Associate Lecturer on the MSc Planning and MSc Town Planning (Level 7 Chartered Town Planner Degree Apprenticeship) programmes.
Qualifications
1985 Doctor of Philosophy, Department of Geography, University of Nottingham
1982 Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Department of Geography, St. David's University College, University of Wales, Lampeter.
1982 Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Department of Geography, St. David's University College, University of Wales, Lampeter.
Professional membership
- Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society - Institute of British Geographers (RGS-IBG) (since 1983)
- Member of the Higher Education Academy (since 2000)
- Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (Associate since 2009 and full Chartered since 2012)
Teaching
Teaching interests
My main teaching is on the MSc Planning programmes and includes:
PLG501 Issues and Values in Planning Practice (module leader): This module focuses on the development of planning theory and practice and the core professional values and skills relevant in contemporary practice (especially consultation, negotiation and mediation skills). It emphasises the changing demands on, and approaches of, the professional planner and the importance of maintaining an up-to-date skills set to ensure professional competence.
PLG503 Environmental Knowledge: from field to stakeholder (module leader): This module reviews quantitative and qualitative research methods relevant to professional and academic investigations in the field of planning. Information is a tool for policy-makers to use to make choices. The ability to build an evidence base for policy and evaluation as well as carry out and interpret technical analysis is part of the basis for the legitimacy of planning as a profession. The module also prepares students in the formulation of research projects as the basis for their own dissertation (PLG510/511).
PLG515 Planning for Coastal and Rural Futures: This module examines the challenges of planning in peripheral areas, such as on the coast and countryside. It considers the communalities and differences in the economic, social and environment problems faced in coastal and rural communities and the planning approaches to address these issues. It assesses the theoretical context, issues facing planners and the practice of planning in coastal and rural areas and evaluates the impact of planning policy and practice on the society, economy and environment of coastal and rural areas.
PLG501 Issues and Values in Planning Practice (module leader): This module focuses on the development of planning theory and practice and the core professional values and skills relevant in contemporary practice (especially consultation, negotiation and mediation skills). It emphasises the changing demands on, and approaches of, the professional planner and the importance of maintaining an up-to-date skills set to ensure professional competence.
PLG503 Environmental Knowledge: from field to stakeholder (module leader): This module reviews quantitative and qualitative research methods relevant to professional and academic investigations in the field of planning. Information is a tool for policy-makers to use to make choices. The ability to build an evidence base for policy and evaluation as well as carry out and interpret technical analysis is part of the basis for the legitimacy of planning as a profession. The module also prepares students in the formulation of research projects as the basis for their own dissertation (PLG510/511).
PLG515 Planning for Coastal and Rural Futures: This module examines the challenges of planning in peripheral areas, such as on the coast and countryside. It considers the communalities and differences in the economic, social and environment problems faced in coastal and rural communities and the planning approaches to address these issues. It assesses the theoretical context, issues facing planners and the practice of planning in coastal and rural areas and evaluates the impact of planning policy and practice on the society, economy and environment of coastal and rural areas.
PLG510/511 Dissertation Research Project (module leader): The dissertation project is an opportunity for candidates to undertake an original research investigation within the field of spatial planning. The topic must relate to their chosen specialist options. The best of these projects are publishable and a number have been submitted to planning-related journals for peer-review.
