Paul Lawless

Professor Paul Lawless is a Professor of Urban Policy at Sheffield Hallam University and former Director of the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR). With over 20 years of expertise in urban regeneration, his work focuses on policy evaluation, transport investment impacts, and community development. He has led major projects including the long-term evaluation of the New Deal for Communities Programme for the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit (NRU).

• Education: Holds MPhil and MRTPI qualifications.

His research explores urban policy implementation, neighbourhood renewal strategies, and the socioeconomic effects of regeneration initiatives. Recent studies include analyses of population mobility trends in regeneration areas and the effectiveness of community engagement in urban projects.

Professor Lawless has secured funding from diverse sources including the UK Department of Environment, EU, ESRC, and Joseph Rowntree Foundation. His work contributes to evidence-based policy design for urban revitalization.

In advising, he has supervised postgraduate research on topics like gender participation in regeneration projects and small business assistance programs. His research affiliations include CRESR, where he directed Phase 2 of the New Deal for Communities evaluation (2005–2009).