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MSc Planning news highlights
Read our latest highlights
Our Planning Advisory Board meets for the first time
December 2025
20 practitioners from across the planning sector have been appointed to help inform the planning offer at the University of Plymouth. The Advisory Board includes regional and national professionals, including some of the University’s alumni, and has a remit to positively contribute to teaching and research activity.
The first meeting helped to expose a variety of opportunities, particularly in the context of the government’s ambitious plans for growth and infrastructure.
Celebrating student success
December 2025
We were pleased to celebrate the latest cohort graduating from MSc Planning, including Hannah Hudson and Derrick Oula who are pictured with Dr Stephen Essex. Both students received a distinction for their dissertations. Hannah investigated how major residential developments can influence surrounding sense of a place, while Derrick undertook GIS-based analysis of multi-modal accessibility to essential services in North Cornwall.
Derrick Oula and Hannah Hudson with Dr Stephen Essex
SAVE Britain’s Heritage
November 2025
We were pleased to welcome Henrietta Billings from SAVE Britain’s Heritage. Reflecting on the charity’s 50-year history, Henrietta spoke about the wide-ranging sustainability benefits that can arise through the re-use and adaptation of historical buildings.
Henrietta referred to the charity’s past and present campaigns, including the latest at London’s Liverpool Steet station that is the subject of a 19-storey tower re-development project.
Defence-led regeneration: a tale of two centres
November 2025
Planners from Plymouth and Perth met online to help celebrate World Town Planning Day 2025. Under the international theme of ‘with planning we can’, our planners heard about the significant defence-led investment that is occurring in both cities. The event allowed for some constructive discussion and highlighted the important role that planning can have in delivering sustainable and inclusive growth.
Insights from Perth were provided by Tristan Fernandes (Major Projects Manager, City of Rockingham) and Warwick Carter (Director, Perth South West Metropolitan Alliance). Amanda Ratsey (Head of Economy, Enterprise and Employment, Plymouth City Council) provided an update on the strategy for Plymouth.
Nick Smith, Lecturer in Spatial Planning said:
“It was fascinating to hear about the significant, long-term investment that is being directed to the defence sector in both cities. The scale of growth promises to be truly transformative with the planners of both cities helping to extend the benefits of growth as far as possible.”
Plymouth City Council’s Service Director receives an Honorary Doctorate
October 2025
The University was pleased to award an Honorary Doctorate to Paul Barnard in recognition of the outstanding contribution he has made to town planning and regeneration over a career that – to date – has extended to over 35 years.
Paul was integral to the setting up of the MSc Planning programme at the University of Plymouth and has previously served as a Visiting Professor from 2010 to 2016. His support continues today by enabling his team to contribute to teaching, and for supporting his staff members to study part-time at the University.
Celebrating student success
October 2025
We were pleased to celebrate the latest cohort graduating from MSc Planning (left to right): Mark Williams (Environment Agency); Daisy Bowmer (Devon County Council – Cornwall Council Award for best part-time dissertation and RTPI Prize for best student overall); Katie Greer (Torbay Council); Holly Brimson (Mid Devon Council – RTPI Prize for best part-time student); Nick Smith (Programme Leader); and Dr Olivia Wilson (Lecturer).
Plymouth student benefits from an innovative skills fund
October 2025
Charlotte Parrish, a full-time student who joined MSc Planning in September 2025, has been successful in receiving a scholarship from the British Chamber of Commerce’s Planning Skills Fund. The national fund, which is supported by Aviva and administered by the Royal Town Planning Institute, will allow up to 100 students to pursue postgraduate planning qualifications over the next five years.
By improving the resource base of local councils, the initiative is seeking to unlock £70bn in economic investment.
Charlotte explains:
“The scholarship has made a significant difference to my experience as a student on the MSc Planning programme. Significantly, I have been able to reduce my working hours, enabling me to become fully immersed in the programme which I am really enjoying.”
Exploring excellence in major housing delivery
October 2025
Our first-year planners were invited to visit two high-profile housing projects, namely the West Carclaze Garden Village near St Austell and Nansledan that adjoins Newquay. Both schemes are delivering much-needed housing and include a range of interventions to help make them sustainable and well-designed communities.
We were given guided tours of each development and received talks from key individuals, including Lord Matthew Taylor and Adam Birchall and Stephen Kirby from Cornwall County Council.
MSc Planning students are given a guided tour of Nansledan from Stephen Kirby, Cornwall Council