Staff serving as external examiners
1999 PhD, University of Nottingham 1998-2001 HNC Heritage Management, Wiltshire College Chippenham, University of Bournemouth
2000-2001 MA/PG Diploma Environmental Policy and Management, University of the West of England, Bristol
2001 PhD, University of Nottingham
2000-2004 MA/PG Dip/PG Cert Tourism and Sustainability, University of the West of England, Bristol
2004 PhD, University of Nottingham
2005 PhD, University of Nottingham
2006 MSc, University of Worcester
2009-2012 BSc (Hons) Geography and BA (Hons) Human Geography, University of Worcester
2010 PhD, University of Nottingham
2012 PhD, Open University
2016 PhD, St Andrews University
2020 PhD, University of Nottingham
2000-2001 MA/PG Diploma Environmental Policy and Management, University of the West of England, Bristol
2001 PhD, University of Nottingham
2000-2004 MA/PG Dip/PG Cert Tourism and Sustainability, University of the West of England, Bristol
2004 PhD, University of Nottingham
2005 PhD, University of Nottingham
2006 MSc, University of Worcester
2009-2012 BSc (Hons) Geography and BA (Hons) Human Geography, University of Worcester
2010 PhD, University of Nottingham
2012 PhD, Open University
2016 PhD, St Andrews University
2020 PhD, University of Nottingham
2023 PhD, University of Cape Town
2023 PhD, University of Nottingham
Research
Research interests
I am interested in the planning, creation and management of human environments. The overall theme running through my research is sustainable urban transformations, with a focus on four main topics. First, my research has focused on the planning and infrastructural implications of staging both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games (Essex and Chalkley, 1998; 1999; 2004), including the urban design legacies of Olympic Parks (Sanchez and Essex, 2017; 2018; 2021; 2024). The second area of research has focused on the post-war planning and reconstruction of Plymouth city centre, using previously neglected sources of original correspondence between the key actors at the time, which has reshaped ideas about this formative period of the planning system and the contemporary conservation and regeneration significance of the city centre (Essex and Brayshay, 2005; 2007; 2008; 2013). The third main area of research has focused on the planning and regeneration of coastal communities, which has reviewed the policy response of coastal planning authorities to climate change (Young and Essex, 2019; Kirby, et al., 2021)); the delivery of sustainable mixed communities in waterfront regeneration (Thorning, et al., 2019); resort deprivation and social exclusion (Agarwal, et al. 2018); the challenges of brownfield development on the coast (Leger, et al., 2016); and a reflection on 30 years of regeneration along Plymouth’s waterfront (Essex and Ford, 2015). Fourth, my current research focuses on international sustainable energy transitions based on an Economic and Social Research Council/South African National Research Foundation Newton Fund funded project. This research investigated the role of municipalities in the distribution of electricity in South African cities and the unusual barriers which exist to impede the creation of governance/management structures to facilitate pathways to low carbon urban energy configurations (Essex and de Groot, 2021; Caprotti, et al., 2020; 2021; Essex et al., 2023).
Research degrees awarded to supervised students
KIRBY, J.-A. (2026) Application of Coastal Change Management Areas (CCMAs) for coastal adaptation to climate change impacts in SW England, Part-time PhD (Fourth advisor).
AL-NOOR, A. (2019) Assessing Economic, Social, Political and Environmental Issues Related to Mega-projects: A case study of Merowe Dam in Sudan, Full-time PhD (Director of Studies).
JAKES, S. (2015) The influence of resort decline on social exclusion in English seaside resorts, Full-time (Third advisor).
FOX, A. (2014) Communities, Institutions and FloodRisk: Mobilising Social Capital to improve community resilience, Part-time,2008-2014, (Second Advisor).
DARLOW, S. (2010) Sustainable Heritage Management Practices: Models and exemplars in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Part-time, 2005-2008, Full-time, 2008-2010 (Second Advisor)
KELLY, C. (2008) Partnerships in the development and management of marine nature-based tourism, School funded, Full-time, 2005-2008 (Director of Studies)
VERNON, J. (2003) Barriers to sustainability among tourism-related businesses: identification and reduction, Ph.D., Faculty of Science, Caradon District Council, Southwest Tourism and Caradon LEADER II, Full-time, 1998-2001, Part-time, 2001-2002 (Director of Studies)
CONNELL, J. (2002) Public access, management and environmental responsibility: the experience of gardens open to the public, Part-time, 1998-2002 (Director of Studies)
NOVELLI, M. (1999) Turismo Rurale e agriturismo: realta’ del West Country (Gran Bretagna) e della Puglia a Confronto, Ph.D. thesis, Dipartimento di Scienze Geografiche e Merceologiche, Universita’ Degli Studi di Bari. Exchange student at Plymouth 1998-99 (Supervisor)
CLEGG, A. (1997) The Recession as an Agent in the Restructuring of Tourist Accommodation, Ph.D., ESRC Research studentship, Full-time, 1993-96; Part-time, 1996-97 (Director of Studies)
MASON, P. (1996) The Learn to Travel Project: A Case Study of curriculum innovation in schools, PhD, Part-time, 1990-96 (Second Supervisor)
JONES, D.J. (1996) An Investigation into Land Use Change on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, 1946-1992, M.Phil., Part-time, 1990-96 (Director of Studies).
