Dr Stephen Essex

Programme Leader for 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.

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)

Roles on external bodies

• Committee Member of Royal Town Planning Institute South West branch, 2008-2010; 2020-.
• Executive Committee Member of the RGS-IBG Rural Geography Research Group, 2000-2005 (including Newsletter Editor, 2002-2005).

Teaching interests

• Urban and rural planning
• Sustainable tourism
• Research methods

My main teaching at undergraduate level includes:

GGX1205 Geographical Journeys (module leader): This module introduces geography as an undergraduate subject, including the interactions between human and physical sides of the discipline; engages with big society debates/issues to which geography contributes: and develops research and learning as a grounding for future personal and professional development.

GGH2208 Urban planning, design and security: This module provides a critical understanding of the evolution and operation of urban planning, design and security across a range of global contexts.

GGH3027 Sustainable Cities: This module examines how cities are tackling sustainable development and climate change challenges in an increasingly urban world. https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/schools/school-of-geography-earth-and-environmental-sciences/geography/featured-module-sustainable-cities

I also act as advisor on a number of dissertation projects (GGX3200 Dissertation in Geography) and work-based learning placements (GGX3203 Work-based Learning). I also contribute to residential fieldwork modules in Year 1 (GGX1205 Geographical Journeys) and Year 2 (GGX2204).

At Masters level, I am the Programme Leader for MSc Planning and MSc Town Planning, which is fully accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute. Further details are found at: http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/msc-planning

My teaching on the MSc Planning programme 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).

PLG508 Coastal Urban Regeneration (module leader): This module deals with the challenges of delivering urban regeneration in coastal contexts, namely port, post-defence, seaside resorts and rural market/fishing towns. The visibility of problems in coastal towns has arguably been obscured by the government’s traditional focus on urban and rural categories, yet the population of these settlements is equivalent in size to a region. Coastal towns experience a combination of particular disadvantages such as physical isolation, often accentuated by transport deficiencies; climate change; high inward migration of elderly and transient/benefit claimant populations and the outward migration of young people; a dual housing market; ‘one industry town’ economies often based on tourism; and low education attainment with low levels of aspiration.

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

Research interests

I am interested in the planning, creation and management of human environments. I also work on sport and recreation, and tourism, and the spaces in which those activities and pursuits take place. 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). 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 is investigating 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). 

Research degrees awarded to supervised students

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).

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).

Reports & invited lectures

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).

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.

ESSEX, S., Yarwood, R. and Gilg, A. (2003) 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).