Energy and Housing in Birmingham

Annum Rafique looks at how much energy we are using in the city region, where it comes from and what kind of houses we live in. This article was written for the Birmingham Economic Review. The review is produced by City-REDI / WMREDI, the University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. It … Continue reading “Energy and Housing in Birmingham”

International Students in the West Midlands: The Costs, Benefits, and Housing Implications

Summer intern Dimas Almaruf presents the first part of a two-part series of blogs on the economic impact of international students in the UK. Part I sets the scene by providing the number of students in the region. Introduction The United Kingdom has long been a favourite destination for international students to pursue their higher … Continue reading “International Students in the West Midlands: The Costs, Benefits, and Housing Implications”

REDI Updates 3: Review of Metrics

Welcome to REDI-Updates. REDI-Updates aims to get behind the data and translate it into understandable terms. In this edition, WMREDI staff look at the government’s flagship policy – Levelling Up. We look at the challenge of implementing, understanding and measuring levelling up. Josh Swan maps the most appropriate metrics from our City Index dashboard to … Continue reading “REDI Updates 3: Review of Metrics”

The Challenges of Levelling Up

Welcome to REDI-Updates. REDI-Updates aims to get behind the data and translate it into understandable terms. In this edition, WMREDI staff look at the government’s flagship policy – Levelling Up. We look at the challenge of implementing, understanding and measuring levelling up Alice Pugh and Professor Anne Green, discuss the challenges that the government will … Continue reading “The Challenges of Levelling Up”

Creating More Just Cities by Supporting Social Housing Tenants Into Work

This blog is based on a recent submission from the Just City project to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Housing and Social Mobility, available here. Liam discusses the many challenges faced by those living in social housing in relation to employment, social infrastructure, language and skills deficiencies, and what actions we can take to help … Continue reading “Creating More Just Cities by Supporting Social Housing Tenants Into Work”

The Impact of COVID-19 on Homelessness

What impact has Coronavirus and the lockdown had on homelessness in the UK? Maryna Ramcharan from the West Midlands Combined Authority discusses a paradigm shift in policy dealing with homelessness but notes that we have still not eradicated it completely.  The eviction ban has been extended until 20 September 2020 On 21 August 2020 government … Continue reading “The Impact of COVID-19 on Homelessness”

The REDI Interview: The Role of Housebuilding in the UK’s Recovery From COVID-19

Welcome to the second edition of REDI Updates. Recently we spoke to the Rt Hon Chris Pincher MP, Housing Minister at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, about the role housebuilding has in the UK’s recovery from COVID-19. Here’s what he said: This has been the most testing period in recent history. But … Continue reading “The REDI Interview: The Role of Housebuilding in the UK’s Recovery From COVID-19”

West Midlands Economic Monitor: February 2020

February’s edition of the West Midlands Economic Monitor is now available for you to keep up to date with recent developments in the region. This month shows that regional PMI data has rebounded to growth, whilst economic growth in Q2 2018 – Q2 2019 was mostly due to service sector contraction. House-building is at a … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Monitor: February 2020”

New Report Released: Governance and Urban Development in Birmingham

For the past three years, an interdisciplinary (and international) team of geographers, political scientists and urban planners working across the universities of Birmingham and Zurich has been studying Birmingham’s urban development, governance, and social and economic trends from the year 2000 to present. Now, as our research project draws to a close, we have reached … Continue reading “New Report Released: Governance and Urban Development in Birmingham”

West Midlands Economic Monitor: December 2019

December’s edition of the West Midlands Economic Monitor is now available for you to keep up to date with recent developments in the region. The headlines for this month’s monitor are: Headline West Midlands business activity—accounting for services and manufacturing—has fallen to 49.4, returning to contraction In 2018/19 there were 31,740 apprenticeship starts across the … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Monitor: December 2019”