Dr Caroline Brown, MRTPI
@drcarolinebrown.bsky.social
Town planner. RTPI Director for Scotland, Ireland & English Regions. Recovering academic. Likes green space, blue space and active travel. Sometimes knits.
Another busy week:
- interviews for a new intern project officer to join the RTPI Scotland team
- an outing to Glasgow Uni to discuss metropolitan mayors and other regional-ish options for policy coordination
- a night in London for the @rtpiplanners.bsky.social Awards for Planning Excellence
- interviews for a new intern project officer to join the RTPI Scotland team
- an outing to Glasgow Uni to discuss metropolitan mayors and other regional-ish options for policy coordination
- a night in London for the @rtpiplanners.bsky.social Awards for Planning Excellence
November 28, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Another busy week:
- interviews for a new intern project officer to join the RTPI Scotland team
- an outing to Glasgow Uni to discuss metropolitan mayors and other regional-ish options for policy coordination
- a night in London for the @rtpiplanners.bsky.social Awards for Planning Excellence
- interviews for a new intern project officer to join the RTPI Scotland team
- an outing to Glasgow Uni to discuss metropolitan mayors and other regional-ish options for policy coordination
- a night in London for the @rtpiplanners.bsky.social Awards for Planning Excellence
Reposted by Dr Caroline Brown, MRTPI
Our travel survey is out. Please take part and help us better understand how we can help people to use their cars less and to walk, cycle and use public transport now.
Fill it in here and you could win £50 in our prize draw: forms.gle/rYhnGvTEwuuH...
#Portobello #Craigmillar #Edinburgh
Fill it in here and you could win £50 in our prize draw: forms.gle/rYhnGvTEwuuH...
#Portobello #Craigmillar #Edinburgh
November 28, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Our travel survey is out. Please take part and help us better understand how we can help people to use their cars less and to walk, cycle and use public transport now.
Fill it in here and you could win £50 in our prize draw: forms.gle/rYhnGvTEwuuH...
#Portobello #Craigmillar #Edinburgh
Fill it in here and you could win £50 in our prize draw: forms.gle/rYhnGvTEwuuH...
#Portobello #Craigmillar #Edinburgh
Dear @lner.co.uk thanks for sending me a text letting me know which seat I have reserved for my journey to London this morning -
Welcome as that was, it would have been more useful to know that the train was cancelled….
Welcome as that was, it would have been more useful to know that the train was cancelled….
November 27, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Dear @lner.co.uk thanks for sending me a text letting me know which seat I have reserved for my journey to London this morning -
Welcome as that was, it would have been more useful to know that the train was cancelled….
Welcome as that was, it would have been more useful to know that the train was cancelled….
Reposted by Dr Caroline Brown, MRTPI
Traffic deaths are policy choices.
“Helsinki hasn’t registered a single traffic-related fatality in the past year…Citing data that shows the risk of pedestrian fatality is cut in half by reducing a car’s speed from 40 to 30km/hr, city officials imposed the lower limit in most of Helsinki’s residential areas & city center in 2021.”
Helsinki just went a full year without a single traffic death
The capital city is Finnish’ed with car-related fatalities.
www.politico.eu
November 17, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Traffic deaths are policy choices.
Reposted by Dr Caroline Brown, MRTPI
Event alert! 📣
Guest lecture: Prof John Tomaney (UCL) on Mayors & 🏴
Discussants: Dr Caroline Brown @drcarolinebrown.bsky.social (RTPI) & Prof Iain Docherty (Stirling University)
🗓️ Wed, 26 Nov, 4-6pm
📍 Clarice Pears Bld, 90 Byres Road, Glasgow
Come & join us!
www.eventbrite.com/e/mayors-exp...
Guest lecture: Prof John Tomaney (UCL) on Mayors & 🏴
Discussants: Dr Caroline Brown @drcarolinebrown.bsky.social (RTPI) & Prof Iain Docherty (Stirling University)
🗓️ Wed, 26 Nov, 4-6pm
📍 Clarice Pears Bld, 90 Byres Road, Glasgow
Come & join us!
www.eventbrite.com/e/mayors-exp...
