Sue Brownill

Professor Sue Brownill is a leading academic in Urban Policy and Governance at Oxford Brookes University's School of the Built Environment. She specializes in community engagement in urban planning, affordable housing, and waterfront regeneration. Her roles include leading the PhD programme, coordinating doctoral research methods training, and chairing the Faculty's Doctoral Training Programme. She holds professional memberships in the Town and Country Planning Association and has advised UK government bodies.

• Education: BA, PhD, MRTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute Associate)

Her research focuses on socially sustainable urban development through participatory planning methods. Key areas include neighborhood planning rights, Olympic legacies, and co-creation approaches to address urban stigma. Recent projects include the EU-funded RISE project (2017-2020) exploring stigmatized neighborhoods and the AHRC-funded Spaces of Hope project (2021-2023) documenting community-led planning histories.

Publications span urban regeneration case studies (e.g., London Docklands, Rio), housing policy critiques, and pandemic-era planning challenges. Her work has influenced national housing policy debates and received prestigious academic recognition.

• Grants & Awards:
  • £329,818 AHRC grant for Spaces of Hope project
  • Planning Perspectives Best Paper Award (2014-2016)
• Advisory Roles:
  • Chair, Oxfordshire Community Land Trust
  • Former Board Member, Oxford Citizens Housing Association

Her work bridges academia and practice through collaborations with community organizations, local governments, and international networks like the Brazil-UK Urban Governance Initiative.