Overview
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.
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.
Biography
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 - 2018)
- Emeritus Reader, School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University (2019 - 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.
- Editor, Planning Theory
- External examiner, BA Hons Geography and Planning, Leeds Beckett University, 2017 to date
Professional memberships
- Fellow, Royal Geographical Society
- Member, Royal Town Planning Institute
- Fellow, Higher Education Association
Publications
2022
- Sartorio, F. S. and Thomas, H. 2022. Freire and planning education: The pedagogy of hope for faculty and students.. Journal of Planning Education and Research 42(4), pp. 668-678. (10.1177/0739456X19844574)
2021
- Eales, C. and Thomas, H. 2021. (Dis)comfort in the city: how young travellers in London negotiate mobility within the city. Emotion, Space and Society 40, article number: 100814. (10.1016/j.emospa.2021.100814)
2018
- Sartorio, F. S., Harris, N. and Thomas, H. 2018. Interpreting planners' talk about change: An exploratory study.. Planning Theory 17(4), pp. 605-627. (10.1177/1473095217742183)
- Gale, R. and Thomas, H. 2018. Race at the margins: A Critical Race Theory perspective on race equality in UK planning.. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy 36(3), pp. 460-478. (10.1177/2399654417723168)
- 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
- 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., Biddulph, M. J., Thomas, A. H., Sartorio, F. and Frank, A. I. 2015. Horizon scanning: future trends and the skills needed to deliver the planning system in Wales. Project Report. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
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.
- 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
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. Project Report. Cardiff: Federation of Small Businesses.
2008
- 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)