Dr Huw Thomas
Reader
Ysgol Daearyddiaeth a Chynllunio
- thomash1@cardiff.ac.uk
- Room 2.57, Glamorgan Building
I have long had research interests in issues of social justice and equal opportunities in relation to urban planning and development. Much of my research has looked at race equality and planning.
In recent years I have added to these interests in research ethics, the evident tensions in contemporary higher education and, especially, the education of the professions.
Innovation and Engagement
Columnist in RTPI Wales journal.
Invited member of RTPI Wales's shortlisting panel for 'Best Places in Wales' competition, 2016.
News
Dr Huw Thomas gave a presentation at the AHRC Faith and Place Network 2015 seminar entitled 'Faith and Planning: Explorations'.
Click on the video below to view the presentation:
Dr Huw Thomas - Faith and Place Network 2015 from Television Roehampton on Vimeo.
Qualifications
- BA Hons Philosophy, Politics and Economics, Oxford University (1977)
- MPhil Town Planning, University College London (1979)
- PhD City and Regional Planning, Cardiff University (2009)
- Certificate in Curriculum Design, Oxford Brookes University (1989)
Career
- Assistant Planner / Planner / Senior Planner, Cardiff City Council, (1980 - 1988)
- Senior Lecturer, School of Planning, Oxford Brookes University, (1988 - 1993)
- Lecturer, Department of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University, (1993 - 1995)
- Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University, (1995 - 1999)
- Reader, Department of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University, (1999 - Present)
Memberships / External Activities
- Member, Editorial Board, International Planning Studies
- Member, Editorial Advisory Board, Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events
- Refereeing (in recent years) :Environment and Planning A; Environment and Planning B; Environment and Planning C; Environmental Values; Gwerddon; Housing ,Theory and Society; International Journal of Hospitality Management; International Planning Studies; Journal of Planning Education and Research; Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events; Planning Theory; Planning Theory and Practice;Tourism Management ; Town Planning Review; Urban Policy and Research; Urban Studies.
- Track Chair, Planning Theory track, UK-Ireland Planning Research Conference, 2016
Aelodaethau proffesiynol
- Fellow, Royal Geographical Society
- Member, Royal Town Planning Institute
- Fellow, Higher Education Association
2018
- Sartorio, F., Harris, N. and Thomas, A. H. 2018. Interpreting planners' talk about change: An exploratory study.. Planning Theory 17(4), pp. 605-627. (10.1177/1473095217742183)
- Thomas, H. and Card, P. 2018. Student housing as a learning space. Journal of Geography in Higher Education 42(4), pp. 573-587. (10.1080/03098265.2018.1514489)
2017
- Gale, R. and Thomas, A. H. 2017. Race at the margins: a critical race theory perspective on race equality in UK planning.. Environment and Planning C 36(3), pp. 460-478. (10.1177/2399654417723168)
- Thomas, A. H. 2017. Framing turbulence in the academy: UK planning academics in a period of change. Town Planning Review 88(5), pp. 557-577. (10.3828/tpr.2017.34)
2015
- Thomas, A. H. and Gale, R. T. 2015. Multicultural planning in twenty-first century Britain. In: Buryadi, M. ed. Cities and the Politics of Difference: Multiculturalism and Diversity in Urban Planning. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, pp. 109-131.
- Harris, N. R.et al. 2015. Horizon scanning: future trends and the skills needed to deliver the planning system in Wales. Project Report. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
- Thomas, H. 2015. Does relevance matter in academic policy research? A comment on Dredge. Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events 7(2), pp. 178-182. (10.1080/19407963.2014.990660)
2014
- Biddulph, M. J., Harris, N. R. and Thomas, A. H. 2014. DAS ist not always so good. Town & Country Planning 2014(2), pp. 84-84.
- Biddulph, M. J., Harris, N. R. and Thomas, A. H. 2014. Review of design and access statements in Wales. Project Report. [Online]. Welsh Government. Available at: http://wales.gov.uk/docs/desh/research/131129das-research-final-report-en.pdf
- Davey, E. and Thomas, A. H. 2014. 'Chief creator of Modern Wales'. The neglected legacy of Percy Thomas. North American Journal of Welsh Studies 9, pp. 54-70.
