Planning research
Manchester is amongst the top Planning schools in the UK for internationally recognised research, based on the most recent national assessement (RAE 2008).
Based in the School of Environment and Development, the Planning group involves 14 full-time academic staff, six research staff and over 20 doctoral students. A key feature of our work is strong research links with colleagues across the school in Architecture, International Development and Geography. Strong links also exist with other departments and research centres across the University. We are heavily engaged in a range of research networks involving leading international and national universities, including a number of European Commission funded research projects.
With a strong interdisciplinary emphasis at its heart, our research focuses on four particular themes, though naturally many of our staff work across these themes and indeed are working on innovative work that defies easy categorisation.
- Spatial planning and territorial governance. This work is particularly associated with the Centre for Urban Policy Studies (CUPS).Group members are actively involved in research on spatial planning practice and theory at all levels, from local to international. Through CUPS we maintain a strong interest in innovative work on urban policy, in particular issues around methods and evaluation.
- Urban development, design and technology networks. This aspect of our work is undertaken with colleagues in Architecture via the Manchester Architectural Research Centre (MARC), plus initiatives such as EcoCities and the Sustainable Consumption Institute. Particular interests include climate change and urban design, new urbanism, ecological design and sustainable cities.
- Environmental planning and management. This aspect of our work is strongly associated with the Centre for Urban and Regional Ecology (CURE). It includes work on flood risk management, environmental assessment, regional sustainability issues and environmental planning and management.
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International planning and global urban research. Planning staff are also actively involved with work on global urban issues, led by the Global Urban Research Centre (GURC). This work includes a strong focus on issues relating to asset accumulation, climate change, international migration, safer cities and economic productivity.