JAKES, S. (2015) The influence of resort decline on social exclusion in English seaside resorts, Full-time (Third advisor).
FOX, A. (2014) Communities, Institutions and FloodRisk: Mobilising Social Capital to improve community resilience, Part-time,2008-2014, (Second Advisor).
DARLOW, S. (2010) Sustainable Heritage Management Practices: Models and exemplars in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Part-time, 2005-2008, Full-time, 2008-2010 (Second Advisor)
KELLY, C. (2008) Partnerships in the development and management of marine nature-based tourism, School funded, Full-time, 2005-2008 (Director of Studies)
VERNON, J. (2003) Barriers to sustainability among tourism-related businesses: identification and reduction, Ph.D., Faculty of Science, Caradon District Council, Southwest Tourism and Caradon LEADER II, Full-time, 1998-2001, Part-time, 2001-2002 (Director of Studies)
CONNELL, J. (2002) Public access, management and environmental responsibility: the experience of gardens open to the public, Part-time, 1998-2002 (Director of Studies)
NOVELLI, M. (1999) Turismo Rurale e agriturismo: realta’ del West Country (Gran Bretagna) e della Puglia a Confronto, Ph.D. thesis, Dipartimento di Scienze Geografiche e Merceologiche, Universita’ Degli Studi di Bari. Exchange student at Plymouth 1998-99 (Supervisor)
CLEGG, A. (1997) The Recession as an Agent in the Restructuring of Tourist Accommodation, Ph.D., ESRC Research studentship, Full-time, 1993-96; Part-time, 1996-97 (Director of Studies)
MASON, P. (1996) The Learn to Travel Project: A Case Study of curriculum innovation in schools, PhD, Part-time, 1990-96 (Second Supervisor)
JONES, D.J. (1996) An Investigation into Land Use Change on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, 1946-1992, M.Phil., Part-time, 1990-96 (Director of Studies).
Publications
Journals
Publications since 2017
Essex, S. (2024) The Winter Olympics, 1924–2026, in Gold, J.R. & M.M. (Eds.) Olympic Cities, Fourth Edition, Routledge, London, pp.80-110.
Essex, S. & Latuf de Oliveira Sanchez, R. (2024) The achievement of sustainability and legacies by the host cities of the Summer Olympiads, 2012-2024, Planning Perspectives, 39 (3), pp. 595-613 doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/02665433.2024.2334077
Essex, S., Caprotti, F., de Groot, J., Phillips, J., Baker, L., Wolpe, P. & Reddy, Y. (2023) The ‘capability’ of South African energy governance to deliver a sustainable transition, Urban Research and Practice, 17 (4), pp.1-28. https://doi.org/10.1080/17535069.2023.2261899
Taylor, M., Essex, S. & Wilson, O. (2022) Solving the broken housing market in England and Wales: from New Towns to garden communities, Geography, 107 (1), pp.4-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/00167487.2022.2019492
Jones, L., Selman, J., Essex, S. & Wilson, O. (2022) Delivering a low carbon energy transition through planning: monitoring outcomes in Plymouth, Town and Country Planning, January-February, 2022, pp.24-29.
