Urban Design and Planning MA

Core modules:

Planning Place and Design Studio

An introduction to the essential design components, principles and theories that inform urban design practice today. The module covers key theoretical, analytical, applied, and technical aspects of urban design to develop core skills and knowledge in design and spatial planning. This module examines the core components that make up urban spaces and how they can be analysed. The key objectives that inform many urban design practices are also explored, including legibility, diversity, safety and sustainable design. The ethics of professional practice in urban design are explored, including through consideration of equity and inclusivity in design practice. Teaching will draw on practical examples, using student teaching, lectures, design panel presentations, student site visits and virtual reality to develop skills in analysis and evaluation of urban spaces and their design.

30 credits

Perspectives on Spatial Planning and Development

This module is seen as core in developing initial knowledge and understanding of planning and urban development. It critically explores the role of spatial ideas in planning policy and practice and plays a key part in developing critical skills and understanding of different contexts and environments relevant to that practice. The module covers urbanisation in a range of contexts and examines how spatial planning seeks to respond to key economic, environmental and social challenges.

15 credits

Employability and Professional Skills

As professional skills become increasingly vital for workplace success, this module will allow you to develop a range of supporting skills that will enhance your learning experience at Sheffield and prepare you for a successful career.

The module has two elements: 1. Cultures of Learning and Professional Skills - understanding how we teach at Sheffield, how to get the most out of your study and how to develop key generic professional/soft skills 2. Employability Skills - preparing you for careers within planning, design, real estate, GIS and related professional areas.



The aims of this  module are: 

1. to provide a range of supporting skills for home and international students, which will help you get the most out of your learning in Sheffield

2. to prepare you for professional employment and career development at the end of your studies.

Spatial Planning Systems

This module provides an introduction to state-led planning and the key principles that underpin how spatial planning systems seek to shape the built environment. It considers the administrative, legal and political contexts in which planning decisions are made and the role of different groups in shaping land-use development. The module will help you understand how spatial planning systems are constructed and the ways planning policies are made and implemented. It will use practical scenarios to explore planning and development as contested activities with significant outcomes for people and place.

15 credits

Core modules:

Masterplanning Studio

This course module aims to introduce students to the process of masterplanning, providing skills in analysis and design at strategic scales; design option development and testing; working to a brief; and detailing a masterplan project design in 2D and illustrative 3D. The studio module will provide students with an understanding of the masterplanning process and introduce a range of international best practice examples to complement the applied learning within the unit. The module will equip students with knowledge on contemporary planning/design policy including the production of design codes and design-led planning policy. Teaching will draw on practical examples via studio workshops, context-based study, student-led site visits and external speakers/practitioners. Studio workshops will involve the setting and undertaking of a number of exercises to provide students with the necessary skills in analysing at a large scale urban area (+15ha), considering and testing potential design options, designing to a brief, and communicating the final masterplan vision. These workshops are designed to engage students with the core techniques required to produce successful masterplans and understand their links to design coding and contemporary design/planning policy. External speakers/practitioners at set intervals will provide real-world professional experience and expertise on masterplanning,design codes and their relation to planning processes.

15 credits

Planning and the Development Process

This module explores the development process and the various influences on the feasibility of successful development projects, including the planning process. It is designed to introduce planning and design students to core knowledge and skills, enabling them to understand how the development process shapes built environment outcomes. The module examines the structure of real estate development markets, the roles and objectives of the various stakeholders involved in development and planning, the main aspects of real estate development appraisal and the ways in which planning, design and risk influence profitability. Students will work towards recommending a course of action that offers the greatest likelihood of a successful outcome and in doing so, learn to balance the competing demands of planning, design and development.

15 credits

Optional modules - students will take two modules from this group (restrictions apply, please see Programme Regulations for further details):

Issues in Housing

This module will introduce students to a range of enduring housing challenges across different contexts, discussing historic and contemporary policy responses. The module will build both substantive knowledge about the causes and manifestations of housing problems and provide students with the skills to critically evaluate policies which seek to address these problems, grounding insights in relevant theories, concepts, and empirical research. The module will encourage an insight into the range of key actors involved in addressing housing challenges, build students' abilities to question the assumptions underpinning interventions, and develop an awareness of the relative strengths and weaknesses of policy approaches. By the end of the module, students will be able to demonstrate a nuanced awareness of the origins of contemporary housing problems, situating these within the relevant historical context, to evaluate policy approaches oriented to addressing these challenges, and to suggest new ways forward.

15 credits

Urban Informality

The overall aim of this module is to critically examine informality, with a particular but not exclusive focus on cities of the Global South. The module relies on a mixture of lectures, seminars and student-led group work, with the latter focusing on an in-depth case study of a selected city. It explores patterns and causes of informality and discusses the strengths and limitations of a range of theoretical approaches. It also analyses the success of different real-world urban planning responses (understood in broad terms), including government-led, donor-led and community-focused ones, in addressing key urban issues in the context of informality.

