Our work in the UCC Department of Planning and Sustainable Development is based around a series of overlapping themes which, in turn, are reflected both in the modules that we teach and in our research and outreach activities.
The name of our subject area - planning and sustainable development - is a term that comes from Irish planning law. More commonly it is called ‘city planning’, ‘spatial planning’ or ‘urban and regional planning’. In some places it is ‘town and country planning’ or ‘resource management planning’ whilst, mainly in mainland European countries, it is known simply as ‘urbanism’ or ‘territorial management’. It is a long-standing professional and academic discipline throughout the world and in UCC terms, it has been part of academic programme since 2006. In everyday conversation, we just call it ‘planning’…
What is planning?
Planning is chiefly concerned with places – regions, cities, towns, neighbourhoods, coastal zones and rural areas everywhere – and how they change and develop over time.
In each of these places and at these different scales, the purpose of planning is to reconcile the competing needs of environmental protection, social justice and economic development; all in the interests of the common good. In the face of climate change, demographic change, economic change, shifting power relationships and globalisation these relationships can have significant impacts in the places where people live and earn their livelihoods.
Planning therefore takes an integrated, long-term view about the future of places and has a deep concern for fairness and equity. As a discipline which has strong roots in the physical sciences, the social sciences and in the humanities, planning can be seen as a framework of spatial action within which the challenge of achieving sustainable futures for different places can be addressed.
Our main themes
Our work in the UCC Department of Planning and Sustainable Development is based around a series of overlapping themes which, in turn, are reflected both in the modules that we teach and in our research and outreach activities.
Place: Purpose, ethics and sustainability: Under this theme we explore a range of contemporary issues through a distinctive planning lens and – in doing so – we encounter the core purpose and values of our discipline. Taught modules include: PD6110 Foundations in planning and sustainable development; PD6115 Global planning practice and issues; PD6208 Applied discourses in planning and sustainable development; PD6209 International planning systems and approaches; and PD6111 Contemporary concepts in planning theory.
Cities, regions and the spatial scale: Here we look at how spatial planning challenges can be addressed at different scales and in different settings. Taught modules include: PD6116 Urban and metropolitan spatial planning; PD6117 Regional, national and transnational planning; PD6207 Spatial planning and landscape for rural environments and GG3027 Regional and local planning issues and policies
People and community: Because planners must always work in partnership with others to bring about change in meaningful and effective ways, the discipline aims to have a rich engagement with people in the places where they live and work. Taught modules include: PD6105 Housing, social change and community needs; PD6113 Information and engagement skills in planning; and SS3033 Issues in planning and sustainable development. These are augmented by practical partnership projects where students and staff work with community groups and stakeholders of all kinds.
The real world: planners in action: In most countries, planners have clearly set out obligations in relation to how places are managed, developed and planned for. As a result, decision-makers of all kinds (including investors, communities and governmental bodies) rely on their expertise and advice. Taught modules include PD6211 Plan-making and forward planning skills; PD6212 Planning skills in development management and assessment; and PD6206 Property, sustainable growth and enterprise.
Design and the built environment: Creating resilient places that are beautiful, resilient, efficient and inclusive requires particular sets of planning and design skills. Taught modules on this theme include PD6205 Principles of urban design and place-making; PD6106 Infrastructure and transport in land use planning; and PD6112 Drawing, communication and observation skills.
Landscape, heritage and the natural world: Development and change can have impacts on the environment that are not always clearly understood. For planners, this is especially important when there are cultural and historic values at stake or when there are competing understandings of what is meaningful or important. Taught modules on this theme include: PD6120 Landscape, character, context and change; PD6122 Planning and design for built heritage; and PD6205 Planning and management of natural resources.
Evidence-based decisions and research: Decision-makers and communities benefit from the work of planners not only through their high level professional advice but also through research and evidence-gathering. Planning research (both applied and scholarly) helps aim to ensure that those who participate in planning processes are well informed and to ensure that there is a high level of debate about planning issues within civil society. Taught modules include: PD6213 Research methods and proposals in planning; and PD6217 Expanded planning research paper.
Systems + processes: how planning works: Planning around the world is carried out through formal and informal systems and processes of various kinds. Many of these are carried out at the level of national, regional or local government. Whilst the legal and administrative context will change from place to place, many of the approaches are universal. Taught modules on this theme include: PD6114 Planning processes, administration and participation; and LW6101 Introduction to planning law.