Caprotti, F., Phillips, J., Petrova, S., Bouzarovski, S., Essex, S., de Groot, J., Baker, L., Reddy, J. & Wolpe, P. (2021) ‘Candles are not bright enough’: inclusive urban energy transformations in spaces of urban inequality?, in Keith, M. & de Souza Santos, A.A. (Eds.) African cities and collaborative futures: Urban platforms and metropolitan logistics, Manchester University Press, Manchester, pp.121-142. doi: https://doi.org/10.7765/9781526155351.00012 or https://www.manchesterhive.com/display/9781526155351/9781526155351.00012.xml?chapterBody=pdf
Latuf de Oliveira Sanchez, R. & Essex, S. (2021) The challenge of urban design in securing post-event legacies of Olympic Parks, in Alaily-Mattar, N. & Thierstein, A. (Eds.) Urban transformations through exceptional architecture, Routledge, London, pp.114-133.
Kirby, J.A., Masselink, G., Essex, S., Poate, T. & Scott, T. (2021) Coastal adaptation to climate change through zonation: A review of coastal change management areas (CCMAs) in England, Ocean and Coastal Management, 215, 105950. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2021.105950
Young, D. & Essex, S. (2020) Integrating climate change adaptation in the planning and regeneration of coastal urban areas: priorities barriers, and future prospects, Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 63 (5), pp.912-934. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2019.1617680.
Al‐Noor, A., Rahman, S., Essex, S. & Benhin, J. (2020) Economic Contributions of Mega‐Dam Infrastructure as Perceived by Local and Displaced Communities: A Case Study of Merowe Dam, Sudan, Agriculture, 10 (6) 227, pp.1-25. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10060227
Caprotti, F., Essex, S., Phillips, J., de Groot, J., & Baker, L. (2020) Scales of governance: Translating multiscalar transitional pathways in South Africa’s energy landscape. Energy Research & Social Science, 70, 101700. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101700
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, pp.238-251. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.03.019
Essex, S. & Chalkley, B. (2019) Mega-sporting events in urban and regional policy: a history of the Winter Olympics, Journal of Sports and Science, Vol.40, No. 2, pp.54-67. [in Chinese].
Essex, S. & de Groot, J. (2019) Understanding energy transitions: the changing versions of the modern infrastructure ideal and the ‘energy underclass’ in South Africa, 1860-2019, Energy Policy, 133, pp.1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2019.110937
Latuf de Oliveira Sanchez, R. & Essex, S. (2018) The challenge of urban design in securing post-event legacies of Olympic Parks, Journal of Urban Design, 23 (2), pp.278-297. doi: 10.1080/13574809.2017.1395690.
Agarwal, S., Jakes, S., Essex, S., Page, S.J. & Mowforth, M. (2018) Disadvantage in Seaside Resorts: a typology of deprived neighbourhoods, Tourism Management, 69, pp.440-459. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2018.06.012
Essex, S. & Brayshay, M. (2018) Devon Tourism: the story of the county’s economic leviathan, Transactions of the Devonshire Association (invited contribution to commemorate Volume 150), 150, pp.177-222.
Brown, G., Essex, S., Assaker, G. & Smith, A. (2017) Event satisfaction and behavioural intentions: examining the impact of the London 2012 Olympic Games on participation in sport, European Sport Management Quarterly, 17 (3), pp.331-348. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2017.1294193
Latuf de Oliveira Sanchez, R. & Essex, S. (2017) Architecture and Urban Design: The Shaping of Rio 2016 Olympic Legacies, in Zimbalist, A. (Ed.) Rio 2016: Olympic Myths and hard realities, Brookings Institution Press, Washington DC, pp.97-120. ISBN: 9780815732457
Essex, S. & Yarwood, R. (2017) Changing Places: the armed forces, post-military space and urban change in Plymouth, UK, Geography, 102, pp.122-131.
Earlier key publications
Essex, S.J. & Chalkley, B.S. (1998) The Olympics as a catalyst of urban renewal: a review, Leisure Studies, 17 (3), pp.187-206.
Chalkley, B.S. & Essex, S.J. (1999) Urban development through hosting international events: a history of the Olympic Games, Planning Perspectives, 14 (4), pp.369-394.
Hobson, K. & Essex, S.J. (2001) Sustainable Tourism: A View from Accommodation Businesses, The Service Industries Journal, 21 (4), pp.133-146.
