从事本研究主题的工作人员致力于解决空间规划和城市设计问题，以及与城市治理相关的问题。他们提供与一系列主题和问题相关的教学，培训，研究和知识转移服务。这是针对广泛的政府，私营部门，非政府和社区组织的。近年来，特定的研究资助者包括英国社区和地方政府部，苏格兰和威尔士政府，苏格兰自然遗产，卡内基信托基金会和艺术与人文研究委员会。
Members of staff who work within this research theme address issues of spatial planning and urban design, as well as linked issues of urban governance. They provide teaching, training, research and knowledge transfer services in connection with a range of themes and issues. This is targeted to a wide range of governmental, private sector, non-governmental and community organisations. Specific research funders in recent years have included the UK Department of Communities and Local Government, the Scottish and Welsh Governments, Scottish Natural Heritage, Carnegie Trust and the Arts and Humanities Research Council. In overall terms this work has a focus on policy development, implementation and good practice in fields such as, development planning, development management, urban design policy and practice, equality and diversity, and sustainable resource management. A key emphasis is on shaping emerging research and policy agendas, linking with interdisciplinary partners from academia and practice, so as to provide relevant analyses and skill development and support, which provide integrated solutions to policy and practice problems.