MSc Planning news highlights

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Plymouth graduates win the RTPI South East Young Planner of the Year for two consecutive years

Plymouth graduates have now won the Royal Town Planning Institute award for Young Planner of the Year in South East England for both 2020 and 2021. In 2020, the winner was Daniel Young (now Principal Planner with Oxford City Council), who studied BSc (Hons) Geography (2014) and MSc Planning (2017) at the University of Plymouth.

In 2021, Zoe Knott (now Planning Manager at Gleeson Land), who graduated with a BA (Hons) Geography degree in 2013, won the award.

Zoe said:

“It's been a wonderful opportunity to be nominated and now awarded the winner of the RTPI SE Young Planner of the Year for 2021.”

MSc Planning dissertation leads to formation of a new venture for natural capital delivery

Scott Wilson (MSc Planning graduate in 2021 and now working for Lawrence Associates, Truro) has set up Southwest Natural Capital Ltd on the basis of his MSc Planning dissertation research. The research sought to identify the potential benefits and conflicts arising from the requirement in recent environmental legislation for new development to provide a minimum ten per cent Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) through the planning system. Based on semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders in Cornwall, which was part of Natural England’s pilot, one of the key findings was that the provision of on-site BNG for development has not been sufficiently legislated as off-site provision is permitted. While this provision allows for flexibility, it effectively grants developers the ability to negotiate off-site provision for reasons of viability rather than creating on-site benefits as part of the development.

Southwest Natural Capital Ltd has been formed on the learning achieved during this research. The company aims to provide habitat banks that deliver registered and accredited biodiversity and carbon credits by working with landowners to develop and implement projects. The company is currently seeking landowners within the Southwest who are willing to commit areas of land to the provision of these credits.

The benefit to the landowner will be an annual return in excess of the average profit per hectare per annum in the southwest, simply by allowing the land to be used for biodiversity and carbon credit creation. There is no further capital investment required and the landowner retains possession of the land. In addition, Scott is seeking equity investors who wish to put their money to work on ethical, environmental projects that can provide Biodiversity Net Gain, Carbon credits and the ability to make Environmental Social Governance claims for their business activities.

Paper published on housing crisis and potential of garden villages

Lord Taylor of Goss Moor (Visiting Professor of Planning at the University of Plymouth) together with Dr Stephen Essex and Dr Olivia Wilson have recently had a paper published on the potential role of garden communities in addressing the UK’s contemporary housing crisis in the academic journal ‘Geography’. The paper examines the historical causes of the shortcoming in housing construction, quality and affordability, together with the contribution of new settlements, such as the Garden Cities and New Towns programmes of the twentieth century, in resolving the problem. The new settlement option has once again emerged as a potential means of meeting contemporary housing needs through the delivery of garden towns and villages. This model captures the up-lift in land values from development for the creation of social infrastructure and ‘public good’ in the new housing provision. An opportunity exists to challenge existing policies and models of delivery in order to achieve more sustainable development.

Lord Taylor advised both the last Labour government and the Coalition government on planning and housing policy and has served on a number of high profile national bodies. He published the Living Working Countryside review in 2008, and led the creation of the government’s National Planning Practice Guidance in 2012. He contributes to the spatial planning and sustainable development module on the MSc Planning and MSc Town Planning programmes.

A copy of the paper is available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/00167487.2022.2019492

Academic judges city-wide awards for planning and design excellence

In November, 2021, the Abercrombie Awards were hosted by the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Service of Plymouth City Council in the Sherwell Centre on campus. The awards are a celebration of planning and design excellence in the city and a recognition of the effort that has gone into improving the city over recent years. The awards have been made since 1992 and were last held in 2017. Over 80 entries were received for this year’s competition and the judges were struck by the strength of the nominations across all categories despite difficult economic circumstances and the impacts of Covid-19.