Kent, M., Newnham, R. & Essex, S. (2002) Tourism and sustainable water supply in Mallorca: a geographical analysis, Applied Geography, 22 (4), pp.351-374.
Vernon, J., Essex, S., Pinder, D. & Curry, K. (2003) The ‘Greening’ of Tourism Micro-businesses: Outcomes of Focus Group Investigations in South East Cornwall, Business Strategy and the Environment, 12, pp.49-69.
Essex, S., Kent, M., & Newnham, R. (2004) Tourism development in Mallorca: Is water supply a constraint ?, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 12 (1), pp.4-28.
Essex, S. & Chalkley, B. (2004) Mega-sporting events in urban and regional policy: a history of the Winter Olympics, Planning Perspectives, 19 (2), pp.201-232.
Vernon, J., Essex, S., Pinder, D. & Curry, K. (2005) Collaborative policymaking: local sustainable projects, Annals of Tourism Research, 32 (2), pp.325-345.
Essex, S., Gilg, A. & Yarwood, R. with Smithers, J. & Wilson, R. (Eds.) (2005) Rural Change and Sustainability: Agriculture, the Environment and Communities, CABI Publishing, Wallingford. 384pp. ISBN 0 85 199 082 7.
Essex, S.J. & Brayshay, M. (2005) Town versus country in the 1940s: Planning the contested space of a city region in the aftermath of the Second World War, Town Planning Review, 76 (3), pp.239-264.
Essex, S.J. & Brayshay, M. (2007) Vision, vested interest and pragmatism: who re-made Britain’s blitzed cities?, Planning Perspectives, 22 (4), pp.417-441. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02665430701553415.
Essex, S.J. & Brayshay, M. (2008) Boldness diminished? The post war battle to replan a bomb-damaged provincial city, Urban History, 35 (3), pp.437-461. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0963926808005725.
Essex, S. & Brayshay, M. (2013) Planning the reconstruction of war-damaged Plymouth, 1941-61: devising and defending a modernisation agenda, in Clapson, M. & Larkham, P. (Eds.) The Blitz and its legacy: wartime destruction to post-war reconstruction, Ashgate, Aldershot, pp.151-166.
Personal
Reports & invited lectures
ESSEX, S. & SMITH, N. (2025) Measuring the health and wellbeing outcomes of housing regeneration initiatives: A comparative study of selected neighbourhoods in Plymouth, UK, Track 2: Regenerating the City, European Urban Research Association Annual Conference, UWE Bristol, 11-13 June, 2025.
ESSEX, S. & IVATT, M. (2024) The legacy of the Abercrombie Plan for Plymouth City Centre, National Urban Design Conference, Theatre Royal, Plymouth (with Martin Ivatt, Plymouth City Council).
ESSEX, S. & WILSON, O. (2021) Educating planners for a low carbon future, Future Plymouth 2030 seminar series, Sustainable Earth Institute, University of Plymouth, 9 June, 2021 (with Dr Olivia Wilson).
ESSEX, S. (2019) The depiction of planners in Jill Craigie’s ‘The Way We Live’ film (1946), Making the Grade: Women Directing Documentary Park and Present Conference, Plymouth Arts Centre Cinema, Plymouth College of Art, 23 November, 2019.
ESSEX, S. (2019) Post-war reconstruction of Plymouth, European Council of Spatial Planners 13th Biennial of European Towns and Town Planners, University of Plymouth, 11 September, 2019.
ESSEX, S. (2019) The social issues facing coastal communities and planning responses, RTPI SW Regional Conference: Marine and Coastal Planning Retreat! Planning the future of our coastal areas, RNLI Lifeboat College, Poole, 12 June, 2019.
DE GROOT, J. & Essex, S. (2018) Energy transitions in urban South Africa, 1860-2017: Energy Justice and the changing ‘energy underclass’, 7th Low Carbon Energy for Development Network (LCEDN) conference on Transforming Energy Access, Session on Energy Justice, University of Loughborough, 30 May-1 June 2018.
