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

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

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Page 1: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects

Chrissie GibsonManchester Metropolitan University

Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Page 2: 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

Page 3: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

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

Page 4: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Heald Green & Edgeley CentresMap removed for copyright reasons

Page 5: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Heald Green

Page 6: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Heald Green

Page 7: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Cheadle Royal

Page 8: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Heald Green

Vacant shops

Page 9: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Heald Green

Local facilities, but low spend

Some new investment

Page 10: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Heald Green

Station

- line from Manchester to the airport

Page 11: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Edgeley, Stockport

Page 12: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Edgeley

Page 13: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Edgeley Park

Page 14: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Assignment

Policy•National•Regional•Local

Policy•National•Regional•Local ?

Survey data

•Shoppers•Traders•Types of shop•Census

Page 15: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Resources

Page 16: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Surveys

Students worked in groups

Surveys of shoppers and traders prescribed by Stockport MBC

Page 17: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Own surveys

Page 18: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Student presentations

Page 19: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

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

Page 20: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

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

Page 21: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Role of Stockport MBC

• Provided background data• Provided action plans for similar

areas • Provided questionnaires• Listened to presentations

• In return,– Questionnaires completed– New ideas

Page 22: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Student feedback

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

Page 23: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

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

Page 24: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

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.

Page 25: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Proposals

Page 26: Working with Local Authorities on Real Life Projects Chrissie Gibson Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences

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”

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