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Staff Profile

Professor Geoff Vigar

Professor of Urban Planning

  • Address: School of Architecture Planning and Landscape
    Â鶹´«Ã½
    Henry Daysh Building
    Claremont Road
    Â鶹´«Ã½ upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
Background

Roles and Responsibilities

Deputy Director Postgraduate Research, APL, 2023-


Qualifications:

PhD: The Politics of Paradigmatic Policy Change and the Greening of UK Transport Planning, Department of Geography, University of Â鶹´«Ã½ upon Tyne.

Postgraduate Diploma, City and Regional Planning. University of Wales College of Cardiff.

BSc(Hons) Town Planning Studies, University of Wales College of Cardiff

Research

Research Interests

My research currently focuses on the following:

  • UK planning practice, ideas of the public interest, professionalism, knowledge and expertise with regard to built environment professions, and the role of public, private and voluntary sectors
  • citizen engagement in planning and particularly citizen-led approaches using digital and offline methods.
  • archival and future-oriented methods to interpret the modernist legacy in both northern English new towns and city-edge commercial landscapes
  • the politics of urban infrastructure policy, practice, regulation and financing. Work is currently focused on equality and inclusion with regard to the accessibility of the built environment focused especially on health-promoting travel (mental/ physical), liveable neighbourhoods and transit accessibility. .


Previous Funded Research Projects

Planning and urban governance:

  • The Impact of Neighbourhood Development Plans in England, David Robins Legacy Fund, 2021. [PI]
  • 'Working in the Public interest: spatial planning and the future of public service professional labour, ESRC, 2017- 2020, [Co-Investigator].
  • Digital Economy Research Centre, EPSRC, 2015-2020. [Co-Investigator and Co-lead for Planning and Local Democracy Theme].
  • Planning for Intangible Cultural Heritage, [PICH], JPI Cultural Heritage, 2015- 2018 [Co-investigator].
  • Doctoral Training Centre in Digital Civics, EPSRC, 2014- 2020 [co-applicant and co-lead for Planning and Local Democracy theme].
  • Building workplace community in the commercial edgelands, Â鶹´«Ã½ Business Development Fund with Highbridge Developments, 2014, [Principal Investigator].
  • Great Planning Successes: Innovative transformation in place governance, Royal Town Planning Institute, 2013/14 [Principal Investigator].
  • Territorial Governance: Best Practices for New Perspectives, ESPON, 2011- 2014. [Co-applicant].
  • Spatial Innovation, Planning, Design and User Involvement (SPINDUS), IVT, Belgian Government, 2009- 2013, [Co-I and Principal Investigator at Â鶹´«Ã½].
  • Planning, localism and the state: evaluating a Neighbourhood Planning Frontrunner, Catherine Cookson Trust, 2011/12. [Principal Investigator].
  • Professionalism in Spatial Planning, Â鶹´«Ã½ Strategic Research Fund, 2009, £9,000 [Principal Investigator].
  • Social Polis: a social platform on cities and social cohesion, European Commission, (led the work package on mobility and security), 2007-2009.
  • Managing development pressure in the urban fringe: Practices and lessons from England, Report for Korean Government [sole investigator].
  • The Institutional and Regulatory Context for Planning, United Nations Global Report on Human Settlements, UN-Habitat, 2008 [co-applicant].
  • Integrated spatial planning, multi-level governance and state rescaling, Economic and Social Research Council, 2005- 2007, [co-applicant].
  • The State of Iraqi Cities, UN-HABITAT, 2005-2006.
  • Poverty Alleviation Programmes and Sustainable Development in India, British Council India, 2002-04.
  • Social Innovation, Governance and Community Building (SINGOCOM), European Commission Framework V: 2001- 2004 [co-applicant].
  • Reinventing Planning: advice on the central government Green Paper, ‘Modernising Planning’, One North East, 2001 [joint applicant].
  • European Spatial Planning Observatory Network: Developing a research capability database, DETR, 2000 – 2001.
  • Developing the capacity of, and participation in, environmental policy and management in the City of Kharkiv, Ukraine, Department for International Development, 1998.  