ESSEX, S. & de Groot, J. (2017) Understanding Energy Transitions in UrbanSouth Africa, 1860-2017, RGS-IBGAnnual International Conference 2017, 29 August – 1 September, 2017, ImperialCollege, London.
ESSEX, S. & de Groot, J. (2017) Sixty years of energy transition in urbanSouth Africa: the changing ‘energy underclass’, Strategies for SustainableEnergy Transitions in urban Sub-Saharan Africa International ResearchConference, Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER),University of Ghana and Energy Institute, University College London, Accra,19-20 June, 2017.
ESSEX, S. & Ford, P. (2015) Urban regeneration: thirty yearsof change on Plymouth’s waterfront, Devonshire Association Annual Meeting,Bedford Hotel, Tavistock, 6 June, 2015.
ESSEX, S. (2014) Planningfor Coastal Communities: the evolving policy response, RTPI SW RegionalConference: Planning on the Edge – managing change in coastal communities, TheHeadland Hotel, Newquay, 19 September, 2014.
ESSEX, S. (2014) Lookingback: The Implementation of The Plan For Plymouth, 70thAnniversary of the post-war Plan for Plymouth: looking back and lookingforward, Plymouth City Museum, 25 April, 2014.
ESSEX, S. & Perkins, R. (2013) The Olympics as global governmentality (?), in Olympic Legacies and Sustainable Urban Development: Theoretical Debates Session, RGS-IBG Annual International Conference 2013, Imperial College, London (28 August, 2013).
ESSEX, S. (2012) London 2012: Delivering sustainability legacies through the Olympic Games, International Seminar on World Events and Urban Change, Universidad de Sevilla. (26-28 November, 2012).
ESSEX, S. (2012) Environmental & social sustainability: the impact of the Olympic Games, From London to Brazil: Social Change and the Sporting Mega-event Conference, British Library, London (5 November, 2012).
ESSEX, S. (2012) Torquay and the changing fortunes of tourism, 150th Anniversary Conference of the Devonshire Association, Torquay Museum, Torquay. (25-26 May, 2012).
ESSEX, S. (2012) Waterfront regeneration in Plymouth, Colloque International: Ports de plaisance and urbanité, Université du Littoral Côte d’Opale, Boulogne-sur-Mer. (25-27 January, 2012).
ESSEX, S. (2011) Planning for Plymouth: Mapping the development of a maritime city, Society of Cartographers 47th Annual Summer School Conference, University of Plymouth. (5-7 September, 2011)
ESSEX, S. (2010) The post-war battle to replan Plymouth, The Blitz and its Legacy, University of Westminster. (3-4 September, 2010)
ESSEX, S. & Gould, J. (2008) Plymouth: city of the welfare state in the twenty-first century, Heritage in reconstruction/heritage of reconstruction Conference, School of Property, Construction and Planning, Birmingham City University. (23 June, 2008)
ESSEX, S. (2008) The Olympic Games: catalyst of urban change, ‘Let the Games begin!’: the influence of the Olympic Games on a region, VUGS Symposium, School of Geosciences, University of Utrecht, Netherlands. (9 May, 2008).
ESSEX, S. (2019) Post-war reconstruction of Plymouth, European Council of Spatial Planners 13th Biennial of European Towns and Town Planners, University of Plymouth, 11 September, 2019.
ESSEX, S. (2019) The social issues facing coastal communities and planning responses, RTPI SW Regional Conference: Marine and Coastal Planning Retreat! Planning the future of our coastal areas, RNLI Lifeboat College, Poole, 12 June, 2019.
DE GROOT, J. & Essex, S. (2018) Energy transitions in urban South Africa, 1860-2017: Energy Justice and the changing ‘energy underclass’, 7th Low Carbon Energy for Development Network (LCEDN) conference on Transforming Energy Access, Session on Energy Justice, University of Loughborough, 30 May-1 June 2018.
