Dr Nancy Holman, STC. S514. Other teachers, Dr Alan Mace, Professor Andy Thornley.

Course intended primarily for MSc Regional and Urban Planning Studies.  It is also available as an option for LSE-Sciences Po Double Degree in Urban Policy.

The aim of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the current planning issues faced by practitioners and their policy responses. This will begin with an introduction to the planning context of London and an overview of the British planning system. This will be followed by weekly sessions with invited speakers involved in planning practice and research. They will be engaged in relevant current research or be practicing planners or policy-makers from central or local government, research agencies or consultancy. Finally there will be a day study trip to explore planning practice outside London. The content will consist of a series of guided walks, lectures and seminars covering issues of current concern and debate within urban and regional policy and planning.

There will normally be 25 hours of lectures and seminars, mainly from visiting speakers, plus three study trips. These will take place throughout the year.

There is no Assessment in this course but the content will be relevant to the assessed courses in the MSc Regional and Urban Planning Studies Programme.