This module will provide an in-depth analysis of the different forms of eco-city development (from new build, to retrofitting, to informal development) and it will analyse by which processes eco-cities emerge. Debates will include understanding the terms that are used as alternatives or synonyms to the term ‘eco-cities’ including low carbon city, smart city, or transition city to distil the distinctiveness of eco-cities.

Other topics addressed in this module include a critical appreciation of the role of master planning, the role of stakeholders in the development process and how stakeholders are engaged (or marginalised) in the development process, and the role of technologies and novelty in new and retrofit developments. In addition the module will examine current thinking and practice on how sustainable urban spaces are used by those who live and work in them. The module will make use of an extensive range of case studies to illustrate the extent to which eco-cities differ from conventional developments.

1. Understand the difficulties and challenges of sustainability in practice
2. Elaborate and critically discuss the range and variety of different eco-city planning development based on theoretical concepts, policies and in depth study of case examples
3. Distinguish how “meanings of eco-city” differ in a range of geographical settings
4. Offer a critical evaluation of the achievements of eco-developments
5. Produce planning regulations for sustainable eco-city development

The module will be delivered by a combination of:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Directed reading
• Sustainable planning regulations making

Lectures and seminars are supplemented by PowerPoint presentations (slides are copied and made available) and handouts. Additional readings that are used in teaching sessions will be available in Learning Central before the session in which they are to be discussed.

Two sites in Cardiff will be selected for students to prepare sustainable eco-city planning regulations 

Academic/subject-specific skills

Students will be expected to demonstrate skills of critical analysis through an ability to:

1. identify challenges of sustainability and eco-city planning and development

2. key stakeholders and the relationships between them;

3. critically evaluate a variety of approaches to planning eco-development

4. appreciate the relationship between market and state in the planning of eco-cities

Transferable/employability skills

Students will practice and develop the following:

1. Written communication

2. Presentation

3. Group work

4. Planning regulations production

Students will be assessed by their knowledge of, and ability to understand debates in (sustainable) eco-city planning and development, as well as planning regulation production. This will be delivered through development of analytical, written and presentation skills. The coursework requires students to think creatively about the critical in (sustainable) eco-city planning and development.

The assessment of the module is divided into two parts:

Part A is a project for eco-city planning regulations making (30%)

Students should form small research groups for project which is to produce sustainable eco-city planning regulations on a selected sites. Policy research, survey and sites are necessary in the project for producing rational sustainable regulations. After research and survey, each group should prepare group presentation, which should include policies, regulation and/or design to improve the selected site.

Part B:

Student should write an essay of maximum 2800 words (70%)

Formative Assessment

Students will be provided with opportunities for formative feedback tasks throughout the module.

This could include:

Debates in Lectures, Seminar discussions, drop-in discussions with teaching team

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REASSESSMENT IN THIS MODULE:

Re-assessment

Students are permitted to be reassessed in a module which they have failed, in line with University regulations. https://intranet.cardiff.ac.uk/staff/teaching-and-supporting-students/teaching-support/academic-regulations. You will only be reassessed on the components of the module in which you have failed. The format of the reassessment will be the same as the original assessment and will take place in the Summer re-sit period.

Types of Assessment:

1. Essay - 70% contribution - 2800 words - Challenge of Eco-City Development

Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4

2. Presentation - 30% contribution - Project of producing planning regulations for sustainable eco-city development

Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 5

3,000 words

Autumn

Group presentation

30% contribution

Group presentation and debate

30 minutes

Autumn

Students are permitted to be reassessed (usually once) in a module which they have failed, in line with course regulations. The reassessment will usually take place during the summer

The module will begin by assessing how eco-development differs from conventional development. It will then evaluate the contribution that different forms of eco-development can make to more sustainable living. This will then lead into an analysis of who promotes key terms such as ‘low carbon, ‘intelligent development’, ‘smart cities’ and ‘transition towns’ and the development logics that they imply. The module also brings out the way in which professional groups (e.g. planners, engineers), economic interests and citizens play a greater or lesser role in eco-developments. The role of formal (top-down) planning systems is drawn out through a critical appreciation that the role of master planning can play in development and contrasted with more bottom-up informal development (such as to be found in parts of Africa and Latin America). Throughout the module key themes will be drawn out through the use of extended case studies of eco-developments (such as the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City, Freiburg in Germany and Copenhagen in Denmark).

• Beatley, T. (eds.) (2012) Green cities of Europe : global lessons on green urbanism, Washington, DC : Island Press Satterthwaite, D. (1999), The Earthscan reader in sustainable cities, London: Earthscan

• Caprotti, F. and Yu, L. (eds.), 2016, Sustainable Cities in Asia, Oxfordshire: Taylor & Francis 

• Dessler, A. & Parson, E. A., 2010. The Science and Politics of Global Climate Change. A Guide to the Debate. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

• Dunn, N., Cureton, P. & Pollastri, S., 2014. Future cities: a visual history of the future. [Online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/357790/14-814-future-cities-visual-history.pdf

• Flynn, A., Yu, L., Feind, P. and Chen, C. 2016, “Eco-cities, governance and sustainable lifestyles: The case of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City”, Habitat International 53:78-86

• Roseland, M. (1997), “Dimensions of the eco-city”, CITIES, 14( 4), 197-202,

• Steffen , L. (2012), The Principles of Green Urbanism: transforming the city for sustainability, London : Earthscan; Washington, DC : Earthscan

• Stephen, W.(2^nd eds). (2013) , Planning for sustainability: creating liveable, equitable, and ecological communities, London: Routledge,

• Wong, T. and Yuen, B.(eds.) (2011) Eco-city planning: policies, practice and design, Dordrecht ; London : Springer

• UNHABITAT (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) (2009), Planning Sustainable Cities: Global Report on Human Settlements 2009, London, Washington: Earthscan

• UNHABITAT (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) (2011) Cities and Climate Change- Global Report on Human Settlements 2011, London, Washington: Earthscan

• Yu, L. (2014), “Low Carbon Eco-city: New Approach for Chinese Urbanisation”, Habitat International44, 102-110

• Yu, L. (2014), Chinese City and Regional Planning Systems, London: Ashgate