Dr Stephen Essex, Programme Leader of the MSc Planning programmes at the University, was one of the four judges and presented the main Abercrombie Award to the overall winner from the 11 category winners, which this year was ‘The Box’, the refurbished City Museum and Art Gallery. A full list of winners is available on the Plymouth City Council website.

‘The Box’ was the winner of this year’s Abercrombie Award for planning and design excellence in the city. The winning team was presented the award by one of the judges, Dr Stephen Essex (MSc Planning Programmes Leader), in the Sherwell Centre.

The winning team was presented the award by one of the judges, Dr Stephen Essex (MSc Planning Programmes Leader), in the Sherwell Centre. Photo courtesy of Plymouth City Council.

Plymouth Graduate is RTPI Young Planner of the Year in South East England

Daniel Young, who graduated with BSc (Hons) Geography (2014) and MSc Planning (2017) degrees from the University of Plymouth, has won the Royal Town Planning Institute’s Young Planner of the Year Award 2020 for the South East of England. He is currently a Senior Planning (Policy) Officer with Portsmouth City Council and faced tough competition for the award from planners in the private sector.

Daniel said:

“It was a great honour to receive this award from the RTPI. Planners have a vital role to play in creating healthy, sustainable places for all and I am excited to be in a position to be able to champion the benefits that the profession can bring to addressing the challenges we face today and in the future.”

The judges were impressed with his enthusiastic commitment to the natural environment and his masters dissertation on how coastal local authorities are responding to climate change, which has been published in the Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. They wished him every success in taking these interests forward and felt that he has a bright future in town planning. Daniel now goes forward to be considered for the National Young Planner of the Year Award.

13th European Biennial of Towns and Town Planners 2019

Planning on the Edge, Plymouth 11–13 September 2019

The 13th Biennial of the European Towns and Town Planners, convened by the ECTP – CEU, was hosted by the MSc Planning team at the University of Plymouth and Plymouth City Council from 10–13 September 2019. The theme of the conference was ‘Planning on the Edge’, which focused on the various challenges facing the planning of coastal communities.

Port cities, seaside resorts, fishing and market towns have experienced significant social and economic change during the last 30–40 years and generally rank among the most deprived areas in many European countries. Coastal areas are, in addition, especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, which threatens significant centres of population, infrastructure and industry, as well as important natural habitats and heritage. Marine spatial planning offers new challenges and opportunities for integrating land-based and marine activities. Other peripheral territories and urban spaces ‘on the edge’, such as on political boundaries, can also experience similar issues together with added potential for territorial disputes. Such places can also become places of new opportunities for connections between spaces and territories as they often share more in common with the neighbouring territory, than they do with the centre of their own country.

The three-day event included 41 papers across 12 themed sessions, with three walking tours exploring aspects of regeneration in Plymouth. Key note presentations were made by Professor Ronald Waterman (Dutch planning consultant), who discussed the principles of his ‘Building with nature’ concept in relation to sustainable coastal and delta zone development; Bernie Foulkes (LDA Design) who argued how the physical geography of coastal cities affects their identity, outlook and future direction; Vincent Goodstadt (Member of UK 2070 Commission), who outlined the regional inequalities within the UK and the UK2070 Commission’s proposed framework to rebalance the UK economy; Lord Taylor of Goss Moor, who explained the rationale for the development of new garden villages and towns across the UK.

The conference was attended by about 160 planning academics and practitioners from across the whole of Europe. A Civic Reception at the Ocean Studios in the Royal William Yard, Stonehouse and the conference dinner was held at the Orangery in the Mount Edgcumbe Country Park after a boat trip across Plymouth Sound.

A fuller summary of the conference, including the conference proceedings and photographs of the event, can be viewed on the ECTP-CEU website. Papers from the presentations by Young Planners at the conference have been published as an e-book.

With thanks to Julian Hills (ECTP-CEU Secretariat) for permission to use his photographs.

