Catherine Hammond

Catherine Hammond is a Senior Lecturer in Town Planning at the Sheffield Institute of Social Sciences, part of the College of Social Sciences and Arts at Sheffield Hallam University. She specializes in environmental planning, focusing on balancing development and environmental protection. As course leader for the Chartered Town Planning Higher Degree Apprenticeship and module leader for multiple undergraduate and postgraduate programs, her teaching integrates practical experience with academic rigor.

Hammond holds an MA in Urban and Regional Planning (part-time) from Sheffield Hallam University and a PhD from Newcastle University. Her research explores green/blue infrastructure, biodiversity net gain, and planning mechanisms for nature recovery. She actively engages with professional bodies such as the Town and Country Planning Association Policy Council and the South Yorkshire Local Nature Partnership.

Her work bridges academia and practice, reflected in her role as Guest Editor for a special feature on biodiversity and planning in the Journal of Applied Ecology and People and Nature. She supervises approximately seven postgraduate research projects annually and mentors two PhD students researching biodiversity duty implementation and planning reforms' impacts.

Previously, Hammond worked in urban regeneration, policy research for Hull City Council, and environmental advocacy with the CPRE. She contributed to regional governance as an environment sector representative on the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Assembly and deputy chair of its Planning Board.