MSc Urban Design and International Planning / Course details

This module enables students to appreciate the interactive nature of infrastructure provision and spatial planning in the complex policy-making environment of England, with a specific focus on national significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs). The delivery of the course unit includes a combination of lectures, practice-based consultancy project work, discussion sessions and special guest lectures from policymakers and practitioners on the development of different infrastructure sectors.

1. To conceptualise the relationship between spatial planning, spatial forms and infrastructure provision and how it is shaped by the changing socio-economic and political contexts.
2. To learn the process, actors, resources and governance of planning for major infrastructure, and to highlight the tension between achieving economic competitiveness, sustainable development and spatial equity.
3. To develop a critical understanding of the approaches, drivers, delivery and outcomes of planning for infrastructure projects via examples from Asia, America and Europe.
4. To develop the critical understanding of the current policy frameworks and financing mechanisms for major infrastructure and local infrastructure in England.

Lectures from academics and practitioners (10 x 3 hour session)

Group project presentation 3 hours: interactive workshop with ppt presentation and life Q&A session (not everyone needs to do the presentation, the group needs to play each other’s strengths and learn how to do division of labour to deliver the best output and outcome )

Interim feedback sessions to group presentation (2x 0.5 hour session)

Essay surgeries (4 x 1 hour session)

The activity is synchronous:

First 6 weeks lecture to provide all key academic theories, approaches and policy knowledge of the infrastructure planning system in the UK, which provides the groundings for students doing their group consultancy project (with 2 interim formative feedback sessions on their group work to check progress and t iron out any problems they encounter) and the submission of the ppt and the life presentation.

This is then followed by practitioner lecture sessions to show how the knowledge learnt in the earlier weeks is translated into action in different infrastructure sectors by practitioners. Support to essay writing also kicks in during this half of the lecture sessions to help students.
Lectures, group project work and special guest lecturers from policymakers and practitioners 

Be familiar with the actors, drivers, process, resources, delivery, governance and outcomes of major infrastructure planning and mega projects; Be able to critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of the current policy framework for major and local infrastructure planning in England; 

Have a critical understanding of the relationship between spatial forms and the provision of infrastructure in spatial planning; Have an international and critical perspective to understand the tensions and dilemmas faced by planners with infrastructure planning.

Have an understanding of how infrastructure is funded; Have an understanding of the governmental policies that impact infrastructure outcomes in England; Be aware of how infrastructure influences society and how infrastructure decisions are made; Understand the interconnected nature of infrastructure planning policies.

Be able to orally summarise and present information; Improve group work and work load management skills; Be able to critically assess policy and the implications of policy on people and places; Be able to relate theoretical concepts to practical outcomes; Be able to summarise and critically discuss complex policy issues and outcomes in written form.

• Group presentation 10 minutes (25%)
• An individual essay (2,000 words) (75%)

Presentation: Oral feedback in class, as well as written feedback online in line with Faculty guidance

Individual essay: Online in line with Faculty policy

Handouts is given each week with more detailed reading list, they are made available with online library link on BB already.

• National Infrastructure Planning website: http://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/
• National Infrastructure Commission website: https://nic.org.uk/
• National Policy Statements: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/legislation-and-advice/national-policy-statements/
• National Planning Policy Framework (the latest version is 2023): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65829e99fc07f3000d8d4529/NPPF_December_2023.pdf
• Town Planning Review 2014 Special Issue on ‘Planning for Infrastructure: transitional pathways for lagging regions’, edited by M Baker, B Webb and C Wong. (7 papers in this issue)
• Flyvbjerg, B (2005) Policy and Planning for Large Infrastructure Projects: Problems, Causes, Cures, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 3781. 
• Hall, P. (1980) Great Planning Disasters, Penguin Books, Harmonsworth.
• Marshall, T. (2013) Planning Major Infrastructure: A Critical Analysis, Routledge, London.