Centres and Institutes

Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR)

http://www.shu.ac.uk/cresr/



The Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR) at Sheffield Hallam Univeristy is a well established research institute undertaking research and consultancy activities in a number of areas, including housing policy, urban policy, social and economic regeneration, labour market studies, gender studies, transport policy, planning and community studies. CRESR's site is excellent, featuring full coverage of the Centre's projects and publications, with many documents available to download. [MG/RS/GAS, 3 May 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: hou-220799-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Housing » Research
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Centre for Urban and Regional Studies (CURS)

http://www.curs.bham.ac.uk/



The Centre for Urban and Regional Studies (CURS), a Department in the School of Public Policy at the University of Birmingham, describes itself as "a leading international centre for research and teaching in housing, regional and local economic development, urban policy and regional and urban regeneration", combining "the worlds of practice, research and education". The CURS site provides an introduction to the Centre's main areas of expertise, together with details of undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees, and a series of informative staff profiles. Elsewhere, a useful 'department information' section provides details of the Centre's research activities, networks and publications. Overall, the site is quite comprehensive, though it would benefit from more images to help relieve the textiness. [GAS, 7 Jul 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: pla-270804-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Planning » Research
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Dataspring

http://www.dataspring.org.uk/




Dataspring is a research unit within the Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research (CCHPR), Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge. According to the site, Dataspring boasts "a team of dedicated researchers and analysts in-house but also utilises the wider range of research skills available within the Centre and beyond. These resources enable us to respond to the data and research needs of our clients, which include the Housing Corporation, housing associations, and local and central government". Dataspring maintains a range of housing markets databases with data at district, regional and national level, and its site features free online access to a selection of social housing data, including housing association stock from the RSR (Regulatory and Statistical Return) data and rents from the Housing Corporation Guide to Local Rents at a variety of geographical levels. The site also includes staff profiles, details of Dataspring's projects, an outputs section full of downloadable documents, and a series of links to Dataspring's funders and other recommended sites. Recently redesigned, the site now provides an array of interesting content within an attractive and intuitive interface. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 17 Jul 2008].



ENTRY NUMBER: hou-241102-03
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Housing » Research
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Global Urban Research Unit (GURU)

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/guru/



Based at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, GURU describes itself as "a major new force in global urban research", and incorporates the three former urban research centres in the University's School of Architecture Planning and Landscape: CARDO, CREUE and CUT. The GURU site uses colour-coding to distinguish the new unit's four research themes - Territorial Governance and Spatial Planning; Cities and International Development; Neighbourhood Diversity and Social Inclusion; and Urban Technology Design and Development. The site's content includes up-to-date news and events; information about each theme; details of people, projects and publications; and an excellent section of downloadable 'Electronic Working Papers'. The site has a reasonable appearance, but the main site uses frames (four of them, no less), and is quite confusing to navigate. Equally, the colour coding and profileration of GURU logos is rather manic in places. Happily, a no frames version, with the same content but fewer logos, is also provided. [GAS, 7 Jul 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: pla-210503-02
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Planning » Research
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Local Economic Policy Unit (LEPU)

http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/lepu/



The Local Economic Policy Unit (LEPU) at London South Bank University provides research and consultancy to both organisations and businesses in the social policy and built environment sector, and is "committed to engaging the practitioner community to foster effective local economic development". The design of LEPU's website is clean and intuitive, with sections covering news, staff, links, and the Unit's extensive programme of regular seminar and Masterclass events. Pages devoted to 'Research and Consultancy' and 'Project Experience' offer a helpful introduction to LEPU's areas of work, though it would be useful if these sections could be expanded to include more detailed project summaries or downloadable reports. [GAS, 7 Jul 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: reg-060306-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Regeneration » Research
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London Housing

http://www.londonhousing.gov.uk/



London Housing, part of the Association of London Government, provides research, analysis and information on housing and associated issues on behalf of the 24 London councils that subscribe to the service. The site is neat and well-organised, with research available to download (some accessible only to members), a bookshop section, and access to the latest issue of 'London Housing' magazine. [GAS, 3 May 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: hou-030506-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Housing » Research
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Metropolitan Design Center

http://www.designcenter.umn.edu/




Formerly known as the Design Center for American Urban Landscape, the Metropolitan Design Center (MDC) describes itself as "an endowed centre that investigates how design can be used to make the metropolitan landscape more livable and sustainable. It examines urban design across metropolitan areas through projects, research, and education. The Center's work involves collaborations with faculty, nonprofits, and civic groups in the areas of metropolitan development, metropolitan green space, housing and active and healthy cities". The site is a rich and interesting resource - it includes extensive background about the Center, an excellent projects section with lots of photographs and downloadable PDF material, and an impressive 'reference centre' - this includes links to research, educational materials and information at the Design Center and other organisations, as well as useful resources such as downloadable Design Center publications, links to sources for information and events, and a great range of 'livable community fact sheets'. On top of all this, the site also features a terrific Image Bank - this is a searchable, downloadable database of approximately 20,000 Design Center images of the metropolitan landscape, including many low-level oblique aerial photos, and focusing on the Twin Cities area of Minnesota where the Center is based. Overall, the amount of quality material available on this site is staggering - truly a first class resource. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 4 Apr 2007].



ENTRY NUMBER: urb-230805-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Urban Design » Research
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NAHB Research Center

http://www.nahbrc.org/



The NAHB Research Center, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the United States' National Association of Home Builders, describes itself as the research and development leader in the home building industry, "dedicated to advancing housing technology and enhancing housing affordability for the benefit of all Americans". It aims to provide an objective information resource which can be used by Federal, state, and local government agencies, manufacturers, builders, and remodellers. The searchable site is well organised and easy to use with a variety of helpful information, such as details of the current Green Building programme, up-to-date news, market research findings, and a section covering laboratory and certification services. [GAS, 8 May 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: hou-191100-02
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Housing » Research
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