2013
- Thomas, R. and Thomas, A. H. 2013. What are the prospects for professionalizing event management in the UK?. Tourism Management Perspectives 6, pp. 8-14. (10.1016/j.tmp.2012.11.005)
- Thomas, R. and Thomas, A. H. 2013. Hollow from the start? Professional associations and the professionalisation of tourism in the UK. Service Industries Journal 33 (10.1080/02642069.2013.763346)
2012
- Thomas, A. H. 2012. Values and the planning school. Planning Theory 11(4), pp. 400-417. (10.1177/1473095212446933)
- Goncalves, A. and Thomas, A. H. 2012. Waterfront tourism and public art in Cardiff Bay and Lisbon's Park of Nations. Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events 4(3), pp. 327-352. (10.1080/19407963.2012.711089)
- Chettiparamb, A. and Thomas, A. H. 2012. Tourism and Spatial Planning [Editorial]. Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events 4(3), pp. 215-220. (10.1080/19407963.2012.726157)
- Harris, N. R., Thomas, A. H. and Sartorio, F. 2012. A new approach to managing development: towards a Welsh Planning Act. Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff: Crown Copyright. Available at: http://gov.wales/topics/planning/planningresearch/publishedresearch/anewapproach/?lang=en
2011
- Harris, N. R. and Thomas, A. H. 2011. Clients, customers and consumers: a framework for exploring the user-experience of the planning service. Planning Theory & Practice 12(2), pp. 249-268. (10.1080/14649357.2011.580157)
2010
- Pattison, S. et al. eds. 2010. Emerging values in health care: the challenge for professionals. London: Jessica Kingsley.
- Thomas, A. H. and Pattison, S. 2010. Talk about Values in the British National Health Service. Communication & Medicine 7(2), pp. 192-202. (10.1558/cam.v7i2.197)
- Thomas, A. H. and Pattison, S. 2010. Health care professions and their changing values: pulling professions together. In: Pattison, S. et al. eds. Emerging Values in Health Care: the Challenge for Professionals. London: Jessica Kingsley, pp. 229-244.
- Pattison, S. and Thomas, A. H. 2010. Introduction. In: Pattison, S. et al. eds. Emerging Values in Health Care: the Challenge for Professionals. London: Jessica Kingsley, pp. 11-22.
- Thomas, A. H. 2010. Knowing the city: local coalitions, knowledge and research. In: Allen, C. and Imrie, R. eds. The Knowledge Business: the Commodification of Urban and Housing Research. Farnham: Ashgate, pp. 77-92.
2009
- Lo Piccolo, F. and Thomas, A. H. eds. 2009. Ethics and Planning Research. Farnham: Ashgate.
- Thomas, A. H. 2009. Virtue ethics and research ethics. In: Lo Piccolo, F. and Thomas, A. H. eds. Ethics and Planning Research. Farnham: Ashgate, pp. 29-39.
- Harris, N. R. and Thomas, A. H. 2009. Making Wales: spatial strategy making in a devolved context. In: Davoudi, S. and Strange, I. eds. Conceptions of Space and Place in Strategic Spatial Planning. RTPI Library Series Vol. 17. London: Routledge, pp. 43-69.
- Harris, N. R., Thomas, A. H. and Scarfi, A. 2009. Small Businesses and.the Planning System in Wales. Report to the Federation of Small Businesses. Stage 2: Review of national and local planning policies. Federation of Small Businesses.
2008
- Thomas, A. H. 2008. Race equality and planning: a changing agenda. Planning Practice and Research 23(1), pp. 1-17. (10.1080/02697450802076407)
- Mac Giolla Chriost, D. and Thomas, A. H. 2008. Linguistic Diversity and the City: Some Reflections, and a Research Agenda. International Planning Studies 13(1), pp. 1-11. (10.1080/13563470801969624)
- Lo Piccolo, F. and Thomas, A. H. 2008. Research ethics in planning: a framework for discussion. Planning Theory 7(1), pp. 17-23. (10.1177/1473095207085663)
- Thomas, A. H. 2008. Power in the city: how to get things done. In: Ballard, P. ed. The Church at the Centre of the City. Peterborough: Epworth, pp. 45-58.
