Description
Assessment
This module will be assessed entirely through coursework.
You have the option of either
(a) Answering one of the nine essay questions below
OR
(b) Producing an individual 2,500 word essay on a topic of your choosing that is relevant to the module aims. The precise focus is up to you but you should organise your discussion around a question, which will provide the title for the assessment. This will be subject to agreement by the module coordinator.
Examine one of the following in relation to the United Kingdom or a planning context with which you are familiar. State which planning context provides the background to your answer if this is not the United Kingdom
1. Whilst the origins of modern-day urban planning can be traced back to public health concerns in the Victorian era, it is only relatively recently that planners have begun to reconsider the health-related impacts of their work. Discuss the reasons for this resurgence of interest in the links between planning and health and critically examine the key challenges to further embedding health concerns within planning practice.
2. To what extent has planning contributed to the creation of obesogenic environments? How can planners and urban designers better support people to lead more active lifestyles?
3. To what extent do planners and urban designers create urban environments that are suitable for everyone? How might we move towards more inclusive forms of planning and urban design? Feel free to discuss this in relation to a specific population sub-group.
4. Respiratory diseases that are linked to air pollution from vehicles and industrial sources have become one of the leading causes of premature mortality across the world. What can planners do to improve air quality in cities? Discuss in relation to a city with which you are familiar.
5. How does housing impact upon people’s health and how can planners work to ensure that the positive and negative impacts are respectively maximised or minimised?
6. Much of the planning and health agenda is focused on physical health. But various aspects of urban life, in terms of, for example, noise, access to greenspace and fear of crime can all affect our mental health. How can planners and urban designers create happier cities?
7. To what extent can planners address inequalities in health? Discuss with reference to the social determinants of health and a city with which you are familiar.
8. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted several issues in relation to housing, community, home-working, commuting, access to gardens and green-spaces and food security. What have been the most important lessons for planners in terms of creating healthier cities?
9. Critically discuss the strengths and weaknesses of using Health Impact Assessment to assess the potential health impacts of a proposed new development, plan or planning policy in the UK or elsewhere. Please discuss with reference to a specific example.
Assessment criteria
Your essay will be assessed using the following criteria:
• Your ability to critically engage with the topic
• Your understanding of the relevant theoretical literature
• Your ability to carefully select relevant, ‘real-world’ examples that support your discussion
• The quality and depth of your analysis
• The overall clarity and coherence of your argument
• Your ability to come to a reasoned conclusion
The assessment should be no more than 2,500 words in length and the word count provided.
Assessments should be submitted in line with the requirements set out in the student hand-
book.
Note: Any required extensions must be negotiated and agreed with your year tutor / programme director (not your module tutor).
Your assessment should be submitted via Turnitin, no paper copy is required.
Last Completed Projects
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