Rachel Kerr

Rachel Kerr is a Lecturer in Urban Design at the University of Manchester, based in the Department of Planning, Property and Environmental Management. She previously worked in international urban design consultancies such as Tetra Tech, AECOM, and WYG, specializing in town center regeneration and sustainable masterplanning. She serves on the leadership committee of the Manchester Urban Design Lab as Outreach Coordinator, bridging academia and industry.

Her academic interests span urban design processes, digital technologies, design quality assessment, pedagogical methods, and the societal impact of urban design. She contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals through sustainable built environment research. Teaching roles include Programme Director for the Urban Design and International Planning MSc, leading courses like Urban Design Studio and Masterplan Studio.

Rachel actively engages with professional bodies, serving on the RTPI North-West Regional Activities Committee and Policy and Research Task Group. She has presented at high-profile events including the RTPI North-West Urban Design Training and Manchester Science Festival exhibitions.