Transport and Infrastructure:

  • Sustrans DIY Streets: creating and evaluating inspirational participation, ESRC Impact Acceleration Fund, 2015 [co-applicant].
  • Review of Transport Governance in the Tyne & Wear City Region, Tyne & Wear City Region Executive Board: (with Atkins), 2008-2009.
  • Tilting at Windmills, Economic and Social Research Council, 2003/ 04 [Co-I].
  • Preparing to Go Green: employee travel patterns and surface access planning, Leeds Bradford International Airport, 1999/2000 [joint applicant].
  • Facilitating and Implementing a New Realism in Transport Planning, Rees Jeffrey's Road Fund,1997 -1999, [Principal Investigator]

 

As Research Associate [selected]:

  • Development Plans and the Regulatory Form of the Planning System, Economic and Social Research Council, 1995- 1997.
  • Transport Investment and Urban Regeneration, Economic and Social Research Council, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, and Dept. of Transport, 1992-95. 


Research Roles

I have been co-director of Â鶹´«Ã½'s Centre for Mobility and Transport since its founding in 2022: /mobility-transport/

I was Research Director in APL from April 2012- Feb 2018 wherein I led APL's submission to REF2014 which was the best performing Unit of Assessment at Â鶹´«Ã½ by the widely preferred measure of intensity-adjusted GPA. APL was 4th nationally [out of 45] by this measure and also in terms of research power.

I directed the Global Urban Research Unit between 2006 and 2012.


Postgraduate Supervision

Geoff is Deputy Director for PGR in SAPL, principally with responsibility for admissions, and was Postgraduate Research Director from 2003-2006 and 2025. I welcome applications for post-graduate study that mesh with my research interests above. To date I have supervised 23 PhD candidates to completion and examined 20. I currently co-mentor 5 students:  

  • Mohammed Alrubayan, A Neuropsychological Investigation of the Impact of Urban Built Settings & Urban Natural Settings on Youth Psychological Well-being. A Case Study from Saudi Arabia (with Daniel Mallo)
  • Nic Cook, Cripping active travel futures: How are disabled people represented and included in the practice of doing active travel policy? (ESRC NINE DTP with Natalia Villamizar Duarte and Janice McLoughlin)
  • Robin Edge, Transport, Accessibility and the Built Environment: a neurodiversity perspective (with Zander Wilson, sponsored by the Motability Foundation).
  • Hiromitsu Mori, Policies, coordination mechanisms and planning processes for promoting TOD in the Jakarta metropolitan area of Indonesia (with Gabriel Silvestre).  
  • Elliot Rooney, The political economy of water service delivery in Addis Ababa, (with Cat Button and Jaime Amezaga)
Teaching

Undergraduate Teaching

TCP1028: Planning for a Better World

TCP2028: Urban Infrastructures

 

