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Jo is the Director of the Circular Cities Hub. She is also an Associate Professor in Sustainable Development at the Bartlett School of Planning, UCL. She has 23 years of research experience, working closely with industry, governments and cities. She also advises International bodies (European Commission, EEA, OECD and United Nations) on the delivery of circular cities, low carbon cities, circular, sharing, pop-up and bioeconomies. Jo is on the steering panel for several large European research projects. She has published widely including her books Zero Carbon Homes - A Road Map and Circular cities: a revolution in urban sustainability, both published by Routledge.
If cities could become regenerative and adaptive urban ecosystems, in which resource loops were closed and waste was obsolete, their ecological footprint would diminish. In addition, urban resource security would increase, the health of urban populations would improve and urban greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced. These are the principle goals under-pinning the circular city. Circular cities emerge through the process of circular development. Circular development alters cities’ systems of provision to enable circular practices of inhabitants to develop. This manifests as circular food systems and construction, water and nutrient recycling; adaptive reuse of spaces and pop-up activities; bioremediation of contaminated sites and integration of blue-green infrastructure throughout cities. To transform our cities will require significant investment, political support and public engagement. If the benefits of adopting such an approach can be identified, this will begin to make the case for support. The research presented in this paper draws on an inductive and deductive content analysis of relevant literature and interviews with those implementing circular projects in European cities (London, Paris, Amsterdam and Stockholm). It provides a clear definition of the normative concept of circular development. It creates a framework of benefits which are likely to accrue from adopting this approach. It points to the synergistic benefits emerging from circular development. It also highlights problems around valuation of those benefits, the unintended consequences of circular development and the inequalities in accessing benefits across society.
Jo Williams. Circular Cities: What Are the Benefits of Circular Development? Sustainability 2021, 13, 5725 .
AMA StyleJo Williams. Circular Cities: What Are the Benefits of Circular Development? Sustainability. 2021; 13 (10):5725.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJo Williams. 2021. "Circular Cities: What Are the Benefits of Circular Development?" Sustainability 13, no. 10: 5725.
Circular development necessitates the socio-ecological transformation of our urban systems. It requires that “wasted” resources are looped; the ecological regenerative capacity and adaptive capacity of urban systems are developed. The end result will be healthier urban ecosystems, with low levels of resource consumption and wastage. Spatial planning potentially has a crucial role to play in the delivery of circular development. However, it has an ambiguous legacy, demonstrated by London, Paris and Amsterdam. It will need to go beyond the allocation of temporary spaces for circular experimentation, if it is to enable the transition. It will need to intervene in markets to provide space for low-value, circular activities and enable the localised looping of resources within city-regions. It should support infrastructure needed for circular actions and ensure urban form continues to support circular systems adopted. Finally, planners can generate demand for circular activities and products, through conditions placed on new developments.
Joanna Williams. The role of spatial planning in transitioning to circular urban development. Urban Geography 2020, 41, 915 -919.
AMA StyleJoanna Williams. The role of spatial planning in transitioning to circular urban development. Urban Geography. 2020; 41 (6):915-919.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoanna Williams. 2020. "The role of spatial planning in transitioning to circular urban development." Urban Geography 41, no. 6: 915-919.
This paper seeks to operationalize the circular city concept for the process of regenerating a city port. It draws on a detailed case study—Stockholm Royal Seaport (SRSP)—and uses systems mapping techniques to understand the process. The paper develops a theoretical conceptualisation of a circular urban regeneration process. It reflects on how such a framing might be applied to a port system. The research explores the dimensions and dynamics of a circular regeneration process. It provides evidence to support the benefits of combining circular actions—loop, regenerate and adapt—in a successful regeneration process. It indicates how these circular actions will interact with other sustainable strategies (support actions) adopted in a city port (e.g., optimisation, substitution, sharing, etc.). This begins to provide an indication of the combination of actions which might be successfully applied. Finally, a performance framework for monitoring the development of “circular capacities” through the regeneration process in a port system is presented and tested in SRSP. The paper evaluates whether existing sustainability indicators would provide adequate information for performance monitoring. It finds that in the case of SRSP sustainability reporting currently does not provide adequate information for a robust evaluation to be completed. However, the investigation does begin to identify what data should be collected for performance monitoring.
