Transitions and adaptations in selected city-rural regions
This work programme engaged with debates and theorising on city-region transition and adaptation.
Researchers examined the various spatial scales and functional sectors to which the term sustainable place-making can be applied, how sustainability is spatially conceptualised, planned for and managed, and by whom.
Points of focus included how and why different stakeholders become involved; the ways in which evidence of transition and adaptation is currently being measured and recorded and the implications of this for policy decision-making and academic research.
Drawing on a range of examples, and working with world-leading collaborators, this work programme directly supported the development of a comparative city-region research hub bringing together theory, empirical research and policy adaptations amongst a series of selected city regions.
This includes studying city-region adaptation and transition in the Greater Helsinki City-Region (Finland) - working collaboratively with colleagues from the Swedish School of Social Sciences, Helsinki University; studying urban food planning and transition in Toronto, Ontario (Canada) – working collaboratively with colleagues in Wilfred-Laurier University and the University of Toronto; and studying both local government and community-led sustainability action in Cardiff city-region – working collaboratively with members of Cardiff Council and Welsh Government.