Level 7 Chartered Town Planner Apprenticeship approved (MSc Town Planning)

In June, 2019, a Level 7 Chartered Town Planner Apprenticeship (i.e. masters level, part-time over 2.5 years) was approved by the University of Plymouth to operate from September 2019. The programme has also been fully accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute. Degree Apprenticeships are intended for the professional development of staff through a professionally accredited education qualification, whilst gaining practical experience in the work place. The Plymouth Level 7 Chartered Town Planner Apprenticeship is based on its established and high successful existing MSc Planning programme. The first two students were recruited onto the new apprenticeship scheme from the South Hams and West Devon Councils and are being taught alongside the MSc Planning students.

Further information about recruitment for next September can be obtained from Jacqueline Franklin (Degree Apprenticeship Partnerships Manager) or Louise Crocker (Employer Relationship Liaison) or on the Degree Apprenticeships website.

Plymouth MSc Planning student presents their dissertation results at the RTPI General Assembly

Daniel Young (Senior Planning Officer, Portsmouth City Council) presented his MSc Planning dissertation results from 2017 at the RTPI General Assembly in October 2018. The presentation explored the progress that has been made by the planning system in England in addressing the challenge of climate change adaptation in coastal urban areas. The results of Dan’s research indicated that the adaptation produced through the planning system remains incremental rather than transformative. It often focuses on experienced hazards, especially flooding, and there's a lack of attention paid to wider impacts of climate change, i.e. rising average temperatures. Local authorities also faced challenges of limited resources, had experienced an erosion of in-house knowledge and skills around climate adaptation, and faced challenges relating to viability and a lack of strong central government guidance.

Celebrating planning in Plymouth for World Town Planning day

Chris and Stuart world town planning day 2018 for montage

Group of students at world town planning day. Planning news page

View from Beckley Point - planning news page

To mark World Town Planning Day, a number of talks celebrating planning in Plymouth were held at the top of south-west England’s newest and tallest structure, Beckley Point, which gave commanding views of the city and its setting. The talks focused on the post-war reconstruction of the city (Dr Stephen Essex, University of Plymouth), dealing with the Abercrombie legacy (Professor Chris Balch, University of Plymouth), current development projects in the city (Rebecca Miller, Plymouth City Council, and planning the future of the city (Stuart Wingfield, Plymouth City Centre Company). The event was attended by sixth formers from Devonport High School, undergraduates from the University’s geography degree, MSc Planning students, and planning staff from Plymouth City Council.

Lord Taylor’s Visiting Professorship at Plymouth

Lord Matthew Taylor of Goss Moor is a Visiting Professor of Planning at the University of Plymouth. He advised both the last Labour government and the Coalition government on planning and housing policy and has served on a number of high profile national bodies. He published the Living Working Countryside review in 2008, and led the creation of the government’s National Planning Practice Guidance. He chairs the St Austell Eco-Town Partnership and provides consultancy on other sustainable development and new community projects. In January 2015, he published with policy exchange his report, empowering localism to solve the housing crisis through garden villages, and he continues to actively engage with government on planning policy and housing delivery. He was formerly the Liberal Democrat MP for Truro and St Austell from 1987 to 2010. He contributes to the spatial planning and sustainable development module on the MSc Planning programme.

American planning students visit the University of Plymouth

A group of five American planning students and their lecturer, Dr Margo Wheeler, from North Arizona University visited the University of Plymouth in August 2019 to learn about the UK planning system and the post-war reconstruction of the city and its positive and negative legacies from Dr Stephen Essex and Dr Olivia Wilson. The students were on month long internships with Plymouth City Council, working on a range of projects including the Joint Local Plan, development management, student accommodation and Geographical Information Systems.

American Planning students visiting the University

Planning the future of Planning Aid England in the South West

In January, 2019, students on the PLG503 research methods module reported the results of surveys commissioned by Planning Aid England (PAE) in the South West, part of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). The aim of the research was to examine the awareness of PAE services in the South West amongst town and parish councils in the top 20 per cent most deprived Lower Super Output Areas in England and to identify the types of outreach work that would best support local communities and groups in the region over the next five years. PAE provides free and independent professional planning advice, which is delivered by around 300 volunteers across the country.