15 credits

Planning Law

The nature of planning activity and its outcomes are underpinned by legal frameworks, procedures and case law decisions. These legal frameworks are intended to ensure clarity and fairness in the exercise of planning powers. They also change over time to reflect changing circumstances and government priorities. 

The following module explores the role and underlying values of law and policy in the English planning system within an international context. Core themes include:

- the discretionary basis of UK planning

- the definition of development

- the legal process for undertaking planning decisions, 

- processes of planning appeal

- the changing status of development plans

- the role of enforcement.

The module will also explore examples where contemporary policy is shaped by legal decisions and the scope for flexibility in working within established legal frameworks. 

Overall the module will provide students with a thorough understanding of the procedures for controlling development through planning.

15 credits

Health, Wellbeing and the City

This module explores the urban environment as a determinant of health and well-being and examines how planning and urban design can contribute to improvements in health. Beginning with an exploration of the historic relationship between planning and public health, the module focuses on how the urban environments support or undermine health in relation to mental health, ageing, obesity, air quality and noise pollution. The module also introduces the notion of health impact assessment and further reflects on the contribution of planning to environmental justice and the reduction of inequalities in health.

15 credits

Urban Regeneration (PGT)

Urban regeneration is common practice in the governance of urban change worldwide. Proponents make positive claims about its impacts on the urban economy, society and landscape, critics point to its negative outcomes. Drawing on Global experiences, we will consider the role of the state and other actors in the formulation and implementation of urban regeneration policy in its multi-scalar governance context, and the extent to which communities are engaged in and benefit from these processes. Through critical review of 'real world' cases, we identify the tensions, vulnerabilities and varied impacts of such approaches and consider alternative governance and policy responses.

15 credits

Immersive and Inclusive Urban Design

The module with the use of virtual and augmented reality investigates opportunities for new democratic models of design and development, aided by an understanding of practices that are transforming growth of cities; such as cognitive cities, smart cities, immersive data visualisation and responsive technologies. The module engages with new and innovative areas of inclusive design and industry practice; and focuses on the uses and limits of technology in the development of urban design responses to contemporary urban challenges. This specialist module will provide students with the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge of key 2D, 3D and immersive technology (Virtual reality and augmented reality) design software packages which are increasingly required to visually communicate development proposals and ideas within the urban design and planning professions. The module will equip students with a critical appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of a variety of design software packages enabling the effective selection and utilisation of appropriate software in order to perform a range of different urban design tasks.

15 credits

The Urban Climate Emergency (PGT)

Climate change is one of the most significant and urgent challenges of the 21st century. Cities generate over 70% of the world's CO2 and consume 60% of global energy, they will therefore play an important part in mitigating the extent of climate change and in adapting to the effects of the climate crisis and its impacts on societies and the global environment. This unit will explore the drivers of climate change and their implications for urban systems, critically considering how urban professionals can respond to these challenges in ways that promote just and sustainable transitions.

15 credits

GIS for Built Environment Professionals

This module aims to introduce key Geographical Information Systems (GIS) principles and techniques to students in fields where GIS is becoming an increasingly relevant tool. The focus is on enabling students to develop an understanding of the potential of GIS and some fundamental GIS skills, through a series of workshops using a range of common software. Assessment is through a written report incorporating visualisations and analysis.

15 credits

Urban Heritage and Conservation

This module aims to introduce the theories and practices of urban heritage conservation in a global context, and equip students with the basic skills to appraise heritage value and propose a planning response for conservation. This is achieved by discussing the evolution of the heritage movement and the shifting of conservation focus in the urban built environment. Critical questions will be debated in class such as how heritage is defined, by who, as well as the implications of conservation practices at different scales. We will look at the contemporary challenges to heritage conservation and the role of heritage in future place-making and sustainability. Using case studies, we will examine the creative conservation practices in the UK and internationally. Students will develop their own heritage project to critically apply the knowledge and skills to a real world case.

15 credits

Students will take one of these two dissertation modules:

Dissertation

This is a core module which allows students to develop and manage an individual research project. The module aims to help students to develop and apply research skills and an appreciation of the issues involved in managing a research project; to develop an understanding of the role of research in relation to theoretical and practical dimensions of the chosen discipline; and to further and deepen knowledge in their chosen field of planning, real estate, urban design, development, or related interests.

60 credits

Design Dissertation

This module is a major research project that offers the opportunity for students to develop and manage an individual research informed site-based urban design project. The module aims to help students develop and apply research design skills, site analysis and development skills, and visual communication skills. Students will gain an appreciation of the issues involved in managing a research project; an understanding of the role of research in gaining a detailed understanding of a site and developing contextually appropriate site design solutions; to further and deepen knowledge and experience in a chosen field of urban design or planning.

60 credits