Jason Longhurst, director of the River Nene Regional Park, looks at how this independent body has been working on green infrastructure initiatives centred on Northamptonshire and considers other approaches around the world.

Prevailing conditions in Australia favour suburban sprawl with inefficient, gas-guzzling, water-profligate housing spread thinly over huge areas with little opportunity for the development of community.

The way in which society values the rural environment in Scotland has moved from a production to a consumer agenda, argues Dr Richard Birnieof the Macaulay Institute Considerable controversy and conflict surrounds land management in rural Scotland – the current debates surrounding wind farms, new power lines and the provision of affordable housing exemplify this. While such land management debates are nothing new, they appear to have taken on an increased complexity.

What makes a street successful? CABE commissioned research into the design development and implementation of a number of urban streets to find out. Elizabeth Hoehnke reports It is impossible to imagine a public building being designed by someone with no design training. By contrast, streets have traditionally hardly been designed at all. They are the constant daily backdrop to our lives, yet they mostly ‘just happen’.

The introduction of shared surfaces was intended to make streets more pedestrian friendly and lower traffic speeds. However, they also pose serious risks to the safety of disabled people. Jill Whiteand Carol Thomasdiscuss the dilemma

The advent of the ‘cleaner, safer, greener’ agenda has encouraged councils to consider some innovative approaches to maintenance of the public realm. Kate Worsley reports

The community forest programme claims to be the country’s biggest environmental regeneration initiative but is it delivering real benefits to local people? Tony talbotof the forest of marston vale looks at the evidence

Reducing crime and the opportunities for crime, is one of the challenges faced by urban designers and landscape architects when delivering new neighbourhoods and open spaces. As design professionals we are seeking to develop new places which are distinctive and attractive to new and existing residents. Obviously such residents will be keen to live in places which are free of anti- social behaviour and crime.

Inland waterways were built for a specific purpose, one that is largely not reflected in how they are used today.

Cycling is london’s fastest growing means of transport, so the integration of provision for cycling into the design of public space is crucial. Nick chittyand katharina kroeger of transport for london report on progress so far