Learning Outcomes:
On the successful completion of the course, you should be able to:
• Critically appraise concepts and theories surrounding rural social, economic and environmental change
• Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of rural places and the different challenges they face
• Describe and explain concepts of rural development and pathways towards enhancing the rural economy
• Understand rural land-use change and competing demands for rural resources and landscapes
• Engage with case studies and best practices from diverse rural contexts around the world
• Demonstrate effective communication skills through written assignments, presentations, and group discussions on rural development and planning topics
Indicative Module Content:
1. DEFINING RURALITY
What do we mean by rural? Policy definitions of rural; rural as a social construct; contested and diverse ruralities; the political economy of rural; the global countryside; is ‘rural’ a useful concept for spatial policy and planning? Who is the countryside for and what is its role and function?
2. THE SCOPE OF RURAL PLANNING
What role does planning play in shaping rural futures? The evolution of rural planning; traditional rural planning assumptions and framing of the rural ‘problem’; reframing rural planning for the 21st Century – rural planning and the climate emergency, biodiversity loss, food and energy security; ecosystem services
3. AGRICULTURE AND FUTURE TRANSITIONS
Agricultural modernisation and intensification; productivist regimes; Case study – the Common Agricultural policy; post-productivism – agri-environmental schemes and extensification; future transitions and contested visions
4. THE RURAL LAND USE SYSTEM
The land-use system; key sectors – agriculture, forestry, nature, urbanisation; its socio-economic dimensions; key change drivers; from fragmented governance to holistic frameworks; Case study: land use and climate action
5. THE NEW RURAL ECONOMY
Changing rural economies; rural diversification; on and off farm diversification; rural tourism; rural enterprise; the bio- and eco-economy; the role of planning in managing the rural economy; rural development policy
6. SOCIAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC RURAL CHANGE
Understanding population and social change in rural areas; the rural exodus and population decline; the rural turnaround and new rural populations – counterurbanisation and gentrification; how does rural change relate to housing markets and planning conflicts?
7. RURAL SETTLEMENT, PLANNING & DESIGN – THE VILLAGE PLANNING CHALLENGE
Examining the social and economic role of rural towns and villages and opportunities for local regeneration. This will involve in-class group work working towards the preparation of a poster display for assessment.
8. LANDSCAPE, AMENITY AND THE RURAL ENVIRONMENT
Traditional approaches to countryside management; landscape as a planning concept; cultural heritage; landscapes and ‘place-branding’; landscapes and health/wellbeing
9. ENERGY AND RESOURCES
The traditional rural resource base; mineral extraction and the resource curse; environmental justice debates; renewable energy infrastructure; towards a low carbon rural landscape