Adam Sheppard

Adam Sheppard is an Assistant Professor of Urban Planning at the University of Birmingham's School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences. He specializes in development management, planning regulation, and urban design. With over 20 years of experience in both public sector planning and academia, his research focuses on planning systems, decision-making processes, and placemaking. He holds a MSc, PGCHE, and BA (Hons) in Geography and Urban Studies. His work emphasizes applied planning practice and collaboration with industry, addressing topics like biodiversity net gain, planning performance agreements, and Airbnb regulation. He has led projects for entities such as the West of England Combined Authority and contributed to the RTPI Sir Peter Hall Award-winning study in 2021.

Education: MSc City and Regional Planning, Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning (HE), BA (Hons) Geography and Urban Studies, CMI Diploma in Management.

Research interests span development management, urban regeneration, planning enforcement, and the history of planning. He has published extensively in journals such as the Town and Country Planning Association Journal and the International Journal of Housing Policy. His awards include the 2021 RTPI Sir Peter Hall Award for Research Excellence. He also serves as an External Examiner at the University of Brighton and has reviewed programs at multiple universities.

Key research projects include studies on planning decision-making systems, the implications of the Use Classes Order in England, and biodiversity net gain. His work often bridges academic research with practical applications, aiming to enhance urban planning outcomes through policy and procedural improvements.