Mayors - exploring the promises and pitfalls
On Wednesday 26th November, we will be joined for a guest lecture by Prof John Tomaney from UCL.
www.eventbrite.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Event alert! 📣
Guest lecture: Prof John Tomaney (UCL) on Mayors & 🏴
Discussants: Dr Caroline Brown @drcarolinebrown.bsky.social (RTPI) & Prof Iain Docherty (Stirling University)
🗓️ Wed, 26 Nov, 4-6pm
📍 Clarice Pears Bld, 90 Byres Road, Glasgow
Come & join us!
www.eventbrite.com/e/mayors-exp...
Guest lecture: Prof John Tomaney (UCL) on Mayors & 🏴
Discussants: Dr Caroline Brown @drcarolinebrown.bsky.social (RTPI) & Prof Iain Docherty (Stirling University)
🗓️ Wed, 26 Nov, 4-6pm
📍 Clarice Pears Bld, 90 Byres Road, Glasgow
Come & join us!
www.eventbrite.com/e/mayors-exp...
Just picked up this, and cannot wait to get into the story and see where Lyra and Pan end up…
October 25, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Just picked up this, and cannot wait to get into the story and see where Lyra and Pan end up…
We will have to do some sleuthing on Jean to see if the RTPI records can shed any light on this…
#WomenIPlanning
#WomenIPlanning
Jean Payton Reid, architect and town planner (1917-97). Liberton Kirkyard, Edinburgh. Thought to have been Scotland's first female town planner. Family monument - pink granite obelisk.
#31DaysOfGraves day 12 notable women. #herstory
thepastandotherplaces.wordpress.com/2023/01/14/a...
#31DaysOfGraves day 12 notable women. #herstory
thepastandotherplaces.wordpress.com/2023/01/14/a...
October 12, 2025 at 9:49 AM
We will have to do some sleuthing on Jean to see if the RTPI records can shed any light on this…
#WomenIPlanning
#WomenIPlanning
National Planning Conference gets underway…
October 9, 2025 at 8:14 AM
National Planning Conference gets underway…
Did my bit for @rtpiplanners.bsky.social today, spending 2hrs at a high school careers fair talking about planning as a career. Many thanks to everyone who came along.
I forgot to take a photo of my stall & banner, so all I have to show is this almost empty box of chocolates!
#PlanningCareers
I forgot to take a photo of my stall & banner, so all I have to show is this almost empty box of chocolates!
#PlanningCareers
October 1, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Did my bit for @rtpiplanners.bsky.social today, spending 2hrs at a high school careers fair talking about planning as a career. Many thanks to everyone who came along.
I forgot to take a photo of my stall & banner, so all I have to show is this almost empty box of chocolates!
#PlanningCareers
I forgot to take a photo of my stall & banner, so all I have to show is this almost empty box of chocolates!
#PlanningCareers
Reposted by Dr Caroline Brown, MRTPI
Nathan Gill is no fringe politician.
He was the leader of the Reform Party and before that UKIP in Wales.
A Brexit Party MEP.
A friend and ally of Nigel Farage, who in 2016 called him:
"terrific," and "as honest as the day is long."
This is a MASSIVE story
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
He was the leader of the Reform Party and before that UKIP in Wales.
A Brexit Party MEP.
A friend and ally of Nigel Farage, who in 2016 called him:
"terrific," and "as honest as the day is long."
This is a MASSIVE story
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reform UK's ex-Wales leader Nathan Gill admits pro-Russia bribery
Nathan Gill admits eight charges of bribery while being a Member of the European Parliament.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 27, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Nathan Gill is no fringe politician.
He was the leader of the Reform Party and before that UKIP in Wales.
A Brexit Party MEP.
A friend and ally of Nigel Farage, who in 2016 called him:
"terrific," and "as honest as the day is long."
This is a MASSIVE story
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
He was the leader of the Reform Party and before that UKIP in Wales.
A Brexit Party MEP.
A friend and ally of Nigel Farage, who in 2016 called him:
"terrific," and "as honest as the day is long."
This is a MASSIVE story
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Keynote speaker @profjennyj.bsky.social prepares to open the RTPI Scotland Annual Conference 2025
September 24, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Keynote speaker @profjennyj.bsky.social prepares to open the RTPI Scotland Annual Conference 2025
Last chance to book for the RTPI Scotland Annual Conference in Perth next week.