ESSEX, S. & de Groot, J. (2017) Understanding Energy Transitions in UrbanSouth Africa, 1860-2017, RGS-IBGAnnual International Conference 2017, 29 August – 1 September, 2017, ImperialCollege, London.
ESSEX, S. & de Groot, J. (2017) Sixty years of energy transition in urbanSouth Africa: the changing ‘energy underclass’, Strategies for SustainableEnergy Transitions in urban Sub-Saharan Africa International ResearchConference, Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER),University of Ghana and Energy Institute, University College London, Accra,19-20 June, 2017.
ESSEX, S. & Ford, P. (2015) Urban regeneration: thirty yearsof change on Plymouth’s waterfront, Devonshire Association Annual Meeting,Bedford Hotel, Tavistock, 6 June, 2015.
ESSEX, S. (2014) Planningfor Coastal Communities: the evolving policy response, RTPI SW RegionalConference: Planning on the Edge – managing change in coastal communities, TheHeadland Hotel, Newquay, 19 September, 2014.
ESSEX, S. (2014) Lookingback: The Implementation of The Plan For Plymouth, 70thAnniversary of the post-war Plan for Plymouth: looking back and lookingforward, Plymouth City Museum, 25 April, 2014.
ESSEX, S. & Perkins, R. (2013) The Olympics as global governmentality (?), in Olympic Legacies and Sustainable Urban Development: Theoretical Debates Session, RGS-IBG Annual International Conference 2013, Imperial College, London (28 August, 2013).
ESSEX, S. (2012) London 2012: Delivering sustainability legacies through the Olympic Games, International Seminar on World Events and Urban Change, Universidad de Sevilla. (26-28 November, 2012).
ESSEX, S. (2012) Environmental & social sustainability: the impact of the Olympic Games, From London to Brazil: Social Change and the Sporting Mega-event Conference, British Library, London (5 November, 2012).
ESSEX, S. (2012) Torquay and the changing fortunes of tourism, 150th Anniversary Conference of the Devonshire Association, Torquay Museum, Torquay. (25-26 May, 2012).
ESSEX, S. (2012) Waterfront regeneration in Plymouth, Colloque International: Ports de plaisance and urbanité, Université du Littoral Côte d’Opale, Boulogne-sur-Mer. (25-27 January, 2012).
ESSEX, S. (2011) Planning for Plymouth: Mapping the development of a maritime city, Society of Cartographers 47th Annual Summer School Conference, University of Plymouth. (5-7 September, 2011)
ESSEX, S. (2010) The post-war battle to replan Plymouth, The Blitz and its Legacy, University of Westminster. (3-4 September, 2010)
ESSEX, S. & Gould, J. (2008) Plymouth: city of the welfare state in the twenty-first century, Heritage in reconstruction/heritage of reconstruction Conference, School of Property, Construction and Planning, Birmingham City University. (23 June, 2008)
ESSEX, S. (2008) The Olympic Games: catalyst of urban change, ‘Let the Games begin!’: the influence of the Olympic Games on a region, VUGS Symposium, School of Geosciences, University of Utrecht, Netherlands. (9 May, 2008).
Conferences organised
Conference co-organiser with Plymouth City Council for European Council of Spatial Planners 13th Biennial of European Towns and Town Planners, University of Plymouth, 11-13 September, 2019.
Conference organiser for the Fifth British-American-Canadian Rural Geography Conference, Rural Geography Study Group of the Royal Geographical Society-Institute of British Geographers, Association of American Geographers and Canadian Association of Geographers, University of Plymouth and University of Exeter, 14-19 July, 2003.
Royal Geographical Society-Institute of British Geographers Annual Conference, January 2001, University of Plymouth (Treasurer).
Conference organiser for the Fifth British-American-Canadian Rural Geography Conference, Rural Geography Study Group of the Royal Geographical Society-Institute of British Geographers, Association of American Geographers and Canadian Association of Geographers, University of Plymouth and University of Exeter, 14-19 July, 2003.
Royal Geographical Society-Institute of British Geographers Annual Conference, January 2001, University of Plymouth (Treasurer).