Research themes

Planning Policy

Planning research at Reading engages with both theory and practice. Work by Allmendinger explores the implications of paradigm breakdown and post-positivist analyses and perspectives on planning through a number of papers. Major planning policy related research has been funded by the ESRC, ODPM and DCLG. Allmendinger has also recently led two ODPM funded projects with Arup looking at electronic telecommunications developments and planning regulation which will underpin changes to the General Permitted Development Order. A major three year ESRC funded project is currently being undertaken by Allmendinger with colleagues from the Universities of Newcastle and Hull looking at regional planning and policy integration across the UK.

Ball and Allmendinger have recently completed a DCLG funded project on alternatives to the current system of development control which was widely reported and discussed in the professional press. Current research, funded by the RICS Educational Trust, is investigating building firm size hierarchies and concentration ratios on an internationally comparative basis and is relating those hierarchies to potential strategies adopted by house building firms. Further ESRC funded research examined the role of partnerships in urban regeneration. Ball led a consortia of Reading and Heriot Watt researchers on DCLG-funded work related to introducing market signals into local planning procedures.