LAND ECONOMY

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Ms M Aspinall

Pre-requisites

None

Overview

Issues involving land and development and their impact on people, their quality of life and the quality of their environment are a constant theme in contemporary life. Examples of such issues include residential development in the greenbelt, out-of-town retail development, urban sprawl, and the degradation of natural environments. This course introduces and discusses the nature of interests and conflicts in land use and development. It focuses on the following issues:

• problem-identification, conflict, decision-making & dispute resolution in land & development;


• the concept and use of legal controls & the legal system (including sources of law, formation & breach of contract);


• the activity of planning, the concept of planning controls & planning system (ie development controls & development plan system).

Structure

15 one-hour lectures, 6 three-hour workshops, 4 one-hour tutorials, and a one day field trip.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (60%) and in-course assessment (40%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (60%) and in-course assessment (40%).

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr G Tress

Pre-requisites

None.

Overview

The course seeks to introduce the complexity of theories and approaches which form the basis of sustainable development principles, including:

• exploration and definition of the nature of sustainable development;


• determination of human impact upon the environment;


• determination of sustainable development goals and resource use allocation;


• exploration and definition of the sociological, political and economic context within which sustainable development activities take place.

Structure

The course will be offered as a web-based and self-directed learning course using the Universitys WebCT technology. The course includes introductory and concluding lectures and 10 theme modules that are presented online to the students. Web-modules are complemented by 2-hour seminars every second week that are used to discuss the theme modules and address student questions.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written exam (67%), continuous assessment/coursework (33%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (67%) PLUS original in-course assessment carried forward (33%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Mr R Skene

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 2 or above.

Overview

This course provides an overview of Land Law in Scotland, providing a practical application of the law to other land economy courses and to practice. It covers the capacity to hold land; the evolutions of land tenure in Scotland and current law and practice relating to land tenure. It deals with subordinate rights in land; restrictions on the use of land; land registration and convincing.

Structure

3 one-hour lectures per week and 1 one-hour tutorial per fortnight.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (80%) and 1 assignment (20%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (80%) and 1 assignment (20%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr S Kelman

Pre-requisites

N/A

Overview

This course introduces and explores:

• The framework of government/governance, focusing on the transition from a unitary state to more fragmented forms of governance.


• Principles of (public) policy and regulation, the process of policy formulation public participation and the role of pressure and lobby groups.


• The statutory planning system (eg the aims and objectives of planning, the development plan system, the development control system, the background to the development of the contemporary planning system and key issues in the contemporary planning system).

Structure

The course will be offered as a web-based and self-directed learning course using the university's WebCT technology. The course on level 2 includes introductory and concluding lectures, plus 10 theme modules that are presented online to the students. Web-based modules are complemented by 2-hour seminars every second week that are used to discuss the theme modules and address student questions.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (67%), continuous assessment/coursework (33%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (67%) PLUS original in-course assessment carried forward (33%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr B Tress

Pre-requisites

N/A

Overview

This course introduces and explores:

• Principles of spatial planning


• The UK spatial planning system


• Principles of urban design (eg an introduction to urban design; urban space design and the public realm; appreciation of design)


• Principles of development (eg the development process; models of the development process; the role of various actors; development constraints and obstacles; the development feasibility).

The course will also focus on spatial planning and principles of change and development, as inherent to all natural and cultural landscapes from historic times, until present. The additional focus on a landscape context reflects (1) recent trends in science and policy, where 'landscape' is increasingly being used as a concept for environmental planning and management on regional, national and supra-national level and (2) current developments in the department with an increased emphasis on environmental and landscape issues in planning and geography.

Structure

The course will be offered as a web-based and self-directed learning course using the university's WebCT technology. The course includes 10 theme modules that are presented online to the students. Web-based modles are complemented by 2-hour seminars every second week that are used to discuss the theme modules and address student questions.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (67%), continuous assessment/coursework (33%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (67%) PLUS original in-course assessment carried forward (33%).