40 years on

1964-2004 TOWN AND REGIONAL PLANNING CELEBRATES 40 YEARS

Town and Regional Planning is 40 years old this year. It held a small celebration on Monday 8th November 2004 in the River Rooms, Floor 9, Tower Building, University of Dundee (4-9pm). This also allowed the School to celebrate the 150th birthdate of Sir Patrick Geddes, who was long associated with the University of Dundee, and who is held to be the forefather of British planning. Monday November 8 is also World Planning Day.

In 1947 The Town and Country Planning Act introduced statutory controls over land use and development. This was intended to ensure that land and property development took place in an orderly and planned way so as to serve the wider social and community interest. In this way, planning of land and development would contribute to economic development and growth, social and community stability, and environmental sustainability. Since its introduction, land use planning has contributed significantly to our collective well-being. It has changed over time to meet new challenges and issues. Today, it is as much about space, as it is place: and it is as much about addressing the problems associated with social and economic decline, as it is with growth and development. Devolution has provided a brand new context to planning practice.

In order to meet the needs of the planning profession, the School of Town and Regional Planning was formed in 1964. It was established within the (then) Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art. It initially offered a Town and Regional Planning degree programme which was accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), and offered employment opportunities to its graduates in a wide range of public and private sector posts. It established itself as a centre of teaching excellence with strong links with professional practice. This is reflected in its current Teaching Quality Assessment rating - the highest for the discipline in Scotland. Many of its graduates now hold posts in senior positions both within central and local government, executive agencies and the private construction and consultancy sectors.

Starting in the 1990s, the School has broadened its portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees to meet the emerging needs in society. The merger of the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art with the University of Dundee in 1994 led to the School's transfer into the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. This move also reflected the changing nature of planning practice and planning education to a more social science base.

Today, the School's degrees are accredited by a number of professional bodies, notably the RTPI, IEMA and IHBC. These relationships are important, and enable graduates of the School to gain excellent employment opportunities. The professional links are important to sustain and provide staff with valuable opportunities to engage with the various professional communities of practice.

If you studied here, please get in touch to tell us how you are getting on a.c.d.mather@dundee.ac.uk

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