“I’m motivated by trying to learn from what hasn’t worked and what’s worked really well. This way, we can change the planning process to create and deliver better outcomes for all.”
Hannah Hickman, Associate Professor, Planning Practice
I’m a town planner by background. I moved into academia in 2017, after 20 years in professional practice. I’m really interested in applying my experience and expertise to better understand how planning unfolds in practice. In real life, in our neighbourhoods and communities. And how we take this understanding and use it to create better outcomes for all involved.
I guess I see myself as sitting at that interface between practice and research. For me, that’s where I can have the greatest impact. Now, one of the areas of research that I’ve been focused on recently is exploring the space between a scheme getting planning permission and a scheme being built out.
Promise, delivered
I’ve done two major pieces of research: one for a group of local authorities, looking at major housing developments. The other for the National Infrastructure Planning Association, focused on huge infrastructure, like airports, nuclear power stations, offshore wind farms. I want to see if the planning permission as granted, for these two contrasting types of development, hinders or supports delivery. Is the intent of a planning permission what actually ends up being delivered?
So, while the two are very different – housing and large infrastructure – both research projects have been commissioned by practitioners who want to do something different. They see the need to do something different, to improve or reshape the way the planning system is orchestrated, to deliver better outcomes. And that’s what drives me.
Critically objective
I want to be able to better advise interested parties. And I believe that the real power of academic research is its objectivity. Its credible impartiality. And there’s something very privileged about being an academic, in that you’re allowed to think about these things, and ask the tricky questions, and give your view based on your experience and, crucially, the evidence.
And our work is more likely to be taken at face value than research that’s been commissioned by a particular sector specific organisation. We’re evidence based. There’s a clear reason and rationale to take it up.
All in for the right outcome
For example, alongside another academic from the University of Cambridge, I recently gave evidence to a select committee of the Welsh Parliament. Almost immediately, I could sense that the Welsh parliamentarians were very interested in what we had to say. Because I think they knew that we were there to present our experience and research, not because we represent a particular interest or industry.
I’m motivated by trying to learn from what hasn’t worked – and what’s worked really well. Often planning permissions are granted, with a great vision of what that development is going to be like. And then, in the process of modifications and amendments, or sometimes simply the failure on the part of the developers to deliver on their commitments, we end up with a scheme that’s disappointing. For all. So, why is that? How does it happen? Whose fault is it? Where’s the failure within the system and what can we do to try and ensure better quality outcomes.
Inspiring next generation of professional planners
I’ve also recently led a project here at UWE Bristol on the motivations and expectations of planning students. What brings them to study planning and what they’re hoping to achieve. Because there’s some dispiriting research, particularly in Europe, about disappointment on reaching practice.
Students start planning thinking it’s this visionary place making activity. Then they get into practice and there’s a lot of, you know, bureaucracy. They’re bogged down in the minutiae or the politics. So, we’ve been doing this longitudinal study of students and it’s great how motivated they are, particularly around climate. They see planning as offering them an opportunity to change things and that’s great. That’s exactly what we need right now.
Contribution to the UN 2030 sustainable development goals
UWE Bristol is proud to align our research to the UN sustainable development goals. The above research aligns with the following goals:
