Property Planning and Development BSc(Hons)

Why choose this course?

Planning and development surveyors specialise in the identification of opportunities both for the development and, increasingly, for the reuse of buildings. This degree, accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), introduces you to the dynamics of the property market and the controls over property planning and development processes, while also concentrating on design issues.

There is also a strong emphasis on sustainable development. You will have the opportunity to debate the contribution you can make in modules that cover sustainable development and appraisal, and commercial property market analysis.

What will you study?

The curriculum covers subjects from the areas of economics, business, law and technology, all applied to the appraisal and development process of commercial and residential property. A special feature of the course is its focus on sustainable development, which is an increasingly important consideration for planning and development practitioners.

Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list. Those listed here may also be a mixture of core and optional modules.

Year 1

• Development and Building Studies (full-time only)
• Development and Construction (part-time only)

• Development and Construction (part-time only)

  This module develops your understanding of the history of urban growth and its impact on urban development practice. It covers:

  • the history of land use planning controls;
  • legislation surrounding land use planning controls;
  • basic construction methods and structural behaviour - including building materials, components and elements;
  • building performance requirements; and
  • an introduction to technical detailing.

  Practical case study work also helps you develop your knowledge of development and construction.

  
   
• Law

• Law

  This module covers:

  • the nature of law;
  • the workings of the English legal system; and
  • the Law of Contracts, the Law of Torts and Land Law.

  We will encourage you to develop legal writing skills, analysis of legal principles and debating skills.

  The module is taught by a series of lectures and seminars. You will take an active part in discussions and debates. Assessment is by a multiple choice test, coursework and examination.

  
   
• Investment 1

• Investment 1

  This module gives you an understanding of the basic principles of:

  • investment;
  • pricing;
  • the role of media; and
  • the main institutions in the marketplace and how they operate.

  You will learn to:

  • construct, calculate and apply financial formulae to investments; and
  • understand their application to the property and construction industries.

  We teach the module through a series of lectures and seminars. Assessment is by coursework, presentations and seminar-based tests.

  
   
• Property Appraisal and Valuation 1

• Property Appraisal and Valuation 1

  This module helps you to develop your study skills, enabling you to undertake professional work. You will learn presentation and teamwork skills and practice them within projects.

  A lecture programme introduces you to learning and research methods. Tutorials will support you in developing your project solutions. Assessment is by project submissions.

  
   
• Economics

• Economics

  This module develops your knowledge and understanding of macro and micro economic principles, with specific reference to their role in business and the property/construction industries.

  We will encourage you to:

  • develop an inquiring approach to economic trends and factors; and
  • take an active part in discussions and debates.

  The module is taught by a series of lectures and seminars. Assessment is by coursework and examination.

  
   
• Property Planning and Development Projects 1

• Property Planning and Development Projects 1

  This module helps you to develop your study skills, enabling you to undertake professional work. You will learn presentation and teamwork skills and practice them within projects.

  A lecture programme introduces you to learning and research methods. Tutorials will support you in developing your project solutions. Assessment is by project submissions.

  
   
• Business Management

• Business Management

  The module introduces you to:

  • the nature and purpose of organisations – within both theoretical and applied contexts;
  • the history and development of management thinking; and
  • its place within the developing business environment.

  The module is taught by a series of lectures and seminars. You will take an active part in discussions and debate, and develop your research skills. Assessment is by coursework.

   

  
   

Year 2

• Building Construction and Inspection
• Planning and Development Practice

• Planning and Development Practice

  This module develops your theoretical and practice-related knowledge of current planning legislation and planning policies.

  We encourage you to develop a critical awareness of:

  • emerging planning policy;
  • developing trends; and
  • the legislative framework and how to apply this to practical examples.

  We teach the module through a series of lectures and seminars. Assessment is by coursework and examination.

  
   
• Landlord and Tenant Law

• Landlord and Tenant Law

  This module focuses on the law and practice of the landlord and tenant relationship. It covers:

  • commercial and residential leases;
  • how these are negotiated, operate and terminated; and
  • the legal implications of the landlord and tenant relationship.

  You will learn through practical exercises as well as lectures. Assessment is by coursework and an end-of-year written exam.

  
   
• Investment 2

• Investment 2

  This module builds on your existing knowledge of investment. It introduces you to:

  • more sophisticated methods of analysis, including measurement of return; and
  • how these techniques relate to the wider context of clients' requirements.

  You will have the opportunity to further develop your IT skills, particularly in relation to spreadsheets, and apply them to investment analysis.

  We teach the module through lectures, seminars and workshops. Assessment is by a series of timed tests and coursework.

  
   
• Research Journal in Context

• Research Journal in Context

  In this module you work in a group to produce a mock issue of a journal within your field of study.  This will:

  • introduce you to academic writing and criticism related to your field of study;
  • give you an exciting opportunity to study, within narrow boundaries, a subject of your own choosing; and
  • enable you to to engage in a peer review process and work together to submit a bound volume of papers.

  Assessment is by your own submission, your part in the peer review, and in finished volume.

  
   
• Sustainable Development and Appraisal
• Property Planning and Development Projects 2

• Property Planning and Development Projects 2

  This module will help you further develop you study skills to enable you better to undertake professional work.You will learn presentation and teamwork skills and practice them within projects.

  A lecture programme introduces you to learning and research methods. Tutorials will support you in developing your project solutions. Assessment is by project submissions.

  
   

Year 3

• Property Practitioners' Law
• Commercial Property Market Analysis
• Property Strategy and Funding

• Property Strategy and Funding

  This module develops your understanding of clients' requirement in relation to both property development and strategy. You will cover property funding and corporate finance, including in relation to the supply of commercial property.

  You will also look at how to relate the issues of client requirement to:

  • the design and development of property; and
  • the establishment of criteria for design at both the level of site layout and individual building.

  We teach the module through a series of lectures and seminars. Assessment is by coursework and examination.

  
   
• Business Economics

• Business Economics

  The module deepens and extends the knowledge that you have acquired in previous modules relating to business management and economics. It covers:

  • a range of current economic and business debates impacting on the operation of the construction and property industries – both in the UK and more widely;
  • aspects of financial resource management, company structures and governance issues – including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and ethics; and
  • the changing economic context in relation to matters such as new finance and the green agenda. 

  Through a series of lectures and case study work, we will encourage you to challenge the way in which the property and construction industries operate. Upon successful completion of the module, you should be able to make an informed and analytical contribution to the debate. 

  Assessment is by coursework and examination.

  
   
• Property Planning and Development Projects 3

• Property Planning and Development Projects 3

  The module builds on your previous project experiences. You further develop your ability to undertake professional work and present it. You will:

  • apply knowledge and skills learned in other modules to complex scenarios;
  • demonstrate the ability to analyse and debate important matters within the field of property and construction; and
  • learn how to become a mutually-supportive and independent learner.

  We teach the module through a series of lectures with tutorials supporting your project solutions. There is an emphasis on group work and presentation. Assessment is by project submissions.

  
   
• Dissertation

• Dissertation

  Your dissertation allows you to study a topic of interest within your field of study in greater depth. This will involve scientific detachment, problem-solving and rigorous analysis. It will also help you develop independent learning skills.

  
   
• Dissertation (full time only)

• Dissertation (full time only)

  Your dissertation allows you to study a topic of interest within your field of study in greater depth. This will involve scientific detachment, problem-solving and rigorous analysis. It will also help you develop independent learning skills.

  
   
• Critical Practice Project (part time only)