MPlan Planning / Course details

This course unit provides an introduction to some of the most important debates in contemporary urban theory, planning theory, and practice. It does not, and could not, attempt to cover all of planning theory and urban theory. Rather, it looks at the intersection of the two. The particular ‘take’ of this course unit involves exploring evolving issues in these two sets of literature around ‘the good city’ and ‘the good planner’. The exploration of planning theory provides students the opportunity to re-evaluate the fundamental basis of planning activity and enables them to consider the role that planning should play in democratic society, which helps students become reflective practitioners and rounded scholars.

The unit aims to:

Introduce students to the development of different, and often competing, modes of planning thought.

Enable students to identify and analyse the relationship between urban theory, planning theory and planning practice.

Equip students the ability to critique the main functions of planning intervention.

Raise students’ awareness of the impact of ethics and values upon planning thought and practice.

This course unit prepares students for their future careers in the built environment professions by enabling them to become both reflective and ethical practitioners. Awareness and comprehension of the development of planning thought and key urban and planning theories help student identify basis of planning practice and analyse factors affecting planning activity, which enables them to become reflective in their own practices. This course unit discusses the professional obligations that those involved in improving the built environment have and encourages critical reflections on these. It also provides opportunities for students to consider how they might deal with difficult choices and ethical dilemmas in their future work lives, equipping them the tools to become ethical practitioners. In addition, the knowledge of key ideas in urban theory and planning theory and the ability to apply theoretical ideas to analyse planning practice that students can gain from this course unit will support their dissertations.

Syllabus (indicative curriculum content):

Introduction to planning theory and the justifications for planning
Modernism and postmodernism: the making and unmaking of modern urban planning
Public participation in planning and the attempt to re-make the role of urban planners
Neoliberalism and the neoliberalisation of planning
Planning and postpolitics
Sustainability, just cities, and planning
The good planner: an introduction to professional ethics and values
Postcolonial urban theory
Mobile urbanism: travelling theory, travelling policy
New model cities: suburban utopias and New Urbanism
Ethics for professionals in the built environment
Summary: urban theory, planning theory and professional values

Lectures 
Core content is delivered through lectures. Learning is supported by additional e-learning materials provided on VLE, such as videos, podcasts, and news articles that are relevant to the topics of the week.

Seminars 
A series of seminars is organised throughout the semester to provide more in-depth discussion on key themes and theoretical debates. The seminars will have assigned readings and a number of questions to consider. They are designed to provide students with a forum to discuss important theoretical themes, to raise questions, and to develop their reflections on the readings in preparation for the seminar discussion reflections assessment.

Assessment support scheduled drop-in hours 
Dedicated assessment support drop-in hours are scheduled in later part of the semester to support students completing their first assessment (seminar discussion reflections).

Workshop 
A workshop is organised to provide students with more guidance and support for the second assessment (essay).
 

Identify the main themes in planning theory and urban theory
Demonstrate the broader political, economic, social, and environmental contexts of planning activity
Explain the impact of professional ethics and values upon planning thought and practice

Interpret the nature of the theory-practice gap in planning
Analyse the impact of differing social and political agendas upon the direction of urban planning

Summarise and evaluate arguments from academic literature in urban theory and planning theory
Apply appropriate theoretical ideas and debates to planning practice and activity

Develop an appropriate framework for reflective practice
Compose analytical and reflective writing in relation to urban theory, planning theory and planning practice.
Demonstrate initiative and self-direction in learning and research
 

Seminar discussion reflections - Length: 1000 words Weighting: 35%

Essay - Length: 1500 words Weighting 35% 

Written feedback on both assignments provided as per Faculty's timeline. 

Allmendinger, P. (2017) Planning theory (3rd edition). Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Fainstein, S.S. and DeFilippis, J. (eds.) (2015) Readings in Planning Theory (4th edition). Chichester: Wiley.

Fainstein, S.S. and Campbell S. (eds.) (2011) Readings in Urban Theory (3rd edition). Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

Haughton, G. and White, I. (2019) Why Plan?: Theory for Practitioners. London: Lund Humphries.

Healey, P. (1997) Collaborative Planning: Shaping Places in Fragmented Spaces. Basingstoke: Macmillan.

Lawhon, M. (2020) Making Urban Theory: Learning and Unlearning through Southern Cities. London: Routledge.

McCann, E. and Ward, K. (eds.) (2011) Mobile Urbanism: City Policymaking in the Global Age. Minnesota: University of Minnesota Press.

Pojani, D. (ed.) (2022) Alternative Planning History and Theory. London: Routledge.

Sandercock, L. (1998) Towards Cosmopolis: Planning for Multicultural Cities. Chichester: Wiley.