s economic strategy, and whether we are ready for the necessary political and economic trade-offs it would bring.

He was joined by Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council; Zoë Billingham, Director of IPPR North; and Anthony Breach, Associate Director of the Centre for Cities.

Catch up on the panel here.

How would a place-based approach to R&D create growth?

Anna Valero panel

Dr Anna Valero - Director of the Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) Growth Programme at LSE, Distinguished Policy Fellow, and member of the Office for Budget Responsibility Advisory Panel - examined how a region-specific programme of research and development (R&D) investment could benefit underperforming city regions across the UK.

Dr Valero was joined by Chi Onwurah MP, Shadow Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, and Lou Cordwell, Chair of the Greater Manchester Business Board and Professor of Innovation at the University of Manchester. 

Catch up on the panel here.

Why cities need denser housing

Dr Nancy Holman, Associate Professor of Urban Planning and Director of Planning Studies at LSE, assessed the sensitive topic of increasing the housing density of the UK's cities. Why is it important to our urban areas? How can we challenge and overcome negative perceptions of densification? How is the UK's low housing density affecting its productivity?

Attendees also heard from Cllr James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council; Phil Mayall, Managing Director of Muse Places; and Anthony Breach, Associate Director of the Centre for Cities. 

Catch up on the panel here.

Nancy Holman panel