Land, Design and Development (LDD)

Group Leader: Dr M. Reza Shirazi

Contact: shirazi@brookes.ac.uk

About us

The Land, Design and Development (LDD) group brings together about 20 research-active academics working on different aspects of real estate, land policy, urban design, urban development and pedagogy. LDD collaborates with leading institutions worldwide, having secured research funds from various national and global funders such as RICS, ESRC, FP7, Horizon 2020, AHURR and Hineleban Foundation. It also provides consultancy for UK government and agencies, local government, commercial organisations, community and voluntary sectors and a number of international bodies. 

LDD members undertake a wide range of innovative and interdisciplinary research in areas of economic globalization; property development; housing policy; public space; place identity; urban design and heritage; urban morphology; townscape and city centre management; urban regeneration and sustainability; infrastructure delivery; healthy cities and healthy ageing; and pedagogical methods and digital technologies.

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Research impact

Reclaim Your Street demonstration

In line with the School of the Built Environment impact policy that seeks real-world influence, LDD research group engages with a variety of stakeholders including public, private and third sectors. Impacts are situated in following interlinked areas:

Community: Our research engages with community members, understands them as knowledge-holders, and establishes mutual collaborations to develop solutions for community problems and challenges.

Policy: Our research critically evaluates policy processes and regulations in order to make them more participatory, inclusive and effective.

Institutional: Our research critically examines institutional bodies and governing systems and proposes guidelines and recommendations to achieve institutional reforms. 

Technological: Our research benefits from technological advances and seeks to produce innovative tools to come up with effective solutions.

Pedagogic: Our team develops and applies innovative teaching methods to promote student engagement and enhance student experience.

Leadership

M. Reza Shirazi

Dr M. Reza Shirazi

Reader in Sustainable Urban Development

View profile

Membership

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Projects

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Research area

Real Estate: Property-led Growth, Economic Globalisation, Property Development, Market Regulation

Housing: Informal Housing in the Global South, Low Income Housing, Housing Policy, Affordable Housing, Housing Market, Private Rented Sector, Housing Mobility, Housing for Older People, Housing and Health Care

Urban Design: Public Space, Place Identity, Urban Heritage, Densification, Diversity and Culture, Urban Morphology, Townscape and City Centre Management, Urban Regeneration, Governance of Design, Participatory Urban Design, Design of Healthy Places

Urban Sustainable Development: Social Sustainability, Sustainable Regeneration, Urban Sustainability Indicators

Urban Development: Neighbourhood Design and Development, Community Development, Infrastructure Delivery, Neighbourhood Change

Healthy Cities/Healthy Ageing: Aging and Work Space, Outdoor Activities, Health Equity

Urban Justice: Environmental Justice, Housing, Equity, Inclusive Neighbourhoods, Just Mobility

Pedagogy: Pedagogical Methods and Digital Technologies, Co-curricular Activities and Student Experience

International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development

The International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes original research and review papers. It aims to provide a forum for cutting-edge research and rigorous debate for an in-depth and holistic understanding of the complex inter-related environmental, social, economic, political, spatial, institutional and physical challenges facing urban areas. Ramin Keivani serves as the managing editor of the journal. 

ViewCue: Visual intelligence for property, real estate, planning and development

ViewCue is a cloud application, developed by Dr Jon Cooper in collaboration with Holistic City Ltd. It provides visual intelligence that helps increase the accuracy of property valuation, maximises place value and enhances the visual quality of development. 

ViewCue is a response to a changing industry that increasingly demands evidence in property or location development at every stage of the process.