1. Faculty of Technology, Engineering and the Environment
Module Guide
MSc
Academic Year 2010/2011
Module: Policies and Plans
Web-site: All modules have support through Moodle at
http://moodle.bcu.ac.uk/tee
School: School of Property, Construction and Planning
Module Co-ordinator: Professor Alister Scott
Module Tutors: Professor Alister Scott, Claudia Carter
Contact Information: alister.scott@bcu.ac.uk MP Level 3 01213317551
Brief Descriptions of the Assignment 1: This will take the form of an evaluation of
Items of Assessment: contemporary planning policy consultation. This year the focus
will be on the Coalition government’s National Planning Policy
You will be expected to Framework.
complete ALL
Assessments. Assignment 2 will take the form of a 30 minute oral in the exam
period based on the evaluation you have undertaken
(Assignment 1) and drawing upon wider theoretical and practical
perspectives.
Assessment Weighting: Assessment 1: 50%; Assessment 2: 50%
Individual assignments: the work you submit shall be your own and not the product of
collaboration with anyone else. Plagiarism will be penalised.
Unless otherwise advised, coursework assessments must be submitted by no later than 14
December 2.00pm via moodle with a Coursework Submission & Record Form printed from
ECMS on https://mytee.bcu.ac.uk/ attached.
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2. Faculty: TEE School/Department: PCP
Module Title: Policies and Plans
Programme(s) on which the module is delivered: MASP
Relationship with Programme Philosophy and Aims
The broad aims of this module are to familiarise students with planning intervention through
the evolving forward planning mechanisms used to guide spatial change; to understand how
and why these have changed over time; to critically assess current spatial planning
mechanisms; and to understand the relationship between spatial policies and plans and other
public policy plans and investment programmes.
Indicative content
There are two key themes related to this module
Theme 1: Processes, Actors and Sustainability
• Brief overview of strategic planning, policy making processes in the UK
• The influence of Europe and comparative spatial planning systems
• The role of sustainability, localism as part of the new spatial planning agenda.
Theme 2: Evaluation of policies and plans
• The evaluation of spatial plans on achieving development, investment and
environmental outcomes
• The relationship between spatial and non-spatial plans such as housing strategies,
transport plans and community strategies
• Critical debates concerning what makes successful policies, plans and strategies
Alternative responses to environmental challenges, including a range of good practice
projects from Europe and beyond.
Study mode / delivery method(s):
Delivery will be predominantly through lectures, seminars and critical debate with some
individual exercises and reading. Visiting speakers from practice are also a vital element of
this module as they are at the cutting edge, and therefore able to bring real life examples of
current practice in a rapidly changing agenda for planners. Electronic support will be
available through Moodle.
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3. Intended Learning Outcomes and the means by which they are to be achieved and
demonstrated.
Describe and critically comment on how the
‘spatial turn’ has affected plans and policies
in a range of different contexts
(environmental, economic, social and
technological) in the UK
Lectures, seminars and the use of visiting
Demonstrate a critical understanding of a speakers from practice will assist in delivering
range of spatial planning policy issues and all of these learning outcomes.
frameworks at European, national, regional,
and local levels
Moodle will be used to provide additional
Explain how the spatial planning process is material as well as an interactive discussion
used to manage change in the built and forum.
natural environments
Critically discuss the relationship between
spatial and non-spatial policy mechanisms,
especially at the regional and local level
Assessment and feedback
Formative Assessment
Submissions to the tutor will be commented upon prior to submission.
Summative Assessment
The part 1 report will be marked promptly and provide feedback in advance of the oral.
Each part of the coursework is worth 50% of the total module mark.
Part 1 will involve completing an individual consultation response for a plan or policy from
a choice (September 2011 National Planning Policy Framework).
Part 2 will comprise a viva under exam conditions in the exam period.
Assessment criteria
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4. Asses
s.
