Dr Nancy Holman and Dr Alan Mace

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Regional And Urban Planning Studies and MSc in Urban Policy (LSE and Sciences Po). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

The aim of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the current planning issues faced by practitioners and their policy responses. This will begin with an introduction to the planning context of London and an overview of the British planning system. This will be followed by weekly sessions with invited speakers involved in planning practice and research. They will be engaged in relevant current research or be practicing planners or policy-makers from central or local government, research agencies or consultancy. The content will consist of a series of guided walks, lectures and seminars covering issues of current concern and debate within urban and regional policy and planning.

In the Department of Geography and Environment, teaching will be delivered through a combination of classes/seminars, pre-recorded lectures, live online lectures, in-person lectures and other supplementary interactive live activities.

This course is normally delivered through a combination of events, field trips and walks across Winter Term.  

This course includes a reading week in Week 6 of Winter Term. 

There is no Assessment in this course but the content will be relevant to the assessed courses in the MSc Regional and Urban Planning Studies Programme.