This module provides students of city and regional planning with an insight into the property development industry. The primary objective of the module is to provide students with the knowledge and awareness of the property industry to enable them to make realistic and effective interventions in the production of the built environment.

The overall objective of the module is to ensure planning students can demonstrate an understanding of the workings of the property development sector and therefore deliver sensible interventions to achieve planning objectives.

The module aims to:

• Provide students of planning with an understanding of the operation of the property development sector;
• Provide students with an understanding of key sectors of principal relevance to land-use planning.

• Identify the key players in the property development industry and explain their motivations;
• Explain the means by which property development schemes are financed and managed;
• Demonstrate an awareness of the constraints on planners in shaping property development schemes;
• Explain how planning instruments shape the actions of key sectors of the property development industry.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of sustainable development in relation to the property development process.

The module will delivered through a series of lectures, including a number of presentations by senior practitioners in the field of housing, commercial and retail development, and up to 4 supporting seminars. There is also a full day field study visit to a number of sustainable property development projects in south east Wales.

• Identify, explore, digest and interpret property-related information.
• Evaluate the capacity of a scheme to be delivered and implemented
• Produce a clear, succinct written report

• Report (50%) - Evaluation of a sustainable development project visited on the Field Study Visit.
• Exam (50%) in January 2013

The module provides an understanding of key players in the property development industry, as well as the motivations for developing property. The module also focuses on understanding land acquisition, raising funds for financing development, and managing property assets. In addition, sessions also address the role of the public and private sectors in assembling land for development. The later stages of the module explore some of the key property development sectors of primary relevance to land use planning, including housing, retail and commercial office development, and also include a session on developing and managing major property development schemes. The relationship between sustainability, planning and property development will also be explored.

 Wilkinson, S. and Reed, R. 2008. Property Development. Fifth Edition. London: Routledge.
(This is a core text on property development that is suitable for undergraduate students.)

Other texts that supplement the above key text include:

Adams, D., Watkins, C. and White, M. 2005. Planning, Public Policy and Property Markets. Oxford: Blackwell.

Guy, S. and Henneberry, J. 2002. Development and Developers: perspectives on property. Oxford: Blackwell.

Havard, T. 2008. Contemporary Property Development. Second edition. London: RIBA Publishing.

MacLaran, A. (ed.) 2003. Making space: property development and urban planning. London: Arnold.

Ratcliffe, J., Stubbs, M. and Keeping, M. 2009. Urban Planning and Real Estate Development. Third edition. London: Routledge.