Having Talked the Talk, Which Way should we Walk?
Drawing on new research for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Professor Glen Bramley considers what policies would substantially reduce poverty in the UK.
Aug 29
Select Committee Report misses opportunity to be radical on homelessness
Suzanne Fitzpatrick, Sarah Johnsen and Beth Watts reflect on recent recommendations to strengthen the homelessness safety net in England.
The ‘more or less?’ quiz on ‘counting the cost of uk poverty’
Glen Bramley discusses the findings of his new Joseph Rowntree Foundation research counting the costs of poverty in the UK.
“Brexit means Brexit”, but what does Brexit mean?
In the aftermath of the EU referendum, Mark Stephens considers what Brexit might mean in practice.
Destitution and foodbanks in the UK: new evidence sheds light on topical debates
Dr Filip Sosenko examines food bank use in the UK drawing on new data from the JRF-funded Destitution study.
Priorities for addressing youth homelessness in Scotland
Dr Beth Watts identifies priorities for developing services for young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness in Scotland.
Local Tax Reform – What the Scottish Parties Propose
With the Scottish Parliament elections less than a week away, Mark Stephens discusses the parties’ proposals for reforming local taxation.
The Council Tax: Why Scotland Needs a New Way to Implement Radical Reforms
Professor Mark Stephens discusses prospects for Council Tax reform in Scotland.
Joseph Rowntree Foundation must not be confused with the trust that aided Alistair Carmichael
Academics at Scottish universities highlight value of Jospeh Rowntree Foundation's research and policy development in Scotland.
Can we plan for and with children?
Jenny Wood discusses how the Scottish planning system can be improved for children and young people.
Ten steps to increasing housing supply in England
I-SPHERE Housing Economist Glen Bramley gives his ‘Ten Point Plan’ for increasing housing supply in England.
No One Said It Would Be Easy: Reforming Local Taxation In Scotland
Professor Mark Stephens welcomes today’s report on local tax reform, but warns that it is only the first step on the road to replacing the Council Tax in Scotland.
The Coming of the Green Office Revolution?
New I-SPHERE research is the first to look at the development of the market for green offices in the UK. It sheds light on the challenges for the greening of the UK’s office stock.
Housing in Sweden: Not Such a Paradise
Mark Stephens questions whether the Swedish housing system provides a suitable template for reform in the UK
I-SPHERE research highlights impact of cuts on local services
Research conducted by I-SPHERE and University of Glasgow researchers exploring the 'cost of the cuts' used to highlight impact of budget cuts on local authority services.
Youth homelessness in the UK
Dr Beth Watts discusses the findings of a review of youth homelessness policy and practice in the UK, identifying priorities for future service development and investment.
Public Spaces Protection Orders, rough sleepers and media storms
Professor Sarah Johnsen discusses the recent controversy provoked by the development of Public Spaces Protection Orders targeting rough sleepers in towns and cities across England and Wales
Social security for young people – how does the UK compare?
Professor Mark Stephens and Janice Blenkinsopp discuss the findings of their international review of young people's social security entitlements.
The cost of the cuts: a social impact tool for local authorities
As local authorities continue to face difficult decisions amid ongoing austerity measures, Joseph Rowntree Foundation has worked with researchers at the University of Glasgow and I-SPHERE, Heriot-Watt University to produce a tool to help councils assess the impact of cuts on services and the public.
I-SPHERE submits evidence to House of Lords on National Policy for the Built Environment
This blog reproduces evidence submitted to the House of Lords Select Committee on National Policy for the Built Environment by I-SPHERE Professors Glen Bramley, Neil Dunse and Chris Leishman.
Wenjie Wu receives World Social Science Fellow award
Dr. Wenjie Wu, Associate Professor at I-SPHERE, Heriot Watt University, has been awarded as a World Social Science Fellow in Big Data and Urban Contexts by the International Social Science Council.
Scottish commercial property after the credit crunch
Based on new I-SPHERE research just published by the Scottish Property Federation, Prof. Colin Jones and Dr. Ed Trevillion examine the direct role of commercial property in Scotland.
The reconnection of rough sleepers: a complicated ‘game of chicken’?
Research from I-SPHERE and the University of York highlights a disconnect between recognised good practice and what often happens ‘on the ground’ during the 'reconnection' of rough sleepers in England.
Destitution in the UK – Interim Report published
In this interim report published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, I-SPHERE researchers propose a definition of destitution endorsed by the public and set out plans for a national census of destitution across the UK.
The most deprived areas have borne the brunt of local government budget cuts
A Joseph Rowntree Foundation report from researchers at the University of Glasgow and Heriot Watt’s I-SPHERE shows that the most deprived areas of England have seen the largest cuts in funding since 2010. The
