Community Planning and Regeneration

Overview

This module covers regeneration policy and practice, and the housing system and aspects of housing policy. The regeneration content includes the theoretical context of urban policy and regeneration; urban regeneration policy and governance; community participation; and key concepts such as social exclusion, social capital and community cohesion. Housing topics include the housing system, housing policy and governance, tenant participation and the management of social housing. Examples of policy and practice from the four UK jurisdictions and the Irish Republic are used in both the regeneration and housing elements of the course. The module is taught through formal lectures, guest speakers, groupwork, and a reading pack. Extensive use is made of case studies.

Learning Objectives

RTPI Learning Outcomes:

1. Explain and demonstrate how spatial planning operates within the context of institutional and legal frameworks.
2. Generate integrated and well substantiated responses to spatial planning challenges.
3. Reflect on the arguments for and against spatial planning and particular theoretical approaches and assess what can be learnt from experience of spatial planning in different contexts and spatial scales.
4. Demonstrate how efficient resource management helps to deliver effective spatial planning.
5. Explain the political and ethical nature of spatial planning and reflect on how planners work effectively within democratic decision making structures.
6. Explain the contribution that planning can make to the built and natural environment and in particular recognise the implications of climate change.
7. Debate the concept of rights and the legal and practical implications of representing these rights in planning decision making processes.
8. Explain the principles of equality and equality of opportunity in relation to spatial planning in order to positively promote the involvement of different communities, and evaluate the importance and effectiveness of community engagement in the planning process.
9. Demonstrate effective research, analytical, evaluative and appraisal skills and the ability to reach appropriate evidence based decisions.

Module Learning Outcomes:

On completion of the module, students should be able to:
1. Describe urban and rural regeneration within the UK
2. Critically appraise theoretical approaches to regeneration and community planning;
3. Understand the forces, interests and agencies that influence regeneration and community planning policy and practice;
4. Explain concepts of community planning within the UK;
5. Evaluate the role of communities in regeneration programmes and in community planning.

Skills

The main skills outcome should be:

1. Generic skills: written and oral communication, problem solving, use of IT and library services.
2. Professional planning skills: policy analysis; knowledge of regeneration policies and the housing system; knowledge of community participation issues.
3. Client based/business skills: Regeneration project planning, consultation methods, negotiation; knowledge of governance structures.

Assessment

Students must get a final mark of 50% or above to pass.