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TRP210

Urban Design and Place-making

Autumn 2024

Assessment 1: Character Area Analysis Report

Overview of the Assignment

This piece of group work is designed to develop skills in the analysis of character areas and use of urban space at the neighbourhood scale – students will work on an assigned character area. The assessment is worth 25% of the module mark.

Report Format

· Word limit: Maximum 800 words, with 10% leeway, excluding front cover and reference list.

· A3 size, landscape/portrait layout, maximum 5 pages, excluding front cover and reference list.

· Add page numbers to each page.

· Submit it online via Blackboard as a PDF file. No paper copy is required.

· The title of your submitted file: TRP210 group work - group X.

Suggested Report Contents

Cover page: Including the title of the assessment, your student registration numbers, the date of submission, and a final word count.

1. Strategic Location of the Character Area: Illustrated through a Strategic Location map indicating the location of the site within its context.

2. Policy Analysis: Illustrated through an assessment and mapped analysis of planning policy e.g. key projects, conservation area boundaries, core policy priorities.

3. Urban Design Analysis: Illustrated through a mapped analysis of, for example, Historical Analysis/Listed Buildings; Land Use Analysis; Route/Mobility Hierarchy; Public Spaces/Active Frontages or Legibility Analysis.

4. Design Considerations - Opportunities and Constraints Plan: An appraisal graphic, which, based on the outcomes of the analysis, groups the most important elements to provide an illustrated assessment of the opportunities and constraints of the character area (helping inform future design development and acting as the conclusion to your analysis).

5. Critical Reflections You must also include a short reflective section (between 150-200 words) that identifies how you used the feedback to improve your work.  This may include the changes you have made to your original submission, but more importantly, it must reflect on what you have learned about the application of urban design theory and analysis from the original feedback and how this has changed your approach for this subsequent assignment.

Reference list (using Harvard Referencing format)

The report should contain an appropriate mix of text and visual analysis (e.g. annotated maps, photos, and graphs if required). Graphical materials such as maps/plans should be completed using software (as introduced in the module). You are required to make extensive use of visual material. The use of text is mainly for explanation and annotation – 60/40 graphic to text and text as bullet points are recommended. The analysis should be accessible and easy to read e.g. no small font sizes or overly small diagrams.

Main Tasks of The Assignment

Working as a group, your task is to analyse 1) the character of a set urban area and 2) how space is used in that character area. In order to fulfil the requirements of the submission, you should apply the knowledge and skills you learn from Weeks 1–4 and consider the following aspects:

1. A neighbourhood urban design analysis: of the character area & its surrounding context (e.g. one urban block): using the information provided in the ‘Introduction to Assessment 1’ slides;

2. Develop design considerations (opportunities/constraints): reflecting on the outcomes of your analysis, generate design considerations which provide an illustrated evaluation of the opportunities and constraints of the character area – helping inform future design/development.

Criteria for Assessment

The assignment will be marked on the basis of:

1. The depth and comprehensiveness of the survey and analysis, with evidence of a range of survey techniques being used.

2. Overall understanding and appreciation of the relationship between urban design and use patterns in and around the character area.

3. Ability to present the analysis in an appropriate and accessible format in the report combining visual and written material (with an appropriate balance of graphics to text).

4. The ability to work well as a group in collating and interpreting data.

Sheffield Graduate Attributes

This assessment will contribute to the development of the following SGAs: Applying Knowledge; Research and Critical Thinking; Digital Capability; Working with Others; and Enterprising.

How you will receive feedback on your work

You will receive feedback on your assessment via Blackboard. You will receive your provisional grade and feedback usually within 3 weeks of the submission deadline for each assessment. If, due to unforeseen circumstances (such as illness), it is not possible to return work within this timescale, all students will be notified.

Use of Generative AI

Please make sure you are aware of and follow the School of Geography and Planning guidelines on the use of Generative AI that are set out in your student handbook. This requires you to declare any use of GenerativeAI tools in assessed work (e.g. use of Adobe Generative AI).

Extensions/Extenuating Circumstances

Note: Any required extensions must be requested using the online Extension Request/Extenuating Circumstances form. The links to these forms are available via your Blackboard Hubs. Extensions should be requested at least 48 hours prior to the submission deadline, wherever possible.  

Important Literature

§ BLACK, P, MARTIN, M, PHILLIPS, R and SONBLI, T (2025), ‘Applied Urban Design: A Contextually Responsive Approach’, New York, Routledge.

- Excellent coverage of range of urban design analysis techniques/graphics and sequential stages of the design process - consider Chapters 5-8.

§ BLACK, P, and SONBLI, T (2019), ‘The Urban Design Process’, London, Lund Humphries.

- Excellent coverage of range of urban design analysis techniques/graphics - consider pages 48-77.

§ DETR (2000), ’By Design: Urban design in the planning system: towards better practice’, London, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR).

- Pages 15 and 16 are an excellent 'Urban Design Analysis - Cheat Sheet' providing you with a range of key urban design concepts and their definitions. For more detail on each, look through Section 2.

§ MADANIPOUR, A, MICIUKIEWICZ, K AND VIGAR, G (2018), ‘Master plans and urban change: the case of Sheffield city centre’, Journal of Urban Design, 23, 465-481.

- Provides an excellent overview of the broader regeneration of Sheffield since the early 2000s. Helpful for context on how the city has changed from an urban design lens.

§ MINISTRY OF HOUSING, COMMUNITIES & LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ‘National Model Design Code: Part 1 The Coding Process’, London, MHCLG.

- The NMDC is the current national design policy in England – it includes the ten characteristics of good design, definitions and helpful visuals see pages 18–34.

§ SHEFFIELD CITY COUNCIL (2022), 'Sheffield City Centre Strategic Vision', Sheffield, Sheffield City Council.

- Very helpful policy overview of key priorities/vision for Sheffield, split across specific neighbourhoods, see pages 50-56.

Important Resource

The module is supported by a dedicated digital education resource to bolster professional design software skills development: Urban Design Toolkit