Jo Widdecombe from the Planning Aid England task group in the South West attended a presentation of results. The town and parish councils were actively involved in planning matters, with 97% commenting on planning applications, 42% being involved in public consultations over the formulation of Local Plans and 36% having been involved in the formulation of Neighbourhood Plans. Only just over a quarter had heard of Planning Aid England (27%), but none had worked with the organisation. A total of 37 neighbourhood plans had already been instigated in the sample population (33%), with a further 35 town and parish councils identifying a need for one (32%). The main reasons for an absence of a Neighbourhood Plan in a community were a lack of skills and capacity, disinterest and a lack of time/funds. Nearly two-thirds of those councils with a Neighbourhood Plan in their area (37) had received support from the local planning authority (64%), particularly in terms of understanding the process (68%), reviewing the evidence base (28%) and writing policies (21%). Over half were very satisfied or satisfied with this support, with only 14% expressing dissatisfaction. Town and parish councils had also engaged with the consultations for the Local Plan in their area. A high level of awareness was demonstrated of the various engagement events and activities: internet (63%), meetings (52%), leaflets (52%), exhibitions (51%), media coverage (46%) and workshops (20%).

The implications for PAE seem to be the promotion and signposting of services offered, namely through the PAE Direct website (and to ensure up-to-date information); offering bespoke work in development management; and support through local planning authorities for consultation support. There is also a lack of basic knowledge and/or misunderstandings about planning in communities. A number of councils expressed confusion over the difference between parish, neighbourhood and local plans. These more fundamental issues require broader campaigns to improve the public’s understanding of planning and the benefits of community engagement with a range of partners (RTPI and RICS).

The Plymouth MSc Planning students benefited from the experience of undertaking an applied survey for a real client/stakeholder. Lessons were learnt over the targeting of appropriate respondents and the wording of questions to avoid assumed knowledge and overly technical language. These lessons will place the students in good stead for their dissertation preparations over the next few months.

Presentation and
discussion of the results from the PAE Survey, 17 January, 2019. From left to
right: Andre Botha, Jasmine Philpott, Jozie Bannister, Jo Widdecombe (PAE),
Nicola Williams, Stephen Essex, Emily Perryman, Kieran Green, Darren Horn, Ryan
Steppel, Yvonne Dale, Madeleine Hale, Sam Lewis, Briony Waterman, Michael
Booker, Kieran Neumann, and Josephine Maddick. Also not pictured: Imogen Day
and Kingsley Olukayode.

Planning students on fieldwork

A number of field visits are undertaken by MSc Planning students during their studies to relevant destinations in South West England, where students have the opportunity to engage with practitioners about a range of planning-related projects. Recent visits have included growth points in Plymouth and Exeter to demonstrate the integration of sustainable development into new development projects; the evaluation of new housing developments in Plymouth using the Building for Life criteria as part of the urban design module; and the delivery of major infrastructural projects, such as the Forder Valley link road and the redevelopment of the City Museum (the ’Box’). Various urban waterfront regeneration schemes, such as the redevelopment of the Devonport South Yard (Oceansgate), Sutton Harbour and resort regeneration in Torbay and Teignmouth, were also visited.

Inside the Langage Energy Centre, opened in 2010 and designed to improve the energy security of the city using the latest and most efficient combined cycle gas turbines. While being a significant infrastructural project for the south west economy, the construction of the power station posed a number of planning and urban design challenges due to its location on the edge of Plymouth, close to areas of outstanding natural beauty in South Devon and Dartmoor.

MSc Planning fieldwork

A representative of Plymouth City Council explains the ecological consequences and mitigation involved in the new Forder Valley link road, which will link east and north Plymouth and open up new development opportunities in this part of the city.

