Developing a Sustainable Mixed-Use Regeneration Strategy for Historic Industrial-Military Heritage in Southern England

Applications are invited for a self-funded, 3 year full-time or 6 year part-time PhD project.

The PhD will be based in the School of Civil Engineering and Surveying and will be supervised by Dr Ann Coats, Stephen Neale and Belinda Mitchell.

This project will create/assess a mixed reuse regeneration strategy for former industrial-military property, which abounds in southern England, to encourage innovative proposals and avoid inappropriate development or continued deterioration. 

This is timely because the 2020 Planning for the Future White Paper, aims to shorten planning scrutiny and favours residential over mixed use. It encourages wider permitted development rights over community participation. Moreover, the 2016 Housing and Planning Act’s ‘permission in principle’ for housing-led development promotes residential development. These pose a negative impact on the historic environment and archaeology of brownfield sites, undesignated historic buildings and the setting of designated heritage assets, local character and amenity.

Much former industrial-military property is fundamentally unsuitable for residential use. Some structures are on the heritage-at-risk list, such as Portsmouth Docks 5 and 6, Forts Fareham and Widley, Haslar Gunboat Yard and Cowes Hammerhead Crane. Many Second World War structures are unlisted, lacking statutory protection. However, their very rarity and uniqueness inspires creative and visionary reuse, attracting visitors, boosting the local economy, promoting community cohesion, volunteering and employment opportunities and skills development.

Portsmouth Hinterland Project Research Toolkit, addresses the development of semi-rural areas. However, it omits challenges affecting large industrial-military sites and fails to incorporate more inclusive approaches to the vital issues of how communities make meanings, memories and associations. Negative impacts on the reuse of industrial-military heritage include undervalued cultural significance, poor physical site security, maintenance, funding and resources, and depressed land values, which deter innovative developers. 
Such research is vital because prioritising residential development in brownfield sites threatens the environmental, social and economic sustainability of distinctive historic structures which gives unique neighbourhood character.

The design and methodology of this research progresses through five stages to conceptualise the unique cultural significance of the region’s industrial-military heritage within a strategy which stimulates opportunities.

Fees and funding

Visit the research subject area page for fees and funding information for this project.

Funding availability: Self-funded PhD students only. 

PhD full-time and part-time courses are eligible for the UK Government Doctoral Loan (UK and EU students only).

Bench fees

Some PhD projects may include additional fees – known as bench fees – for equipment and other consumables, and these will be added to your standard tuition fee. Speak to the supervisory team during your interview about any additional fees you may have to pay. Please note, bench fees are not eligible for discounts and are non-refundable.

How to apply

We’d encourage you to contact Dr Ann Coats (ann.coats@port.ac.uk) to discuss your interest before you apply, quoting the project code.

When applying please quote project code: SCES5311021