Postgraduate Teaching

TCP4002 / 4003 Practice Issues Report/ Presentation

TCP8902 The Reflexive Practitioner

TCP8034 Planning and Sustainability

Publications

  • Articles

    • Pinzon-Cardona L, Vigar G. . Town Planning Review 2026, Epub ahead of print.
    • Vigar G, Schoneboom A. . International Planning Studies 2025, 30(3), 383-398.
    • Clifford B, Vigar G. . Planning Practice & Research 2024, 39(2), 320-338.
    • Manuel J, Vigar G. . Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science 2021, 48(6), 1558-1573.
    • Weise S, Wilson A, Vigar G. . Urban Planning 2020, 5(2), 59-70.
    • Vigar G, Cowie P, Healey P. . European Planning Studies 2020, 28(3), 521-540.
    • Mallo D, Schoneboom A, Tardiveau A, Vigar G. . Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 2020, 63(13), 2446-2463.
    • Parsons R, Vigar G. . Planning Perspectives 2018, 33(2), 163-183.
    • Madanipour A, Miciukiewicz K, Vigar G. . Journal of Urban Design 2018, 23(4), 465-481.
    • Vigar G. . Transport Policy 2017, 58, 39-45.
    • Vigar G, Gunn S, Brooks E. . Town Planning Review 2017, 88(4), 423-442.
    • Sinniah GK, Shah MZ, Vigar G, Aditjandra PT. . Transportation Research Procedia 2016, 17, 369-383.
    • Healey P, Vigar G. . Planning Theory and Practice 2015, 16(4), 565-568.
    • Sinniah GK, Shah MZ, Vigar G, Aditjandra PT. . TeMA Journal of Land Use, Mobility and Environment 2014, 7(2), 223-238.
    • Vigar G, Brooks E, Gunn S. . Town and Country Planning 2013, (epub ahead of print).
    • Gunn S, Vigar G. . Town Planning Review 2012, 83(5), 533-552.
    • Vigar G. . Planning Theory 2012, 11(4), 361-378.
    • Miciukiewicz K, Vigar G. . Urban Studies 2012, 49(9), 1941-1957.
    • Vigar G, Shaw A, Swann R. . Transport Policy 2011, 18(2), 468-479.
    • Vigar G. . European Planning Studies 2009, 17(11), 1571-1590.
    • Haughton G, Counsell D, Vigar G. . Regional Studies 2008, 42(9), 1223-1236.
    • Gonzalez S, Vigar G. . City: analysis of urban trends, culture, theory, policy, action 2008, 12(1), 64-78.
    • Vigar G. . Planning Theory and Practice 2006, 7(3), 267-287.
    • Vigar G, Porter G. . European Spatial Research and Policy 2005, 12(1).
    • Vigar G, Graham S, Healey P. . Urban Studies 2005, 42(8), 1391-1410.
    • Haggett C, Vigar G. . Town and Country Planning 2004, 73(10), 288-291.
    • Counsell D, Haughton GF, Allmendinger P, Vigar G. . Town and Country Planning 2003, 72(1), 15-19.
    • Porter G, Vigar G. Governance, accountability and responsibility in constructing strategic transport policy, a case study from North East England. Northern Economic Review 2003.
    • Vigar G, Healey P. . Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 2002, 45(4), 517-532.
    • Vigar G. . Planning Perspectives 2001, 16(3), 269-291.
    • Vigar G. . Town Planning Review 2001, 72(4), 423-443.
    • Vigar G. . Local Environment 2000, 5(1), 19-32.
    • Vigar GI, Healey P. . Planning Practice and Research 1999, 14(2), 153-169.
    • Hull A, Vigar G. The changing role of the development plan in managing spatial change. ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING C-GOVERNMENT AND POLICY 1998, 16(4), 379-394.

  • Authored Books

    • Schoneboom AM, Slade J, Tait M, Vigar G. . Bristol, UK: Policy Press, 2022.
    • Cullingworth B, Davoudi S, Webb D, Vigar G, Pendlebury J, Townshend T, Gkartzios M, Hart T, Nadin V. . London: Routledge, 2024.
    • Clifford B, Gunn S, Inch A, Schoneboom A, Slade J, Tait M, Vigar G. . Bristol: Policy Press, 2024.
    • Cullingworth B, Nadin V, Hart T, Davoudi S, Pendlebury J, Vigar G, Webb D, Townshend T. . Abingdon, UK: Routledge, 2015.
    • Haughton G, Allmendinger P, Counsell D, Vigar G. . London: Routledge, 2010.
    • Vigar G. . London: Spon Press, 2002.
    • Vigar GI, Healey P, Hull A, Davoudi S. . Basingstoke: Macmillan, 2000.

