The UK-Ireland Planning Research Conference (PRC) is an annual gathering of scholars and practitioner-researchers engaged in research on the planning of urban and rural areas. The conference attracts delegates from across the United Kingdom, Ireland and internationally and, in recent years, has been hosted by the University of Newcastle (2021) and the University of Manchester (2022).

The PRC also hosts the Annual General Meeting of the Planning Schools Forum, a consortium of universities in the UK, Ireland and around the world, that offer planning education to undergraduate and postgraduate students, the Royal Town Planning Institute’s annual Awards for Research Excellence, and a PhD workshop that provides support and mentorship to emerging scholars.

Urban Studies at the University of Glasgow was proud to host PRC from 4 - 6 September, welcoming over 150 delegates. 

The theme of the conference, Planning on a Crisis Footing, challenged participants to share their emerging research and engage in debate and knowledge exchange on the myriad crises impacting urban areas, including the global climate crisis, the UK’s cost-of-living crisis and the city centre retail crisis.

To open the 2023 conference, an all-women panel of leading Scottish practitioners took part in a plenary discussion on the ways in which planning can shape the future through policy leadership, grassroots action and innovative practice – including via the “feminist city” approach advocated by panellist Councillor Holly Bruce. The opening plenary was followed by a packed two-day schedule of parallel paper sessions and roundtable discussions chaired by Urban Studies staff. These explored a diversity of planning topics, including theory, urban design, heritage, environment, governance, housing, transportation and big data, and showcased research by established and emerging scholars alike.

Delegates were also invited to experience planning-in-action via a series of walking tours in and around Glasgow led by Urban Studies academics and at a “fringe event” with community activists that showcased an AHRC-funded exhibition on the hidden histories of grassroots community planning. To bookend the Planning on a Crisis Footing theme, Professor Yvonne Rydin, Chair of Planning, Environment and Policy at University College London, closed proceedings with an inspirational keynote talk that explored her emerging theoretical work on post-growth planning and the future of the planning project in a time of unprecedented global upheaval.

The PRC had its lighter moments too. For Urban Studies and the wider College of Social Sciences it was an opportunity to showcase the University of Glasgow’s spectacular campus and environs and provide delegates with occasions to network in various impressive settings. The opening plenary was held in the new James McCune Smith Learning Hub where delegates enjoyed panoramic views of Glasgow from the 7th floor terrace before taking part in a piper-led procession to the renowned Hunterian Art Gallery for drinks and networking. Urban Studies was also proud to host delegates at the city’s remarkable Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum for a conference dinner that began with a recital on the museum’s celebrated pipe organ and a welcome address from the University of Glasgow’s Senior Vice-Principal and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Frank Coton.

Feedback from delegates has been resoundingly positive with delegates celebrating the quality and breadth of planning research, the depth and criticality of discussion, and the opportunity to renew old friendships and make new connections. Delegates also praised the conference organising team for pulling off a well-organised and engaging event that was both intellectually stimulating and memorable – three days of unprecedented September sunshine certainly helped! PRC will convene again in September 2024 at the University of Reading.

See more on the conference webpage

More information

First published: 13 September 2023

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