Planning and Environment

Postgraduate research in the Planning and Environment pathway covers a broad thematic range of topics related to the planning, development, and design of the natural and built environment. Research within the pathway addresses themes from the fields of urban, regional, and spatial planning, regeneration, environmental assessment/management, architecture, and real estate. Research has explored such themes in the North West region and across other European and global locations. As many of these topics are related to applied disciplines, close links to practice are common, including the use of case studentships. For candidates applying for a Master’s + PhD studentship, dedicated research masters courses and other research training opportunities are available at the Universities of Manchester and Liverpool. Research students are also able to draw on supervisory support and input as relevant from across the two institutions involved in the pathway.

Programmes eligible for NWSSDTP funding

The list below includes all Master’s programmes that are eligible for NWSSDTP funding and the typical PhD programmes that are supported under this pathway. Other PhD programmes within these universities may be considered – please reach out to the relevant Pathway Representative (see contact details below) or the NWSSDTP Office if the PhD programme you are interested in is not listed here. Please note that the NWSSDTP does not fund standalone Master’s programmes – these can only be funded as part of a Master’s + PhD Studentship.

University of Liverpool

University of Manchester

For information on how to apply for funding, please visit our How to Apply page.

Pathway Representatives

Contact details for Planning and Environment Pathway Representatives can be found here: https://nwssdtp.ac.uk/about/contact-us/pathway-leads/

Current Planning and Environment Pathway Students and Alumni

Sarah Coleman (2020 Cohort)

Investigation into benefits governance in major government projects

This research examines the reality of benefits realisation through the lens of UK government major projects.

It will add to the theoretical and practical understanding of the considerations and challenges involved in the planning and execution of these activities at the back-end of projects, particularly boundary spanning between the temporary project-based organisation and the permanent functional-based organisation.

Nicolás del Canto (2022 Cohort)

Office-to-Residential conversion in the context of planning deregulation in England: drivers, quality of neighbourhoods and commodification of housing

This PhD investigates office-to-residential conversion under Permitted Development Rights in England. While related studies have mainly approached the topic through a planning deregulation lens, my research introduces both empirical and theoretical linkages with the land economy literature. The research aim is to better understand how deregulated conversion policies provide opportunities for private market actors to achieve financial gains.

David Mountain (2017 Cohort)

New towns for inner cities: dynamics of 20th century urbanisation in the London Docklands 1976-85

My aim is to interrogate ideological shifts in 1970s-80s Britain and their bearing upon urban theory today. I do this by analysing the end of the New Towns programme in the context of “inner-city crisis” in the mid-1970s; and by tracing the vestiges of new towns principles and practice in the Thatcher government’s strategy for the reconstruction of London’s Docklands.