Manchester Field Class

Year 2 – ENVS 205

The regeneration of Manchester city centre since its industrial decline and the city’s recent success in securing continued regeneration and devolution of government powers places Manchester at the forefront of a national wave of regeneration and devolution to the core cities of the UK.

The field class to Manchester sees students act as Planners to explore the city on a ‘fact finding mission’. Students visit an area of Manchester city centre to critically analyse the regeneration experience; considering its regeneration successes, shortcomings and obstacles to further regeneration. The field class includes research into urban history, the built form of the city, building design, public space, transport, green and blue features, economic activities and cultural and social life.

The field class focused various areas of Manchester city centre including: Castlefield, Spinningfield, Petersfield, the Central Retail District, NOMA, the Northern Quarter and Piccadilly. These areas all demonstrate the different ways and waves of regeneration in the city.