Policy Challenges for the Greater London Authority by Margarethe Theseira, GLA Intelligence

London has an ambitious program of policies for achieving more efficient and sustainable transport, and continuing regeneration and housing goals. This includes major infrastructure projects such as Crossrail, and more local policies on issues such as public space and cycling. The current economic climate requires focussing policy on Londoner's priorities, and this is a key topic going into the mayoral elections in 2012. The talk will also discuss open data initiatives at the GLA, with the ongoing developments at the London Datastore.

Agglomeration and urban development: the evolving business geography of Greater London by Duncan Smith, CASA Research Associate

London's office centres compete for business occupiers, and West London has established agglomeration, prestige and transport advantages. Sky-high rents in the West-End and opportunities in newly emerging centres are leading to new dynamics in the capital's business geography. Planning policy intends to shift the focus eastwards to locations such as Stratford for greater equality in job opportunities, but how realistic is this? This talk analyses new datasets of office rents and business location, showing the highly disaggregate responses of different sectors.