  • Book Chapters

    • Vigar G. . In: Vickerman,R, ed. International Encyclopedia of Transportation. Elsevier, 2021, pp.131-134.
    • Vigar G, Varna G. . In: Docherty I; Shaw J, ed. Transport Matters. Bristol: Policy Press, 2019, pp.205-226.
    • Palacin R, Vigar G, Peacock S. . In: Justice and Fairness in the City: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to 'Ordinary' Cities. Policy Press, 2016, pp.69-84.
    • Cowie P, Madanipour A, Davoudi S, Vigar G. . In: Peter Schmitt and Lisa Van Well, ed. Territorial Governance across Europe: Pathways, Practices and Prospects. London, UK: Routledge, 2016, pp.141-156.
    • Cowie Paul, Vigar Geoff, Davoudi Simin, Madanipour Ali. . In: Peter Schmitt and Lisa Van Well, ed. Territorial Governance across Europe: Pathways, Practices and Prospects. London, UK: Routledge, 2016, pp.67-80.
    • Hart T, Davoudi S, Vigar G. . In: Cullingworth, JB; Nadin, V; Hart, T; Davoudi, S; Pendlebury, J; Vigar, G; Webb, D; Townshend, T, ed. Town and Country Planning in the UK. Abingdon, UK: Routledge, 2015.
    • Vigar G. . In: Cullingworth, JB; Nadin, V; Hart, T; Davoudi, S; Pendlebury, J; Vigar, G; Webb, D ;Townshend, T, ed. Town and Country Planning in the UK. Abingdon, UK: Routledge, 2015.
    • Vigar G. . In: Hillier,J;Metzger,J, ed. Connections: Exploring Contemporary Planning Theory and Practice with Patsy Healey. Farnham: Ashgate, 2015.
    • Vigar G. . In: Cullingworth, JB; Nadin, V; Hart, T; Davoudi, S; Pendlebury, J; Vigar, G; Webb, D; Townshend, T, ed. Town and Country Planning in the UK. 2015.
    • Gunn S, Brooks E, Vigar G. . In: Simin Davoudi and Ali Madanipour, ed. Reconsidering Localism. Routledge, 2015.
    • Vigar G. . In: Shaw, K; Blackie, J, ed. New Directions in Planning: Beyond Localism. Â鶹´«Ã½, UK: Department of Social Sciences, Northumbria University, 2013, pp.73-79.
    • Miciukiewicz K, Vigar G. . In: Henckel, D., Thomaier, S., Könecke, B., Zedda, R., & Stabilini, S, ed. Space-Time Design of the Public City. Dordrecht: Springer, 2013, pp.171-185.
    • Gonzalez S, Vigar G. . In: Moulaert, F; Swyngedouw, E; Martinelli, F; Gonzalez, S, ed. Can Neighbourhoods Save the City? Social Innovation and Local Community Development. London: Routledge, 2010, pp.128-140.
    • Davoudi S, Healey P, Vigar G, Majale M. . In: UN Habitat, ed. Planning Sustainable Cities. London: Earthscan, 2009.
    • MacKinnon D, Vigar G. . In: Docherty I; Shaw J, ed. Traffic Jam: Ten Years of 'Sustainable' Transport in the UK. Bristol: Policy Press, 2008, pp.29-48.
    • Vigar G. . In: Powe, N; Hart, T; Shaw, T, ed. Market Towns: Roles, Challenges and Prospects. London: Routledge, 2007, pp.59-68.
    • Benneworth P, Vigar G. Strategic Planning in Practice: the case of North East England. In: Dimitriou HT, Thomson R, ed. Strategic and Regional Planning: a review of principles and practices. London: Spon, 2007.
    • Vigar G. . In: Allmendinger, P., Tewdwr-Jones, M, ed. Territory, Identity and Spatial Planning. London: Routledge, 2006, pp.205-218.
    • Vigar G, Stead D. . In: Dohert, I., Shaw, J, ed. A New Deal for Transport: The UK's Struggle with the Sustainable Transport Agenda. Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell, 2003, pp.51-72.
    • Hull AD, Vigar G. Structures and Processes in Strategic Spatial Plan Preparation: the participatory agenda. In: Madanipour, A; Hull, AD; Healey, P, ed. The Governance of Place. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2001.

  • Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)

    • Manuel J, Vigar G, Bartindale T, Comber R. . In: ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. 2017, Denver, CO, USA: ACM.

  • Edited Book

    • Segers R, Van den Broeck P, Khan A, Moulaert F, Schreurs J, De Meulder B, Miciukiewicz K, Vigar G, Madanipour A, ed. . Brussels: Academic and Scientific Publishers (ASP), 2013.

  • Reports

    • Vigar G, Cowie P, Healey P. . London, UK: Royal Town Planning Institute, 2014. RTPI Research Reports 8.
    • Davoudi s, Cowie P, Madanipour A, Vigar G. . Luxembourg, Luxembourg: ESPON Coordination Unit, 2013.
    • Vigar G, Steele M, Healey P, Nelson JD, Wenban Smith A. Transport Planning and Metropolitan Governance: institutional issues in implementing a new agenda for transport planning. London: Landor, 2000.