Over the course of the semester the students will:

- Develop an awareness of contemporary urban, rural and environmental challenges and the rationale for regional and urban planning;
- Understand the economic, political, environmental and community context for planning practice;
- Learn about the evolution of planning practice and theory;
- Gain insights into the political and administrative frameworks and their relationships to the planning systems in Ireland, European nations and beyond;
- Become familiar with the planning process and policies and examples of how they are implemented in practice.

On the successful completion of the module, you will be able to:
• Demonstrate an understanding of the economic, political, environmental and community context for planning practice;
• Describe and explain the rationale for spatial planning policy and practice;
• Demonstrate and understanding of the key elements underpinning the planning process;
• Outline key planning areas and relevant policies.

The module has 4 Learning Units, with each unit comprising lectures (in-class or online) along with supplementary videos and key readings. The 4 Learning Units are:

Learning Unit 1: Nature & Purpose of Planning
This Learning Unit will provide students with an introduction to the module – module aims and learning outcomes, before going on to outline the nature and purpose of planning. This will examine historic and contemporary urbanisation and will trace the emergence of urban and regional planning in the face of increasingly complex urban challenges. Themes covered include: the rise and rise of urbanisation; the emergence of regional and urban planning in Europe; European traditions of planning; rationale for planning intervention – economic, democratic and ecological perspectives; what do planners do?

Learning Unit 2: The evolution of spatial planning
In this unit, we will examine major trends in planning theory and practice in the 20th Century and the different role of the ‘planning expert’ and the public in shaping the future of cities and regions. We will examine 2 key foundations in planning theory:

1. Planning as Physical Design: Planning as a solution to societal problems; the rise of the planning expert; Town Planning as physical planning and design; urban blueprints or ‘master plans’; urban utopias; criticisms of the ‘blueprint approach’

2. Comprehensive planning: The systems approach to urban management; rationality and the ‘planning process’; the breakdown of the rational comprehensive approach – urban protest, the ‘revolt of the client’, the limitations of comprehensive urban modelling

We will then examine how these planning approaches were reshaped by urban politics and protest leading to a much greater emphasis on planning and public participation and planning as collaboration. We will examine some examines of how to engage with the public in urban planning.

Learning Unit 3: Introduction to the Irish Planning System
This unit will provide an introductory overview of the Irish planning system, outlining the framework of plans and the management of development. The key themes addressed include: the key agencies in the Irish Planning system; the role of central and local government; objectives of the Planning system; key planning instruments – development plans and development control

Learning Unit 4: Topics in Spatial Planning
This learning unit will provide an introduction into key planning topics, which you will study in more detail in modules as you progress through your degree programme. The topics will include: planning and sustainable development; climate change and planning; planning for rural communities; planning for housing.

Not applicable to this module.

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

Individual assignment at the end of module Feedback will be provided in writing post assessment