The UK and Chinese Governments have agreed to collaborate through the China-UK Sustainable Development Dialogue on research to help ensure that the way we develop our cities will become sustainable.This network is evidence of their commitment to this collaboration.The network is one of a group of related networks funded by the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and inspired by the Dongtan Eco-city development north of Shanghai. It addresses two related topics: the historical development of Chinese and European cities, and spatial masterplanning at scales ranging from the local place to the whole metropolitan area.We believe there is much to be gained by bringing these fields together since the lessons of history have much to bring to current design, planning and policy formation so far as urbanisation is concerned. Equally, there is benefit in bridging between European and Asian history and experience of industrialisation and urban expansion.A central focus for this network will be to investigate the way that urban spatial structure relates to social cultures. At times of rapid change it is often the heritage of social culture that is lost.This aspect of planning is currently seen to be central to the creation of sustainable communities and is one where the benefit of cross cultural comparison in research is clear. Here we will investigate the use of spatial analysis and modelling methodologies to allow a common basis for cross cultural and historical comparison. In this way we will investigate the application of the latest analytic technologies in urban design, planning and policy formation as well as in heritage and conservation.We have brought together an international research network comprising all the leading UK research universities in this field with their leading counterparts in China, including the main Chinese professional and coordinating organisations, to discuss common interests and formulate proposals for Anglo-Chinese collaborative research and academic exchange.The network will complement and build upon other related initiatives rather than duplicate these, and is open to new entrants. We will include international researchers from Australia and the USA to ensure that we draw on relevant expertise wherever in the world that lies, and that our impact is global.The network will operate through a programme of workshops and exchange visits over the next two years and will deliver an exciting range of collaborative projects. Ultimately it will lead to a powerful international learning network in this important field.PeopleUCLProf Alan Penn View Alan's profile Send Alan an email Dr Ruth Conroy DaltonEPSRCDr Peter Hedges Dr Claire TansleyArupProf Jeremy WatsonEclipse Research ConsultantsProf Ian CooperUrban Planning Society of ChinaDr Nan ShiUniversity of CambridgeProf Marcial Echenique Dr Tony HargreavesArchitectural Society of China/Xi’an University of Architecture and TechnologyProf Kecheng LiuUniversity of TongjiProf Shiling Zheng Prof Yi ChenUniversity of New South WalesProf Bill RandolphChina Academy of Urban Planning & DesignDr Baojun Yang Mr Luxin Huang Mr Degao ZhengLondon School of EconomicsDr Philipp RodeUniversity of TsinghuaProf Anrong DangUniversity of BirminghamProf Jeremy WhitehandUniversity of TianjinProf Tongtong Liu Dr Yue ZhuangUniversity of CardiffProfessor Chris WebsterHong Kong Polytechnic UniversityProfessor Bin JiangUniversity of ChongqingProfessor Xingguo ZhangArup Hong KongMr Stanley YipArup ShanghaiMs Yuan-Yuan (Stephanie) ZhangSoutheast UniversityProfessor Jianguo WangUniversity of NottinghamProf Brian Ford Katharina Borsi - contact via Brian Ford Benson Lau - contact via Brian FordUniversity of PekingProf Bin LuUniversity of MelbourneDr Jianfei ZhuUniversity of Hong KongProf Arlen YeBeijing Municipal Commission of Urban PlanningMr Yajun WangHangzhou Urban Planning BureauDr Zuojun YangSpace Syntax LtdMr Tim Stonor Mr Alain Chiaradia Ms Ji Zhang
