MSc Urban Studies / Course details

PART A: URBAN REGENERATION: HISTORICAL LEGACY
Urban restructuring and the rationale for area-based policy
Shifting themes in urban regeneration policy: the historic legacy
'Enterprise' and the 'inner city': the policy imprint of New Right politics and its enduring legacy

PART B: REGENERATING NEIGHBOURHOODS
New Labour and urban policy: key themes in the Neighbourhood Renewal agenda
Managing community-led regeneration
Housing Regeneration
The urban renaissance design-based regeneration

PART C: REGENERATING CITIES AND REGIONS
Regions, city-regions and supra-regions I: the rise, demise and partial rebirth of regional policy
Governing regeneration in a complex conurbation
Regions, city-regions and supra-regions II: City-regions as an alternative fix for regeneration?

1. To introduce students to the field of urban regeneration through critical assessment of contemporary policies which impinge upon cities and regions.
2. to explore the evolution of urban regeneration policy in England, with particular regard to the implications for spatial planning;
3. to stimulate thinking about the formulation, implementation and resultant impact of urban regeneration initiatives, and to consider the ways in which policy-makers might seek to re-formulate policies in light of these;
4. to consider the role of political and institutional change in shaping the nature and form of urban regeneration;
5. to help develop an understanding of the effective management of regeneration initiatives; and
6. to set the context for practical study through project work in semester 2.

On completion of this unit, successful students will be able to:
1. demonstrate an understanding of the principal social, economic and physical challenges confronting cities and regions in England;
2. show core knowledge of the key features and impacts of recent urban regeneration policies in England;
3. understand the relationship between urban regeneration policy and changing economic, social and political circumstances;
4. show awareness of the procedural and management consideration involved in the delivery of urban regeneration initiatives;
5. demonstrate an appreciation of the performance and impact of regeneration policies, programmes and projects at various scales of governance; and
6. show ability to apply the knowledge gleaned through the course unit to second semester practical project work.

This course will be delivered through lectures and student-led seminars

Assessment by group seminar presentation (20%) and individual essay (80%)

Feedback: (forms of feedback to be given)
Written formative feedback will be provided for the group seminar submissions. This will help students to prepare their individual essays.
Summative feedback will be provided for the individual essays, explaining to students the basis on which marks were awarded and explaining how their submissions could have been improved.

Written feedback will be provided within 15 working days of submission.

Cochrane, A. (2007) Understanding urban policy: a critical approach, Oxford: Blackwell
Imrie, R. and Raco, M. (2003) Urban renaissance? New Labour, community and urban policy Bristol: The Policy Press
Another book I recommend as an a critical overview is Hatherley, O (2011) The New Ruins of Great Britain, Verso. This is a polemic which covers many of the issues on the course.