Joanna Williams. The Circular Regeneration of a Seaport. Sustainability 2019, 11, 3424 .
AMA StyleJoanna Williams. The Circular Regeneration of a Seaport. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (12):3424.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoanna Williams. 2019. "The Circular Regeneration of a Seaport." Sustainability 11, no. 12: 3424.
Currently cities consume 60–80% of natural resources globally. They produce 50% of global waste and 75% of green-house gas emissions. The UN estimates that 66% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050 while the global urban footprint will triple over the years to 2030. Thus cities, as a system of production and consumption, threaten the environmental sustainability of the globe. Looping actions—reuse, recycling and recovery of resources (materials, energy, water, land and infrastructure)—can help to address resource scarcity and wastage in cities. However, there are many challenges to implementation. Much of the literature explores the challenges to looping actions within resource sectors and for specific actions (i.e., challenges to adaptive reuse of buildings, recycling of material waste, energy recovery from sewage). It often does so without any clear reference to context. Nexus solutions are becoming a popular resource looping response to tackling wastage in cities. Some of the challenges to implementation have been explored, but influence of context has not been investigated. In this paper we explore the challenges facing the implementation of looping actions in cities. Using a mixed methods approach, we identify 58 challenges to looping actions across eight themes. We also establish the challenges to implementing a nexus solution. The research identifies five common implementation challenges. Addressing these challenges could enable looping actions across resource types in cities. The research also demonstrates how context affects the challenges to implementing looping actions and nexus solutions in cities. Nevertheless, the analysis suggests that there are some common levers for promoting looping actions and nexus solutions in cities, regardless of context.
Joanna Williams. Circular Cities: Challenges to Implementing Looping Actions. Sustainability 2019, 11, 423 .
AMA StyleJoanna Williams. Circular Cities: Challenges to Implementing Looping Actions. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (2):423.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoanna Williams. 2019. "Circular Cities: Challenges to Implementing Looping Actions." Sustainability 11, no. 2: 423.
Cities are the single largest contributor to climate change. Thus it is important that, where possible, low-carbon infrastructure is integrated into cities to try to reduce CO2 emissions. Planning (plans, policy, and process) can encourage this. In this paper international best practice is drawn upon to explore a range of planning approaches—collaborative, systemic, and market shaping—that have been used to introduce low-carbon infrastructure into cities. A new typology is developed and the strengths and weaknesses of planning approaches are evaluated. The importance of context in the success of each approach is highlighted and suggestions are made for the circumstances in which each may be most effectively employed, while exploring how planning can be used to provide a ‘protected space’ in which low-carbon systems can develop.
Joanna Williams. The Role of Planning in Delivering Low-Carbon Urban Infrastructure. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design 2013, 40, 683 -706.
AMA StyleJoanna Williams. The Role of Planning in Delivering Low-Carbon Urban Infrastructure. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design. 2013; 40 (4):683-706.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoanna Williams. 2013. "The Role of Planning in Delivering Low-Carbon Urban Infrastructure." Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design 40, no. 4: 683-706.
Considering that the vast majority of housing stock existing in 2011 will be used to satisfy residential needs in the year 2020 and beyond, ecological urban regeneration appears clearly as the key issue in relation to global urban sustainability for the most part of this century. Thus, if the 1992 Rio Summit identified the urban environment as the main arena where the global environmental crisis should be fought, 20 years later we must emphasize that it is mainly to the real cities and territories around us now where we should address our attentio
Andrés Walliser; Nicholas B. Rajkovich; John Forester; Carley Friesen; Björn Malbert; Henrik Nolmark; Jo Williams; Stephen M. Wheeler; Robert B. Segar; Michael Utzinger; Steve Swenson; Ignacio Bisbal Grandal; Carlos Verdaguer; Larissa Larsen; Robert F. Young. Exploring the Challenges of Environmental Planning and Green Design: Cases from Europe and the USA Renovating to Passive Housing in the Swedish Million Programme Regulative, facilitative and strategic contributions of planning to achieving low carbon development West Village: Development of a New Ecological Neighborhood in Davis, California The Aldo Leopold Legacy Center: Expanding the Definition of “Community” in Carbon Management Low carbon developments as laboratories of innovative planning tools Integrated planning for ecological urban regeneration Behind the Green Curtain: Shifting Goals and Shifting Roles Creating Post-Carbon Communities: The Return of the Public Sector. Planning Theory & Practice 2012, 13, 113 -174.
