Stephen O’Malley argues that attracting and retaining talented people depends on urban enjoyment and lifestyle. As more people globally become wealthier, they will choose locations based on pleasure as well as productivity. Examples of cities that attract talent through public spaces and culture are given, such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, Hamburg, and Lyon in Europe. In the UK, Covent Garden and the South Bank in London also attract talent through business and culture. Improving walking and cycling infrastructure and reducing barriers could enable more local trips by sustainable transport. Currently, 45% of peak trips are less than 5km but routing and parking difficulties discourage active travel. It is argued that incremental improvements rather than radical changes are needed to build more livable places and

1. Stephen O’Malley

2. Attract, Nurture and Retain the skilled and talented
‘Urban enjoyment helps determine a city’s success, talent
is mobile, and it seeks out good places to consume as
well as produce.’
‘As the global population becomes wealthier more people
will choose their locations on the basis of pleasure as well
as productivity.’

3. Europe
•
Amsterdam – Public realm @ its most creative
•
Barcelona – people populating public squares and passing
through them
•
Hamburg – iconic architecture and public art
•
Lyon – Creative festivals
UK
•
Covent garden – Business meets creative enterprise
•
South Bank – Culture, entertainment and pleasure

5. TfGM – Vision for Sustainability
Local Sustainable Transport Fund
‘From circuitous routes out of housing estates to a lack of confidence in
where to park your bike when you get there, walking and cycling to their
local station or transport hub currently seem just one complication too many
in the busy lives of most local commuters’.
45% of peak time journeys are less than 5km

7. Its not about radical surgery…..
Interstate 81, Syracuse, NY State

9. © B-HB

11. 1950’s Harlow New Town

14. © B-HB

15. © B-HB

16. The solution is worse than the problem

17. Mechanical product of regulations…

18. Sequential and silo working…

20. Source: IEA (2008) and International Association of Public Transport (2006)

22. ‘…for promoting the acquisition of that species of knowledge
which constitutes the profession of a Civil Engineer, being
the art of directing the great sources of power in Nature for the
use and convenience of man (kind)…’

25. ‘4.17 to encourage the discovery of and investigate and make
known the nature and merits of invention and processes
which advance the science and art of highways and
transportation;…’

29. Before
New Road, Brighton

30. After
New Road, Brighton

31. A place where all are welcome – but where civility prevails
New Road, Brighton

32. New Road, Brighton

33. Park Lane, Poynton

34. Park Lane, Poynton

35. Park Lane, Poynton

36. Park Lane, Poynton

37. An act of civility with no special regulations

38. Acts of civility with normal behavioural rules