Professor receives Lifetime Achievement award for contribution to Planning History

An Oxford Brookes professor has been awarded the Sir Peter Hall Award for Lifetime Achievement in Planning History by the International Planning History Society.

Professor Stephen Ward, an internationally renowned professor of Planning History at Oxford Brookes’ School of the Built Environment, has been commended for his contribution to the field of study through his research, scholarship, teaching, networking and publications.

Professor Ward is only the third person ever to have received the award. His award citation read:

‘Few individuals have contributed more to the development of planning history than Professor Stephen Ward. For more than half a century, he has been a formative influence through his scholarship, teaching, organisational leadership, editorial roles, and frequent appearances as a keynote speaker in significant international gatherings.’

Professor Ward received his medal at the 19th International Conference on Planning History at the Technical University of Delft in the Netherlands on 6th July 2022.

Upon receiving his award at the ceremony, Professor Ward said: "For me, few things come higher than knowing what I have been doing all these years has earned the respect of my fellow workers in this field and been so influential around the world. So thank you so much for honouring me with this award. I like to think I'm basically a modest person but today I do feel rather proud."

Over a career spanning over 50 years, Prof Ward has published extensively, mainly on historical matters relating to planning, with a series of books, book chapters, articles and other outputs to his name. His works are widely cited by planning historians and others. He often speaks on planning history subjects at conferences and other events in many countries around the world. Prof Ward has worked at Oxford Brookes since 1979 when he joined the then Oxford Polytechnic Department of Planning.

More information about Professor Ward’s illustrious career can be found on the International Planning History Society website.