Module Title Urban and Regional Development in Practice
Mode of Assessment
e.g. Essay, Presentation etc
Report
Type of Assessment
e.g. Group or Individual
Individual
Length/Duration of Assessment 1200 words
Assessment Title Baseline Report for Economic Development Strategy
Assessment Instructions You are to write a baseline report for an economic
development strategy. The aim of the assessment is to
demonstrate that you are able to critically assess the
trends, deficiencies, and capacities of a town or city you
are familiar with within the context of economic
development. It is expected that this will include a
selection of secondary statistical data, maps and images
of the area, and qualitative analysis of the historical and
current spatial context of the area.
Trends relates to the changes over time (such as one
census period to another) that you believe provide a
useful context for understanding the unique state of the
town or city you have chosen. Deficiencies relates to an
analysis of the current weaknesses of the location which
you believe need to be addressed to improve the
economic development of the area. While capacities
involves an analysis of the contemporary positive
features of the location that can be drawn on to sustain,
improve, or advance the economic development
trajectory of the location.
To do so you should have regard for each of the
following:
1. Economic context of the area you have chosen
with particular reference to key economic
indicators of the population as well as the
broader economy of the area
2. Physical context of the area, such as the quantity
and/or quality of infrastructure, public realm,
housing, and the wider built environment
3. Social context of the area including but not
limited to demographic information, health and
education attainment, and inequality
You should also provide a brief (100 words max)
indication of the proposed focus of your economic
development strategy based on this analysis (vision and
initial objectives).
Be careful of the area you chose as there is a danger of
inadvertent plagiarism if they already have an economic
development strategy.
Larger datasets can be included as appendices and will
not count towards your word count. Tables and graphs
do not count towards your word count.
Remember that this is an economic development
strategy with a focus on the three elements noted above.
• Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the
challenges faced by regeneration practitioners and
policy-makers in developing urban and regional
regeneration strategies, including the challenges of
fragmentation and the imperative to ‘join-up’ outputs
and outcomes.
• Critically analyse the content of regeneration policies
and strategies.
• Ability to assess, critique, and evaluate urban
regeneration policy approaches and development
strategies
• Developing logical, insightful and analytical written
arguments on specific subject areas.
Learning Outcomes assessed
This assessment will be marked with reference to the
marking criteria in your student handbook on Learning
Central.
Please also note the following marking criteria that are
specific to this assessment:
• Appreciation of the ‘permeable’ nature of your
nominated location i.e. what about travel to work
issues?
• Level of attention given to all three required
sections.
• Use of a contents page.
• Inclusion of statistical information (e.g. from the
WIMD) together with photographs, relevant
quotations etc.
• Inclusion of relevant images, graphs, maps etc.
and use colour!
• Use of the Harvard system of referencing and
employment of references from ‘quality sources’.
And use a balanced range of references e.g. from
text books, academic papers, journals,
newspapers, periodicals etc.
Please note that marks for substance and structure will
be affected if you exceed the word/duration limit.
Marking Criteria It is important that you understand the marking criteria
in advance of the assessment.