AMA StyleAndrés Walliser, Nicholas B. Rajkovich, John Forester, Carley Friesen, Björn Malbert, Henrik Nolmark, Jo Williams, Stephen M. Wheeler, Robert B. Segar, Michael Utzinger, Steve Swenson, Ignacio Bisbal Grandal, Carlos Verdaguer, Larissa Larsen, Robert F. Young. Exploring the Challenges of Environmental Planning and Green Design: Cases from Europe and the USA Renovating to Passive Housing in the Swedish Million Programme Regulative, facilitative and strategic contributions of planning to achieving low carbon development West Village: Development of a New Ecological Neighborhood in Davis, California The Aldo Leopold Legacy Center: Expanding the Definition of “Community” in Carbon Management Low carbon developments as laboratories of innovative planning tools Integrated planning for ecological urban regeneration Behind the Green Curtain: Shifting Goals and Shifting Roles Creating Post-Carbon Communities: The Return of the Public Sector. Planning Theory & Practice. 2012; 13 (1):113-174.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndrés Walliser; Nicholas B. Rajkovich; John Forester; Carley Friesen; Björn Malbert; Henrik Nolmark; Jo Williams; Stephen M. Wheeler; Robert B. Segar; Michael Utzinger; Steve Swenson; Ignacio Bisbal Grandal; Carlos Verdaguer; Larissa Larsen; Robert F. Young. 2012. "Exploring the Challenges of Environmental Planning and Green Design: Cases from Europe and the USA Renovating to Passive Housing in the Swedish Million Programme Regulative, facilitative and strategic contributions of planning to achieving low carbon development West Village: Development of a New Ecological Neighborhood in Davis, California The Aldo Leopold Legacy Center: Expanding the Definition of “Community” in Carbon Management Low carbon developments as laboratories of innovative planning tools Integrated planning for ecological urban regeneration Behind the Green Curtain: Shifting Goals and Shifting Roles Creating Post-Carbon Communities: The Return of the Public Sector." Planning Theory & Practice 13, no. 1: 113-174.
The housing growth programme could offer an opportunity for accelerating the deployment of decentralised renewable energy systems (DRES) in the UK. The Government hopes to leverage private sector investment into DRES as part of new housing projects. The aim of this paper is to assess whether current regulatory and funding frameworks are sufficient to achieve this. The question is explored by drawing on the experience of developers, local authorities, energy utilities and service companies operating in the largest housing growth region in the UK–Thames Gateway. Their experience suggests that the current low intervention approach will be insufficient to generate the shift required in both industries. In order to be more successful economic and regulatory instruments should focus on producers (house-builders and energy providers) rather than consumers (households). Tighter regulation is needed to ensure that producers have a responsibility to install DRES as part of new developments, to enable connection to the grid, to ensure a sustained financial return from investment and revenue is spent on the expansion of new renewable energy infrastructure. This regulatory framework must be under-pinned by substantial funds focused on producers. Greater intervention is needed if DRES is to be included in new housing development.
Jo Williams. The deployment of decentralised energy systems as part of the housing growth programme in the UK. Energy Policy 2010, 38, 7604 -7613.
AMA StyleJo Williams. The deployment of decentralised energy systems as part of the housing growth programme in the UK. Energy Policy. 2010; 38 (12):7604-7613.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJo Williams. 2010. "The deployment of decentralised energy systems as part of the housing growth programme in the UK." Energy Policy 38, no. 12: 7604-7613.
The new housing growth programme planned for England and Wales between now and 2016 could provide the government with an opportunity to build housing to significantly higher environmental performance (EP) standards. Equally, if the government continues with its current strategy a great opportunity could be missed. This paper considers and critically analyses the government's approach to ensuring higher EP standards in new housing. Using Greenwich Millennium Village as a case study it assesses the likely outcomes of the approach. It suggests how regulation, fiscal incentives and educational programmes could help to deliver better EP amongst housing and households in the growth region.
Jo Williams. Green Houses for the Growth Region. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 2008, 51, 107 -140.