Weight
Type
Indica
tive
Type
Indica
tive
Descri
ption
1
50%
CWK
Cours
ework
–
Individ
ual
Part 1:
Consul
tation
50%
Respo
nse
2
50%
ORA
Part 2:
Oral
Viva
50%
Learni
ng
Outco
mes
Asses
sment
1
Asses
sment
2
1


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5. Transferable Skills
Information selection and application
Written communication
Oral communication
Feedback
Feedback will be given within 3 weeks. Feedback from the first assignment will help students
prepare for the student viva.
Related Modules
Spirit and Purpose of Planning
Planning Futures
Law and Environmental Governance
Learning Resources
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6. Moodle will be used as a central repository of multi-media resources including selected
reading. In addition, the following books are recommended reading:
The current moodle site has a full list of reading for each lecture.
Recommended Reading
Allmendinger P. (2009) ‘Critical reflections on spatial planning’, Environment and
Planning A 41: 2544-2549.
Allmendinger, P. and Haughton, G. (2007) ‘The fluid scales and scope of UK spatial
planning’, Environment and Planning A 39 1478-1495.
Biesbroek, G.R., Swart, R.J. and Wim, G.M. (2009) ‘The mitigation–adaptation
dichotomy and the role of spatial planning’, Habitat International 33: 230–237.
Campbell, H. (2005) ‘Interface: The darker side of local communities: Is this the real
world of planning?’ Planning Theory and Practice 6(4): 517-519.
Cowell, R. (2003) ‘Substitution and scalar politics: negotiating environmental
compensation in Cardiff Bay’, Geoforum 34: 343-358.
Harris, N. and Hooper, A. (2004) ‘Rediscovering the “spatial” in public policy and
planning: an examination of the spatial content of sectoral policy documents’,
Planning Theory and Practice 5(2): 147-169.
Hofmeister, S. (2002) ‘Intermediate “time-spaces”: The rediscovery of transition in
spatial planning and environmental planning’, Time & Society 11(1): 105-130.
Low, N. (2002) ‘Ecosocialisation and environmental planning: a Polanyian approach’,
Environment and Planning A 34(1): 43–60.
Taylor N, 2010 “What is this thing called spatial planning? An analysis of the British
government’s view” Town Planning Review, 81 pp.193 – 208
Tewdwr-Jones, M. Gallent, N. and Morphet, J. (2010) 'An anatomy of spatial
planning: Coming to terms with the spatial element in UK planning', European
Planning Studies 18(2): 239-257.
Vigar, J. (2009) ‘Towards an Integrated Spatial Planning?’ European Planning
Studies 17(11): 1571-1590.
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7. 7

8. Week Lecture Date Lecturer Lecture Topic Tutorial / Seminar Topic Assignment *
No. (Wed) Set Due In
THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES
‘Plans and Policies’: a strategic and spatial
1 1 28/09/2011 AS/CC Exercise and intro to assignment
planning perspective
What is going on with the English
2 2 05/10/2011 AS Spatial planning: theoretical perspectives
planning system?
The strategic planning process: frameworks for
3 3 12/10/2011 AS/CC (b) Ecosystem approach (CC)
analysis – (a) DPSIR (AS)
4 4 19/10/2011 AS/CC The policy-making process – Sutton (AS) Policy evaluation exercise (AS/CC) *CWK
5 5 26/10/2011 CC Governance Forestry
POLICIES & PLANS IN PRACTICE
6 6 02/11/2011 AS SEA Example (AS/NS?)
7 7 09/11/2011 CC Scenarios Exercise
8 8 16/11/2011 CC Climate change Complexity, uncertainty and ignorance
9 No lectures Activity week
10 9 30/11/2011 AS Localism and Neighbourhood Plans Example
12 10 7/12/2011 AS Planning in the West Midlands: a critical review Big City Plan
13 11 14/12/2011 AS/CC Planning for the rural urban fringe (AS/CC) Research and practice (AS/CC)
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