GY454      Half Unit
Urban Policy and Planning

This information is for the 2015/16 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Alan Mace S509 and Dr Nancy Holman S514

Dr Ryan Centner

Availability

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Regional And Urban Planning Studies. This course is available on the MPA in European Public and Economic Policy, MPA in International Development, MPA in Public Policy and Management, MPA in Public and Economic Policy, MPA in Public and Social Policy, MSc in Social Policy (European and Comparative Social Policy), MSc in Social Policy (Social Policy and Planning) and MSc in Urban Policy (LSE and Sciences Po). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Course content

The course provides a synthesised approach to the analysis of urban policy-making and plan formulation. It will explore the way in which economic, political and social forces interact to effect policy approaches in different spatial settings. We will cover urban regeneration policy and community development as they relate to neighbourhood planning. The aim is also to gain an understanding of the causes of similarity and difference in policy approaches. Students will undertake a group research project based on a London neighbourhood including an assessment of local planning policy.

Teaching

10 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the LT.

Formative coursework

Students will be expected to produce 1 essay in the LT.

Indicative reading

Urban Task Force, Urban Renaissance;DETR, Our Towns and Cities: The future; R Atkinson ; G Moon, Urban Policy in Britain; P Hall ; C Ward, Sociable Cities; E Blakely ; M Snyder, Fortress America;D Judd ; S Fainstein, The Tourist City; J Mannigan, Fantasy City;T Hall ; P Hubbard, The Entrepreneurial City.

Assessment

Essay (100%, 5000 words).

A 5,000 word essay linked to the London neighbourhood planning project.

Student performance results

(2011/12 - 2013/14 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 19.2
Merit 49.2
Pass 30
Fail 1.7

Key facts

Department: Geography & Environment

Total students 2014/15: 45

Average class size 2014/15: 15

Controlled access 2014/15: Yes

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication
  • Specialist skills