AMA StyleJo Williams. Green Houses for the Growth Region. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. 2008; 51 (1):107-140.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJo Williams. 2008. "Green Houses for the Growth Region." Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 51, no. 1: 107-140.
This paper seeks to test the hypothesis that growth in one-person households will increase the domestic consumption of energy, land and household goods in England and Wales. It concludes that if current consumer behaviour of one-person households persists there will be a significant increase in the consumption of all three resources in the future. However, it argues that that many opportunities exist in England and Wales for tackling this problem. For example the new housing programme, increasing ability amongst one-person households to afford “green alternatives” and the search amongst some one-person households for alternative lifestyles (which could be potentially more resource efficient). The paper suggests that providing one-person households with opportunities to live in more resource efficient housing and adopt pro-environmental behaviour could significantly reduce their future environmental impact. Various design, fiscal and awareness-raising solutions are presented in the paper and their viability is assessed. These include ecological homes, collective housing forms, occupancy tax, relocation packages, educational programmes and targeted advertising campaigns. The paper proposes that using a combination of these more innovative solutions to the problem could significantly reduce the future environmental impact of one-person households.
Jo Williams. Innovative solutions for averting a potential resource crisis—the case of one-person households in England and Wales. Environment, Development and Sustainability 2006, 9, 325 -354.
AMA StyleJo Williams. Innovative solutions for averting a potential resource crisis—the case of one-person households in England and Wales. Environment, Development and Sustainability. 2006; 9 (3):325-354.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJo Williams. 2006. "Innovative solutions for averting a potential resource crisis—the case of one-person households in England and Wales." Environment, Development and Sustainability 9, no. 3: 325-354.
Does design influence social interaction in cohousing? How crucial is it? What other factors are involved? Can the impact of design be enhanced by the personal characteristics of residents or the formal social structures operating in a cohousing community? How can we design communities to increase social interaction in the future? Cohousing provides a useful case study because it uses design and formal social structures to encourage social interaction in neighbourhoods. In addition, informal social factors and personal characteristics of those living in cohousing communities predispose them to social interaction. Thus, cohousing is a housing form with optimal conditions for social interaction. Cohousing also provides a unique opportunity to study these variables in one setting to determine the relative importance of each and how social and personal factors may help to enhance the outcomes of design.
Jo Williams. Designing Neighbourhoods for Social Interaction: The Case of Cohousing. Journal of Urban Design 2005, 10, 195 -227.
AMA StyleJo Williams. Designing Neighbourhoods for Social Interaction: The Case of Cohousing. Journal of Urban Design. 2005; 10 (2):195-227.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJo Williams. 2005. "Designing Neighbourhoods for Social Interaction: The Case of Cohousing." Journal of Urban Design 10, no. 2: 195-227.
Increasing environmental problems associated with the domestic sector and the decline of local social capital and resident participation in their locality has led the UK government to seek more sustainable housing models. Cohousing could provide one option. However, cohousing has been relatively unsuccessful in the UK so far. The author sets out to prove that cohousing is a more sustainable housing model (using international examples) and that it in fact achieves many of the sustainability objectives of the new urbanist movement. An international comparison of the experience of cohousing in the UK and California and the factors influencing success and failure of cohousing in both locations are then explored. Drawing on the Californian experience the author then tries to provide some indication of how the development of cohousing could be encouraged in the UK in the future.
Jo Williams. Sun, surf and sustainable housing—cohousing, the Californian experience. International Planning Studies 2005, 10, 145 -177.
AMA StyleJo Williams. Sun, surf and sustainable housing—cohousing, the Californian experience. International Planning Studies. 2005; 10 (2):145-177.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJo Williams. 2005. "Sun, surf and sustainable housing—cohousing, the Californian experience." International Planning Studies 10, no. 2: 145-177.
Jo Williams. Tools for Achieving Sustainable Housing Strategies in Rural Gloucestershire. Planning Practice & Research 2000, 15, 155 -174.
AMA StyleJo Williams. Tools for Achieving Sustainable Housing Strategies in Rural Gloucestershire. Planning Practice & Research. 2000; 15 (3):155-174.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJo Williams. 2000. "Tools for Achieving Sustainable Housing Strategies in Rural Gloucestershire." Planning Practice & Research 15, no. 3: 155-174.