The theme is healthy and resilient places, and we’ve got walking tours, a sketching workshop and lots of fab speakers….
www.rtpi.org.uk/find-your-rt...
The theme is healthy and resilient places, and we’ve got walking tours, a sketching workshop and lots of fab speakers….
www.rtpi.org.uk/find-your-rt...
RTPI Scotland Annual Conference 2025 | Championing the power of planning
The conference will explore how to deliver resilient and sustainable communities for the health of people, place and planet.
www.rtpi.org.uk
September 15, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Last chance to book for the RTPI Scotland Annual Conference in Perth next week.
The theme is healthy and resilient places, and we’ve got walking tours, a sketching workshop and lots of fab speakers….
www.rtpi.org.uk/find-your-rt...
The theme is healthy and resilient places, and we’ve got walking tours, a sketching workshop and lots of fab speakers….
www.rtpi.org.uk/find-your-rt...
Reposted by Dr Caroline Brown, MRTPI
Congratulations to the 5 winning entries for the 2025 RTPI Awards for Research Excellence. 🙌
Discover the winners 👇
https://www.rtpi.org.uk/events-training-and-awards/awards/rtpi-awards-for-research-excellence/
Discover the winners 👇
https://www.rtpi.org.uk/events-training-and-awards/awards/rtpi-awards-for-research-excellence/
September 11, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Congratulations to the 5 winning entries for the 2025 RTPI Awards for Research Excellence. 🙌
Discover the winners 👇
https://www.rtpi.org.uk/events-training-and-awards/awards/rtpi-awards-for-research-excellence/
Discover the winners 👇
https://www.rtpi.org.uk/events-training-and-awards/awards/rtpi-awards-for-research-excellence/
Reposted by Dr Caroline Brown, MRTPI
Meet the young people who are ready to change the future... introducing the winners of the fourth global Students Reinventing Cities competition.
From Amman to Tshwane, over 1,200 students from 150 universities took on the challenge of reimagining urban spaces across 11 cities this year.
From Amman to Tshwane, over 1,200 students from 150 universities took on the challenge of reimagining urban spaces across 11 cities this year.
September 11, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Meet the young people who are ready to change the future... introducing the winners of the fourth global Students Reinventing Cities competition.
From Amman to Tshwane, over 1,200 students from 150 universities took on the challenge of reimagining urban spaces across 11 cities this year.
From Amman to Tshwane, over 1,200 students from 150 universities took on the challenge of reimagining urban spaces across 11 cities this year.
Sunshine after the rain: dropping into the Planning Research Conference in Belfast today.
September 10, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Sunshine after the rain: dropping into the Planning Research Conference in Belfast today.
Had a lovely jaunt out to see old colleagues and friends at #HeriotWatt University today - and to meet the class of 2025 as they start their journeys as #FuturePlanners!
Welcome to the planning family and best of luck with your studies.
Welcome to the planning family and best of luck with your studies.
September 4, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Had a lovely jaunt out to see old colleagues and friends at #HeriotWatt University today - and to meet the class of 2025 as they start their journeys as #FuturePlanners!
Welcome to the planning family and best of luck with your studies.
Welcome to the planning family and best of luck with your studies.
Great to see Issue 201 of the #ScottishPlanner out this week - it’s a wee festival of planning celebrating this year’s winners in the Awards for Planning Excellence plus all the usual contents, including the latest episode of my Podlicious recommendations… www.rtpi.org.uk/media/21122/...
www.rtpi.org.uk
August 19, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Great to see Issue 201 of the #ScottishPlanner out this week - it’s a wee festival of planning celebrating this year’s winners in the Awards for Planning Excellence plus all the usual contents, including the latest episode of my Podlicious recommendations… www.rtpi.org.uk/media/21122/...
2 weeks ago I noticed this: a shop unit in George Street - a prime retail street in Edinburgh city centre- which has been repurposed from a bank into a screwfix store.
Last week I noticed a branch had popped up on Nicolson St too. It seems like a good thing to me - but one to keep an eye on.
Last week I noticed a branch had popped up on Nicolson St too. It seems like a good thing to me - but one to keep an eye on.