- Harris, N. R., Thomas, A. H. and Scarfi, A. 2008. Small businesses and.the planning system in Wales. Report to the Federation of Small Businesses. Stage 1: small businesses’ costs and experiences of applying forplanning permissionand related consents.. Cardiff: Federation of Small Businesses. Available at: http://www.fsb.org.uk/policy/rpu/wales/images/fsb%20planning%20english.pdf
2007
- Thomas, A. H. and Coop, S. 2007. Planning doctrine as an element in planning history: the case of Cardiff. Planning Perspectives 22(2), pp. 167-193. (10.1080/02665430701213564)
2005
- Hastings, J. and Thomas, A. H. 2005. Accessing the Nation: Disability, Political Inclusion and Built Form. Urban Studies 42(3), pp. 535-552. (10.1080/00420980500035683)
- Thomas, H. 2005. Pressures, purpose and collegiality in UK planning education. Planning Theory & Practice 6(2), pp. 238-247. (10.1080/14649350500185118)
2004
- Thomas, A. H. 2004. What future for British planning theory. Planning Theory 3(3), pp. 189-198. (10.1177/1473095204048811)
- Harris, N. R. and Thomas, A. H. 2004. Planning for a diverse society? A review of the UK Governments Planning Policy Guidance. Town Planning Review 75(4), pp. 473-500.
2002
- Cowell, R. J. W. and Thomas, A. H. 2002. Managing nature and narratives of dispossession: reclaiming territory in Cardiff Bay. Urban studies 39(7), pp. 1241-1260. (10.1080/00420980220135581)
2001
- Lo Piccolo, F. and Thomas, A. H. 2001. Legal Discourse, the Individual and the Claim for Equality in British Planning. Planning Theory & Practice 2(2), pp. 187-201. (10.1080/14649350120068795)
Research Group Membership
Spatial Planning and City Environments (SPACE).
Interests / Areas of Expertise
Equal opportunities (including accessible environments), urban regeneration, planning processes and procedures, planning theory, planning history, professional education, values and professionalism
Projects
- Land Use Futures (2015)
- Review of Design and Access Statements in Wales (2013)
- A New Approach to Development Management in Wales (2012)
- Routes to employment for unemployed graduates, Higher Education Academy Wales (2011)
- Reflecting on reflection ... as a basis for better focused teaching and learning, CEBE (2011)
- The Impact of the Ethical Framework for Local Government, Standards Board for England (2008-2013)
- Supporting Part-time Students, HEFCW (2009)
- Small Businesses and the Planning System in Wales, Federation of Small Businesses (2008 - 2009)
- Review of Community Enterprise Wales, CEW (2005)
- Planning and Diversity, ODPM (2003)
- Teaching Equal Opportunities in the Built Environment, CEBE (2002 - 2003)
- Design for Diversity, Welsh Development Agency (2002)
- Social Innovation, Governance and Community Building, EC (2001 - 2005)
- Methodology for Spatial Planning, National Assembly for Wales (2001)
- The Quality of Development Plans, RTPI (1999 - 2000)
- Lottery Funding and Coalfield Areas, DCMS (1999)
- The Multi-Ethnic City, E.C. (1998 - 1999)
PhD Supervision
In the last few years, the following students successfully completed:
- Ruth Whiting - 'Site Under Construction' The role of discourse in the social construction of Local Authority Traveller accommodation
- Elaine Davey - A National Architect? The Percy Thomas Practice and Welsh national identity
- Hade Turkmen - Dynamics of Contention in Urban Renewal Projects in Istanbul
- Francesca Montemaggi - The Search for Authenticity in Religious Life
- Robert Croydon - Patronage, Power and Probity
I continue to supervise :
- Federico Bellentani - Practices of Excision: Conservation, marginalization and excision within Estonian urban space
- Charlotte Eales - Examining the (possibly contested) re-construction of the identities of young Gypsies and Travellers in relation to education for citizenship.
I am interested in PhD ideas in any of my areas of interest.