School of Life Sciences – The University of Hertfordshire at the forefront of sustainable planning

15 September 2011

Hertfordshire has always been at the forefront of radical new initiatives in planning. The world’s first garden cities were built in Hertfordshire at Letchworth and Welwyn Garden City. Hertfordshire also saw the first development of new towns in England and in the early 1990s its towns were among the first to embrace Local Agenda 21.

Hertfordshire is therefore the ideal location to face up to the next big challenges that confront the planning profession. The University of Hertfordshire which is based in Hatfield is rising to the occasion with the launch of a new Master’s degree in Sustainable Planning that is designed specifically for planners who want to enhance their skills in order to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Increasingly planners are being required to facilitate the creation of more sustainable urban and rural environments. Climate change, social cohesion and increasing demands for personal mobility will need concerted action by the planning profession. These changes require expertise and skills in a diverse range of disciplines and as currently there is a national shortage of relevant skills the demand for specialised sustainable planners will increase.

Dr Alina Congreve from the University of Hertfordshire said:

“Planning education needs an overhaul to focus much more on the skills planners needs in their careers. Some of these will be technical skills in urban design and GIS. Enhanced skills in public engagement will also be needed to meet the new localism agenda.”

Recognising the fact that many planners prefer to combine full time work with part-time studies the University is also offering short courses in sustainable planning. They run over two or three days making it convenient to fit around a busy work schedule. This option is ideal for professionals who need to update their skills in specific areas such as urban design, transport analysis, planning law or place making.

As well as drawing on local examples of good practice the new MSc in Sustainable Planning gives students the opportunity to access some of the best examples internationally. With a study visit to France and Germany students experience first-hand the solar suburbs in Freiburg and the advanced transportation planning in Strasbourg. This helps them put together the relation between theory and practice and gives them their first chance to try their new planning skills.

For more information about the sustainable planning Master’s degree and short courses contact Dr Alina Congreve [a.congreve@herts.ac.uk]