Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Context Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences UG Network – 600 students Town planning strand at each level –100 at level one – 80 at level two – 50 at level three

Land Use Planning and Sustainable Development Issues –Compartmentalised learning –Students needed more of a challenge –More problem solving = real life Long-standing links with Stockport MBC –Placements –MMUBS Retail Enterprise Network Solution –A project based around a local shopping centre –Students had to collect data and produce proposals

Heald Green & Edgeley Centres Map removed for copyright reasons

Heald Green

Cheadle Royal

Heald Green Vacant shops

Heald Green Local facilities, but low spend Some new investment

Heald Green Station - line from Manchester to the airport

Edgeley, Stockport

Edgeley

Edgeley Park

Assignment Policy National Regional Local Policy National Regional Local ? Survey data Shoppers Traders Types of shop Census

Resources

Surveys Students worked in groups Surveys of shoppers and traders prescribed by Stockport MBC

Own surveys

Student presentations

Proposals Evening trade – wine bars and restaurants Specialist shops Village square Farmers markets Adverts at the station Ask local schools to research local history and use historical themes in the new designs Better design of public areas

Skills gained Accessing electronic maps, Digimap (OS service) Annotating maps Collecting and analysing survey data from a range of respondents Minute taking and reflection Application of knowledge from other units eg crime and defensible space Appreciation of the requirements of an outside organisation

Role of Stockport MBC Provided background data Provided action plans for similar areas Provided questionnaires Listened to presentations In return, –Questionnaires completed –New ideas

Student feedback Positive Issues over group work (2 x forms) Issues about sharing ideas More guidance Data input tedious Word limit too short

Problems & improvements Initial set up time SMBC questionnaires lacked clarity Students meeting deadlines for data input Data handling and verification tedious Issues around group work, forms to overcome problems Improvements year on year –Spent longer on preparatory sessions –Arrange separate group seminars –Improve the group work forms

Benefits The project gives the students the opportunity to work on a real life project and to tackle some issues in depth, which will have long term benefits for their employability.

Proposals

What the students thought the assessment on Edgeley has give me an insight into a planning career the opportunity to write a professional report which I can use in my portfolio of work being able to put my own ideas into a planning exercise understanding how a planning proposal might be initiated, learning what research is appropriate to identify the issues and resolve them ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~