August 11, 2025 at 7:48 PM
2 weeks ago I noticed this: a shop unit in George Street - a prime retail street in Edinburgh city centre- which has been repurposed from a bank into a screwfix store.
Last week I noticed a branch had popped up on Nicolson St too. It seems like a good thing to me - but one to keep an eye on.
Last week I noticed a branch had popped up on Nicolson St too. It seems like a good thing to me - but one to keep an eye on.
Reposted by Dr Caroline Brown, MRTPI
Excited for this! @hannawheatley.bsky.social @cdoyle34.bsky.social @academyofurbanism.bsky.social @drcarolinebrown.bsky.social @clesthinkdo.bsky.social @neilmcinroy.bsky.social @planningaidscot.bsky.social
What can land reform do for urban Scotland?
Join our expert panel to explore housing, climate, and community power in towns and cities.
📅 28 August | 🕓 4pm - 4:50pm | 💻 Zoom
🔗 buff.ly/P0cbP15
#ScotLandFutures
Join our expert panel to explore housing, climate, and community power in towns and cities.
📅 28 August | 🕓 4pm - 4:50pm | 💻 Zoom
🔗 buff.ly/P0cbP15
#ScotLandFutures
August 7, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Reposted by Dr Caroline Brown, MRTPI
Rochdale's Medical Officer of Health made the case for housing reform and comprehensive planning in 1911. My new post examines the town's early housing history and first council housing:
municipaldreams.wordpress.com/2025/07/08/a...
municipaldreams.wordpress.com/2025/07/08/a...
July 12, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Rochdale's Medical Officer of Health made the case for housing reform and comprehensive planning in 1911. My new post examines the town's early housing history and first council housing:
municipaldreams.wordpress.com/2025/07/08/a...
municipaldreams.wordpress.com/2025/07/08/a...
A day out of the office with Heads of Planning Scotland for the second day of their conference and AGM in Kilmarnock.
Good to hear about the vision for town-centre cultural regeneration linked to the renewal of the Theatre.
Good to hear about the vision for town-centre cultural regeneration linked to the renewal of the Theatre.
June 20, 2025 at 3:02 PM
A day out of the office with Heads of Planning Scotland for the second day of their conference and AGM in Kilmarnock.
Good to hear about the vision for town-centre cultural regeneration linked to the renewal of the Theatre.
Good to hear about the vision for town-centre cultural regeneration linked to the renewal of the Theatre.
One for @blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk!
Can you haul a brass band on bikes to accompany your #BikeBus to school? For the third time, yes.
Big thanks to all our volunteers and musicians!
Big thanks to all our volunteers and musicians!
June 20, 2025 at 2:53 PM
One for @blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk!
It’s been quite the week, but very pleased to be at the HOPS AGM in Kilmarnock today. Timely conversations about digital planning led by Aline Kirkland from the Improvement Service.
June 20, 2025 at 9:53 AM
It’s been quite the week, but very pleased to be at the HOPS AGM in Kilmarnock today. Timely conversations about digital planning led by Aline Kirkland from the Improvement Service.
An excellent start to the week, we had RTPI chief executive @victoriartpi.bsky.social in Edinburgh to help Convenor Laura Robertson open RTPI Scotland’s new office.
And, this evening we all celebrated the best of Scottish planning practice with our RTPI Scotland awards. Well done all!
And, this evening we all celebrated the best of Scottish planning practice with our RTPI Scotland awards. Well done all!
June 16, 2025 at 8:46 PM
An excellent start to the week, we had RTPI chief executive @victoriartpi.bsky.social in Edinburgh to help Convenor Laura Robertson open RTPI Scotland’s new office.
And, this evening we all celebrated the best of Scottish planning practice with our RTPI Scotland awards. Well done all!
And, this evening we all celebrated the best of Scottish planning practice with our RTPI Scotland awards. Well done all!
Reposted by Dr Caroline Brown, MRTPI
It is very sad to hear of the death of Professor Sir Geoff Palmer. He was always a delight to speak to and a true pioneer.
June 12, 2025 at 10:11 PM
It is very sad to hear of the death of Professor Sir Geoff Palmer. He was always a delight to speak to and a true pioneer.