RTPI Planning Awards 2009

27-Jan-10

100 Years of Planning Achievement - University of Liverpool Department of Civic Design

Contribution to Planning Award Winner

Summary

The Department of Civic Design, at the University of Liverpool was the world’s first university planning school, established in 1909. It's contribution to planning is immeasurable.

Background

The UK’s first Planning Act was passed in 1909 authorising the preparation by local councils of planning schemes for any land “which is in course of development or appears likely to be used for building purposes”. The University of Liverpool Department of Civic Design was established at the same time.

Project Description

Lord Leverhulme, industrialist and founder of Port Sunlight model village was of paramount importance to the founding of the University’s Department of Civic Design and acted as benefactor for the establishment of the Lever Chair, the first professorship in town planning. He also enabled the publication of the Town Planning Review, the first international journal on the subject. There have only been 7 Lever Professors, all leading lights in the profession; 4 also served also as President of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Amongst these, Sir Patrick Abercrombie became widely regarded as the leading British planner of the Twentieth century, preparing plans throughout the world and breaking new ground in planning methods. William Holford, the third Lever Professor led the way for post-war reconstruction, city centre planning and establishing the basic principles for the system of comprehensive planning set out in the 1947 Act. The Department of Civic Design has also been instrumental in the development of planning education. Initially the Department offered certificate and diploma courses for municipal engineers and architects in town planning. After the Second World War there was a demand for rapid city reconstruction and new town development. The Schuster Report sought a significant increase in the number of qualified planners and Liverpool led the way in 1950 with Professor Gordon Stephenson’s innovative proposal for a 2 year postgraduate qualification open to well qualified graduates in any subject and centring on the three distinct groups of skills: the science of inquiry, the art of creative design, and the systems of administration - the Master of Civic Design (MCD).

Planning Achievement

• The MCD course was a model for other universities and its former students contribute significantly to the profession both nationally and internationally;
• In 2004, the RTPI review provided the opportunity to rethink post graduate education and Liverpool brought forward a new version of the MCD to meet the needs of spatial planning. The University has continued to be at the forefront of planning education and also includes an under graduate course;
• Recently the University has developed a unique partnership with the Xi’an Jiao Tong University in China, where an innovative undergraduate degree in City Development will be taught jointly in both Liverpool and Suzhou;
• The Town Planning Review has an extensive international readership. It is renowned for its rigorous editorial standards and its contribution to the advancement of planning. In 1979 it was joined by the Third World Planning Review, now known as the International Development Planning Review, which concentrates on planning and economic development in developing countries;
• The contribution made by the Department to the development of national and international planning education, research and professional practice for 100 years is immeasurable.

Representatives of the University of Liverpool Department of Civic Design receiving their award for Contribution to Planning from Ann Skippers, President of the RTPI, and awards host Justin Webb.

Key Participants

Lever Professors and University of Liverpool.