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MSc Planning dissertation research published in academic journals

A number of MSc Planning students have been successful in publishing the research undertaken in their dissertation project in refereed academic journals. Craig Leger’s research investigated the characteristics of brownfield land in English coastal communities and the challenges faced by planning in the regeneration of these sites through an analysis of the National Land Use Database and a survey of Heads of Planning Service. Sarah Dyke analysed community perceptions towards wind power to test current debates about pre- and post-acceptance opinions of affected stakeholders. Jamie Staples focused on the delivery of bespoke housing for families with severely disabled children and found that better communication between developers and planners was a critical first step in meeting the requirements. Dan Thorning highlighted the issues of development viability and political pressure to unlock and accelerate delivery as constraints on the delivery of mixed communities in the regeneration of waterfront sites in Plymouth and Bristol. Dan Young explored the progress that has been made by the planning system in England in addressing the challenge of climate change adaptation in coastal urban areas, which remains incremental rather than transformative. These outputs provide external endorsement of the high quality of research undertaken on the programme at Plymouth.

Leger, C., Balch, C. and Essex, S. (2016) Understanding the planning challenges of brownfield development in coastal urban areas of England, Planning Practice and Research, 31 (2), pp.119-131. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02697459.2016.1146428

Wilson, G. and Dyke, S. (2016) Pre- and post-installation community perceptions of wind farm projects: the case of Roskrow Barton (Cornwall, UK), Land Use Policy, 52, 287–296. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2015.12.008

Staples, J. and Essex, S. (2016) Design, disability and the planning challenge: the reality of living with severely disabled children, Planning Practice and Research, 31 (3), pp.327-346. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02697459.2016.1174974

Thorning, D., Balch, C. & Essex, S. (2019) The delivery of mixed communities in the regeneration of urban waterfronts: an investigation of the comparative experience of Plymouth and Bristol, Land Use Policy, 84, 238-251. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.03.019

Young, D. & Essex, S. (2019) Integrating climate change adaptation in the planning and regeneration of coastal urban areas: priorities barriers, and future prospects, Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2019.1617680.

Graduation highlights

The graduating cohort from the MSc Planning programme at the University of Plymouth on 6 December 2019 at the Plymouth Guildhall: (left to right): Madeleine Hale (Plymouth City Council), Jozie Bannister (WYG Group), Michael Booker, Kieran Neumann, Dr Olivia Wilson (Lecturer in Spatial Planning) and Dr Stephen Essex (Programme Leader).

Rupert Warwick (Project Director, Solar Securities Ltd, Penryn) was awarded of his MSc at the ceremony on Plymouth Hoe on 18 September 2019 with Dr Stephen Essex (Programme Leader) and Dr Olivia Wilson (Lecturer in Spatial Planning). Also graduating was Phil Twamley (Dartmoor National Park Authority).

The graduating cohort from the MSc Planning programme at the University of Plymouth on 19 September 2018 on Plymouth Hoe: (left to right) Rebecca Miller (RTPI SW), Dr Stephen Essex (Programme Leader), Christopher Balch (Emeritus Professor), Hannah Cameron (Mid Devon District Council), Helen Govier (Mid Devon District Council), Kris Evely (Torridge District Council), Faye Stewart (Bailey Partnership, Plymouth), Philip Saunders (Savills, Wimborne), Daniel Young (Portsmouth City Council), Sarah Boyle (Torridge District Council), Jonathan Hill (Arup, Bristol), Dr Olivia Wilson (Lecturer in Spatial Planning) and Paul Barnard (Plymouth City Council). Also graduating were Chris Cummings (Plymouth City Council), Jennifer Joule (Nathaniel Lichfield, Bristol) and Timothy Whipps (East Devon District Council).

The graduating cohort from the MSc Planning programme at the University of Plymouth on 14 December 2018 at the Plymouth Guildhall: (left to right): Dr Stephen Essex (Programme Leader), Joseph Smithyman (Marine planner at Marine Management Organisation), Ed Crome (Graduate planner, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, London), Naomi Jackson (Graduate Planner at XL Planning and Design Ltd., Exeter), Oliver Thorogood (Graduate planner, Stags, Exeter), Peter Lambert (planning Officer, Plymouth City Council); and Dr Olivia Wilson (Lecturer in Spatial Planning).

