Myfanwy Taylor

Dr Myfanwy Taylor serves as Lecturer (Teaching) in Urban Economies and Planning at University College London's Bartlett School of Planning. Her work bridges urban planning, economic geography, and community activism with a focus on democratizing local economies. Affiliated with UCL's Economic Geography Network and multiple international research collectives, she maintains active roles in policy development through the London Assembly and UK Government forums.

Education:

• Master of Science in Urban Studies, University College London (2010)
• Master of Physics, University of Oxford (2003)
• Graduate Diploma in Economics, Birkbeck, University of London
• Associate Fellow, Higher Education Academy

Taylor's research centers on community economies, anti-displacement struggles, and the social value of traditional retail markets. She examines how everyday economic practices challenge neoliberal urban development through grounded studies of London's markets and commercial spaces. Her work integrates diverse economies theory with critical urban studies to develop planning frameworks for economic democracy and just transitions. Current projects explore bottom-up economic planning in Tottenham and County Durham through collaborations with grassroots organizations.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals strong thematic continuity in urban economic justice, with increasing emphasis on place-based just transitions (2023-2024) and methodological innovation in studying affective dimensions of 'left-behind places'. Her interdisciplinary approach spans economic geography, urban sociology, and planning theory, consistently prioritizing community-engaged methodologies.

Key awards:

• Royal Town Planning Institute Sir Peter Hall Award for Wider Engagement (2016)
• Nomination for UCL Provost’s Awards for Public Engagement (2015)

Taylor actively supervises doctoral research including Sarah Goldzweig's work on threatened retail spaces in London. Her grant portfolio features Leverhulme Trust funding for 'Economic Development from Below' research and ESRC support for the Markets4People project. She collaborates with community organizations like the Wards Corner Community Benefit Society and Seven Sisters Development Trust, translating academic work into practical tools for grassroots economic development.

Her research cluster 'Everyday Economies' serves as an intellectual hub connecting scholars, policymakers, and activists. Through the Community Economies Research Network and Small Business Anti-Displacement Network, she fosters transnational knowledge exchange on alternative economic practices. Current initiatives focus on developing democratic economic planning frameworks for urban contexts facing commercial gentrification pressures.