MSc Urban Regeneration and Development

• Issues of analysing international planning systems through a comparative perspective 
• Definitions and conceptual concerns regarding international planning terminology 
• Historical foundations of planning practice, including legal, administrative and institutional frameworks 
• Country-specific case studies from Europe, Americas and Asia 
 

The unit aims to:
• provide a grounded theoretical understanding of how the planning system and 
legal arrangements are shaped by the social, political, administrative and economic 
contexts. 
• utilise a cross-national comparative perspective to develop critical thinking skills related to how planning policy and practice travel across different contexts. 
• examine planning approaches and their underlying design concepts in selected 
countries drawn from Asia, the Americas and Europe covering the global south and 
north. 
• develop the critical skills and logical reasoning to appraise different types of planning arrangements. 
• develop a more informed understanding of how to assess and engage in spatial planning practice under different socio-economic and institutional contexts. 
 

Lectures 22h synchronous
Seminars 6h synchronous (1h seminar and 5h drop-in support prior to group presentation and submission of individual essay)
Group Presentation session (2h)
 

Understand how planning systems are shaped by different spatial contexts, judicial-legal frameworks and socio-cultural traditions. 

Understand the principles, design and practice of planning systems in different countries. 
Explain the value of cross-national learning regarding both its potential and limitations while respecting the diversity of culture, values and ideologies of planning. 

Demonstrate communication skills that are relevant to professional practice settings.
Use data visualisations such as maps, plans, diagrams and graphs, and employ professional report-writing techniques.

Develop skills in comparative analysis, logical reasoning and applied evaluation.

Group presentation (15 minutes) and accompanying written brief (500 words) (20%)

Individual essay (2000 words) (80%)

Presentation - Immediately following presentation and written feedback within 15 working days via VLE

Individual Essay - Written feedback provided within 15 working days and by personal appointment 

Booth, P. (1995) Zoning or discretionary action: certainty and responsiveness in implementing planning policy, Journal of Planning Education and Research,14 (2): 103-112.

CEC (1997) The E.U. Compendium of Spatial Planning Systems and Policies. Luxembourg: Office for the official publications of the European Communities.

Healy, P. & Upton, R. (2010) Crossing Borders: International exchange and planning practices. London: Routledge.

Newman, P. & Thornley, A. (1996) Urban Planning in Europe. London: Routledge.

Reimer, M., Getimis, P., & Blotevogel, H. (2014). Spatial planning systems and practices in Europe: A comparative perspective. In Spatial planning systems and practices in Europe (pp. 21-40). London: Routledge.

Sanyal, Bishwapria, (ed.) (2005) Comparative Planning Cultures, Routledge, London.

UN HABITAT (2009), Global Report on Human Settlements 2009, Planning Sustainable Cities, London: Earthscan.