The graduating cohort from the MSc Planning programme at the University of Plymouth on 20 September 2017 on Plymouth Hoe: (left to right) Dr Stephen Essex (Programme Leader), Laura Dymond (Exeter City Council), Daniel Thorning (Plymouth City Council), Sara Jenkins (Mid-Devon Council); Luke Jiggins (wsp, Exeter), Rob Kelley (Teignbridge District Council), Alexis Marsh, Alice Lawman (Robinson and Hall LLP, Hitchin), Chloe Nielsen (Dartmoor National Park) and Michael Joshua (Logistics, Plymouth). Also graduating were Stephanie Wade (Exmoor National Park) and Jamie Quinton (East Devon Council).

The graduating cohort from the MSc Planning programme at the University of Plymouth on 21 September 2016 on Plymouth Hoe: (left to right) Dr Stephen Essex (Programme Leader), Anna Houghton (Planning Officer (Policy)), Maidstone Borough Council), Ole Lotvedt (Planning Officer, Bergen Municipality, Norway), Ida Kästel (Planning Officer, Bergen Municipality, Norway), Rebecca Smith (UK Property and Land Specialists (UKPALS) Ltd, Salisbury), Adam Jones (Planning Officer, Westminster City Council), Maria Bowen (Department for Communities and Local Government), Michelle Peart (Department for Communities and Local Government), Professor Christopher Balch (Director of Effective Planning School), Phil Bissatt (RTPI SW Chair) and Jess Maslen (Plymouth City Council).

University of Plymouth MSc Planning graduation ceremony on Plymouth Hoe on Wednesday 23 September 2015: (left to right): Professor Chris Balch; Adam Williams (Plymouth City Council); and Dr Stephen Essex. Also graduating, but not in attendance: Matthew James Besant (Redrow Homes), Zdzislawa Kunaszkiewicz (Torbay Council) (Royal Town Planning Institute Prize for Best Overall MSc Planning student and Paul Barnard Award for Best part-time MSc Planning dissertation), and Edward Flood (Stride Treglown).

University of Plymouth, MSc Planning graduation ceremony on Plymouth Hoe on Wednesday 24 September 2014: (left to right): Professor Chris Balch; Isabel French (Mid Devon District Council: Paul Barnard Award for best part-time MSc Planning dissertation); Samaria Bezzina (Malta Environment and Planning Authority: RTPI SW Prize for best full-time MSc Planning student and Paul Barnard Award for best full-time MSc Planning dissertation); Dean Titchener (Mid Devon District Council: RTPI SW Prize for best part-time MSc Planning student); Katie Beesley (Plymouth City Council); Tom Westrope (Plymouth City Council); Dr Stephen Essex.

First cohort of graduates from MSc Planning (Graduation ceremony, Plymouth Hoe, 18 September 2013): Craig Leger (Genivar, Canada); Ros Baker (Cornwall Council); Sarah Dyke (Cornwall Council); Kathryn Waldron (Test Valley District Council); Tammy Burden (Cornwall Council); Jamie Staples (Buckinghamshire County Council); Hollie Nicholls (Cornwall Council); Andrew West (Dartmoor National Park); Professor Chris Balch; Dr Stephen Essex.

Student prize winners

Ed Crome (Graduate planner, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, London) was presented with three prizes from his MSc Planning studies by Ian Tant (RTPI President) at the ECTP Biennial of Towns and Town Planners conference in Plymouth on 13 September, 2019. Ed was awarded RTPI Botolph Lane prize for overall best student, the RTPI SW Prize for best full-time student and the Cornwall Council Award for best full-time dissertation.

Phil Twamley (Dartmoor National Park Authority) was awarded the RTPI SW Prize for best part-time student and the Cornwall Council Award for best part-time dissertation.