Ollie Barrett’s Post

Let’s talk about streets. On the timescale of buildings, streets are nearly eternal. London’s street network, for instance, has endured for over 2,000 years, while it’s rare to find a building still in use that’s even half that age. Once a new street is built, it rarely changes. This is partly because streets house vital infrastructure, but more importantly, they become ingrained as part of the public realm. However, the way we use streets evolves. Many inner-city streets existed long before cars and have adapted as our modes of travel changed. Now, we’re in a new era of transformation, reimagining streets for more people friendly uses. (Check out the latest guidance from Active Travel England for some great insights on this!) We’re currently adding components for streets in Blocktype, starting with four types: - Mews - Narrow residential street - Wide residential street - High Street Are we missing anything? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Streets are the basic building block of cities.

Pedestrianized streets are good for local businesses Trains and trams can bring more people to such locations without a city having to create space for people to store their cars. Land devoted to surface parking and parking garages could be put to much more financially productive use for the city. https://lnkd.in/gjgug3yd Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) Strong Towns

Commentary: Parking Discussion Illustrates Challenges for the City As General Plan Moves Forward https://lnkd.in/geRc_TTE

Commentary: Parking Discussion Illustrates Challenges for the City As General Plan Moves Forward https://lnkd.in/geRc_TTE

Next stage in Irwell River Park scheme goes to public consultation

🚲❤️Peddling the good stuff ❤️🚲- I may not agree with everything that happens in this building, but you’ve got to agree that the Houses of Parliament are beautiful. I love cycling in London, not just the obvious but also down the back streets, side streets, old streets. Amazing city. Passing by these parliament buildings made me think about the #positivity of making decisions – no bull, no procrastination, just get things done. (I will not be coerced into talking about what goes on in that building!!!) When you focus and get things done, make decisions, amazing things happen. Let’s just do it please – far too much indecision all around us and it’s causing stagnation. I’ll keep peddling the good stuff in the meantime…. #Peddlingthegoodstuff #Decisionmaking #Positivethinking #Justdoit #Creativerecruitment #Gabrielejobs

I agree Cathy Parker MBE, SFIPM that there is an element of 'luck' to strategic success, but the margin for error, when decisions are 'copycatting' instead of being #placespecific is so much larger. Building new, high-density housing without space for at least one car per household assumes that residents all work from home or have access to affordable/reliable public transport that allows them to get to their places of employment/child care/other duties on time. If they do not have that access, then it increases the local parking burden on existing residents. Parking needs in areas with a history of say, light engineering, are very different from a small shopping street where the dwell time for parking may be less than 20 minutes, because users are popping in on the way to somewhere else. But the factor that seems to be too often overlooked, is the parking needs of business owners and their staff. The days of being able to walk to work are long-gone. Businesses are often struggling to find and retain staff, so they have no control over the distance staff travel to work or the routes that staff have to take. In a central #Rochdale business survey in April 2022, 44% of staff could NOT use public transport to get to work on time. So, what options do those people have if parking is removed?  

Better things are possible

Before I share the Ingleby Trice City and City Fringe findings for April, here is my breakfast view courtesy of the terrace and letting team at 101 Moorgate! Despite the grey clouds, April was a good month for the City which continues to outrun the City Fringe. Take up increased 7% to this year’s highest monthly total - a level 23% above the 6 m ‘rising’ average. City availability continues to trend downward despite a 1% increase in April which itself was 2% below Jan and 5.3% down over a year. A fall was stoped by 325k sq ft being added at 125 London Wall. The City Fringe has had 2 good months of take up and despite a 1% fall, April’s take up was 14% above the now turned ‘increasing’ 6m average. City Fringe availability fell 1% to a level above the still marginally rising 6 month average - there is a problem shaking off that persistent mid market oversupply. For stories behind the stats call Malcolm Trice or Veronika Sillitoe - and thanks to alex.novelli@cushwake.com and Katie.sommer@jll.com for a great start to the day!#cityoflondon#cityleasing#cityoffices#londonrealestate#londonresearch#ukoffices#londonofficebroker#cityfringe#officeagency#officemarket#inglebytrice#commercialrealestate#floorspacesurvey