This seeks to ensure that you have a practical and theoretical understanding of the approaches to managing development through the mechanisms and system of planning.

It will also provide you with a working and practical understanding of analytical skills needed to make decisions based not on the output (i.e. a decision,) but rather to be outcome focused. You will explore the legal framework of planning, how decisions are made, enforcement, design, movement, appeals, and a range of other areas of interest. You will study and learn through a series of lectures, exercises and seminars which allow practice application and understanding of theory, policy, and regulation.

The course is therefore underpinned by the principles of the development management approach with an emphasis on the quality of the outcome and the effectiveness of the process.

What does it cover?

• Decision making processes and implementation mechanisms regarding the development and use of land to meet sustainability objectives within the context of the spatial planning approach.
• The legislative context: the need for planning permission; the definition of development; permitted development rights; the use of classes order; legal validity; design and access statements, planning enforcement.
• Professional skills, including a focus upon negotiation, project management, understanding and creating plans and drawings, and viability.
• Appeals: written statements, hearings and inquiries; the role of the planning inspectorate; understanding how to produce evidence and justify argument.
• Policy, guidance and advice: understanding the development plan and other material considerations, including guidance case law.
• Urban design theories, vocabulary and architectural styles and periods.
• Traveller and traffic behaviour in the urban environment, including the nature and perceptions of different forms of movement (walking, cycling, driving, etc.) and the potential for urban design to influence sustainable mobility objectives, such as low-carbon travel choices.
• The relationship between urban/street design, with a particular focus on safety through urban design.

What will the course outcome be?

• To demonstrate comprehension of planning law in the context of current planning principles, concepts and approach.
• To demonstrate effective decision making and design solution skills.
• Critical analysis of legal processes.
• To critically comment on the system for managing development including demonstrating how that system might be improved.
• To demonstrate an understanding of the nature of the objectives of urban design, and be able to apply these objectives to typical development situations.

This module can be taken as a stand-alone CPD course, or by completing the module assessment, it can be used to build up credits towards a named UWE postgraduate qualification (PG Certificate, PG Diploma or Masters) in: Transport Planning, Transport Engineering and Planning, Planning and Urban Leadership (Distance Learning), Planning Major Projects, Urban Planning and the Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship in Urban Planning

There are no formal entry requirements for participants wishing to undertake this course as a stand-alone CPD course without the optional module assessment.

This module will involve 6 hours direct contact time per session, weekly, across one semester:

Starting Friday 24 January 2020, 10am-5pm

then every Friday on: 31 January; 7, 14, 21, 28 February; 6, 13, 20, 27 March; 3, 24 April 2020

The course is expected to take 300 hours to complete:

Each 30 credit course (module) is expected to take 300 hours to complete: 72 hrs direct contact learning; 108 hrs assimilation and development of knowledge; 60 hrs portfolio (assessment); 60 hrs planning appeal (assessment).

How to apply

Please visit our webpage and complete an online booking form. Deadline 13 January 2020.