REP Research Roundup - July 2026
Departmental News
Publications
Parker, G., Lynn, T., Wargent, M. and Sturzaker, J. (2026) Recognising justice through neighbourhood scale planning in England. European Planning Studies.
Abstract
The paper addresses the relationship between justice, planning, and the neighbourhood scale. Existing literature on social and spatial justice in planning stretches back to at least the 1960s, with early considerations of the topic frequently focusing on abstract conceptualisations of justice and universalised solutions. Such perspectives too often overlooked the messy specificities and situated nature of justice as lived experience. Drawing on research that explored the treatment of justice in community-led plans in some of England’s most deprived neighbourhoods, the findings show limited attention to justice and there is little evidence that, where justice issues are identified, these are promoted or escalated via formal plans. We find that greater attention will be needed if such plans, or indeed larger scale plans, are to recognise and help realise greater social justice. A further theoretical contribution is made in arguing for more concern for situated justice and pre-figurative policy in planning, while introducing the label of ‘inscriptive justice’ to the literature.
Parker, G., Lynn, T., Wargent, M. and Sturzaker, J. (2026) Planning for Justice at the Neighbourhood level. Town and Country Planning.
Sturzaker, J., Parker, G., Lynn, T. and Wargent, M. (2026) Just Neighbourhoods? Overcoming barriers to effective community-led planning. Town Planning Review.
PHD NEWS
Conference attendance
Kamelifar,M (2026) Mapping Mobility Stress and Restorative Street Quality for Older Adults: Livable Cities: Critiquing the Urban Renaissance, 16th Annual Liveable Cities Conference University of Salford, Manchester, 18, June, 2026.
Supervisors: Emma Street and Ji Hei Lee (UoR Malaysia)
Bakhshi, A (2026) Place-Based Location Qualities and Social Housing Demand in England: Evidence from Waiting Lists, RSA Annual Conference 2026 – Regions as Arenas in a Changing World, University of Gothenberg, Sweden, 15-18 June 2026.
Supervisors: Yi Wu and Carlo Corridini
