Research within this area focuses on the operation and practice of planning within the institutional contexts of planning systems, policies and processes in the UK, Europe and beyond.

Key areas of interest address the inter-relations between planning and other allied policy agendas, and the analysis of central and local government functions and quality and performance management.

The Bartlett School of Planning has played, and continues to play, a major role in critiquing British town and country planning and inspiring the emergence of ‘spatial planning’ across the UK. Recent projects have been developed around issues related to turning the theory of spatial planning into international discourse and practice, and the levers (policy, fiscal, managerial, or otherwise) available to planners to meet agendas.

Particular work has been developed on place shaping and planning for growth, planning gain, the representation of planning in the media, the relationship between planning and governance forms, and the links between land use planning and societal and lifestyle pressures, such as home ownership.