How do we plan community?: planning, housing and co-operative development

Rowlands, Rob (2013). How do we plan community?: planning, housing and co-operative development. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

The focus of this PhD is on the way in which policy makers and practitioners ‘plan’ ‘community’ in the realisation of urban policies, particularly in housing and regeneration. The research underpinning this PhD took place against a policy backdrop of measures to increase the supply of (affordable) housing, to reduce social exclusion and to promote urban renaissance and sustainable communities. The common theme through all of the outputs has been focused on ‘community’ both as a entity which exists but which is difficult to define, and as an instrument of policy. The critical review presented here is in two distinct halves. The first half considers how community has been defined by policy makers and used as a tool in delivering better urban environments. As such it outlines how community has been commodified within policy, how through this commodification it is utilised through its active engagement in decision making, how it is physically planned via new housing developments and ultimately engages with questions as to whether community is lost through these moves. The second half of the review engages with discussions around mutualism. Drawing on research focused around co-operative and mutual housing it outlines how community exists organically and how this might be better understood if community is to be more successfully harnessed in urban and social policy. The review concludes by outlining areas for further research in taking this agenda forward.

Type of Work:	Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)
Award Type:	Doctorates > Ph.D.
Licence:
College/Faculty:	Colleges (2008 onwards) > College of Life & Environmental Sciences
School or Department:	School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Funders:	None/not applicable
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GB Physical geography H Social Sciences > HJ Public Finance H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races J Political Science > JS Local government Municipal government
URI:	http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/3789

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