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Sanjeev Kumar B.Arch, MSc(IPD), PhD(Current)

Sanjeev Kumar

(he/him)

B.Arch, MSc(IPD), PhD(Current)

Teams and roles for Sanjeev Kumar

Research

Urban Design, Planning Policy, Regeneration, Economic Development

Thesis

High Streets as Quintessential Social Infrastructure – Exploring their role in economic revitalisation and community cohesion/ town-centre regeneration framework

This research investigates UK High Streets (HS) as critical social infrastructure (SI), commonly understood as physical spaces, facilities, services, institutions, networks and groups outside of work and home that foster social connection and engagement in communal life (EuroHealthNet, 2018; Klinenberg, 2018; Latham & Layton, 2019). HS, historically vibrant centres of commerce and social interaction, are considered vital social and economic places, and according to national and local governments are uniquely positioned to act as multidimensional social assets that enhance community cohesion, economic resilience, and urban revitalisation (Wrigley and Dolega, 2011). However, their role as SI remains poorly understood and underutilised in HS regeneration strategies, limiting their effectiveness in addressing socio-economic and urban challenges.

The study aims to reimagine HS as inclusive, adaptive, and community-focused spaces that serve as hubs for sustainable development and social well-being. It will develop a multidisciplinary framework to conceptualise, evaluate, and operationalise the socio-economic and cultural roles of HS as SI. This is critical to addressing contemporary challenges, such as the decline of physical retail driven by e-commerce and the growing socio-economic disparities within communities.

Funding sources

Award: Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences(General)
Subject Pathway: Human Geography
Thematic Cluster: Place, Environment and Development Cluster

Biography

Sanjeev Kumar is a planner with 15 years of international experience in strategic planning, housing development, and urban design across the UK, the Middle East, and South Asia.

His work focuses on creating sustainable, high-quality places that balance community needs with design excellence and deliver measurable outcomes in planning and regeneration.

Sanjeev has managed and delivered a range of complex planning and development projects as a planning consultant and has worked with development management and planning policy for the Local Authority. He has been actively involved in urban research, contributing as a research assistant to the Placemaking Toolkit for Wales (2021-23), funded by an ‘Innovation for All’ grant from the Higher Education Funding Council Wales (HEFCW), and co-authored the published article titled “European public space projects with social cohesion in mind: symbolic, programmatic and minimalist approaches.”

Sanjeev holds professional memberships with the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) as a Licentiate member. His collaborative and strategic approach ensures efficient project delivery aligned with policy objectives, sustainability principles, and community aspirations.

Honours and awards

  • Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences(WGSSS) 2025 award for the Human Geography pathway.

Professional memberships

  • Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) as a Licentiate member

Supervisors

Patricia Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht

Patricia Lopes Simoes Aelbrecht

Senior Lecturer in Urban Design, Planning and Intercultural Studies

Gary Bridge

Gary Bridge

Professor of Human Geography

Contact Details

Email [email protected]

Campuses Glamorgan Building, Room -1.05, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3WA

Research themes

Specialisms

  • urban design and public spaces
  • High Streets