Northern Futures in a Rebalanced Britain Lecture

Department of Civic Design, School of Environmental Sciences

Northern Futures in a Rebalanced Britain

Visiting Professor Lecture Series

Time : 5.30 – 7pm

Venue : Victoria Gallery and Museum

Following the successful TCPA/University of Liverpool Northern Futures conference, this lecture series explores from different perspectives the ways in which positive planning in the new political context can help reduce the north south divide. Thursday 1 March 2012

Living on the Edge: A Mersey Belt perspective

Professor Robert Barr, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group Warrington BC

"Edge Cities" are developments outside the main historical built up areas which cluster around motorway junctions. They were described in the United States by the journalist Joel Garreau. They have a distinctive pattern of land use and are seen quite differently by the people who live work, shop or play there. The rich motorway network of the Mersey Belt has had the, largely unintended, effect of encouraging such developments at its junctions. In this talk we will consider the competition between the emerging "edge cities" and traditional town and city centres in the Mersey Belt and will ask if they can coexist in a sustainable way if planned for effectively. The events are free of charge and open to all, so please join us and contribute to the debate.

Refreshments will be available after each lecture.