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Dr Sina Shahab
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Sina Shahab
Senior Lecturer in Planning and Land Policy
Overview
- Senior Lecturer in Planning and Land Policy at the Cardiff School of Geography and Planning
- Secretary General of the International Academic Association on Planning, Law, and Property Rights (PLPR)
- Group Leader for the Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) Thematic Group of Planning, Law, and Property Rights
- Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Liaison Coordinator for the School of Social and Spatial Sciences
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
News
Principal Investigator - British Council - Going Global Partnerships 2025-2026
Awarded funding to develop a UK–Germany research collaboration on innovations in local climate governance. The project brings together researchers from six institutions to co-design a joint funding proposal, strengthen cross-national academic exchange, and investigate how structurally disadvantaged localities act as “unlikely pioneers” in advancing innovative climate policies.
Co-Applicant - German Research Foundation (DFG) 2025-2027
Awarded funding to investigate the socio-spatial transformation of formal housing in Europe. The project analyses how everyday practices, regulatory frameworks, and market dynamics reshape housing use and urban density, using comparative case studies in Berlin, Cardiff, and Athens. The research generates insights into informal–formal hybridity and its implications for urban governance and planning policy.
Principal Investigator - British Academy and Alexander von Humboldt Foundation 2023-2025
Awarded funding to develop a UK–Germany research collaboration on biodiversity protection within development management. The project explored how biodiversity objectives are incorporated into planning decision-making, developer obligations, and development viability processes, with a focus on regulatory design, negotiation dynamics, and policy effectiveness.
Principal Investigator - ESRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) 2023-2025
Awarded a grant to work with Cardiff Council on the project 'Making Neighbourhood Parks Inclusive for Teenage Girls and Young Women in Cardiff'. The project investigated the gendered use of public space through direct engagement with teenage girls and young women, generating evidence to inform planning, design, and policy strategies for more inclusive neighbourhood parks.
Principal Investigator - ESRC UK and South Korea Connections Grants 2022-2023
Awarded a grant to collaborate with UK and South Korean researchers on the project 'Creating Prosperous City Centres Post-Pandemic Through Repurposing Retail Space'. The project examined planning and urban regeneration strategies for adapting underused retail spaces, bringing together scholars from six universities to identify policy challenges and develop approaches for resilient and vibrant city centres.
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Award for Research Excellence 2018
One of my papers, ‘‘Estimates of Transaction Costs in Transfer of Development Rights Programs’’, which is published in the Journal of the American Planning Association (JAPA), was selected as the winner of the prestigious Royal Town Planning Institute Research Excellence Award 2018 - Early Career Category.
The American Planning Association (APA) Article of the Year Award 2019
The paper ‘‘Estimates of Transaction Costs in Transfer of Development Rights Programs’’, was selected as the winner of the American Planning Association Article of the Year Award 2019.
Publication
2026
- Shahab, S. and Hengstermann, A. 2026. Property rights in planning theory: A critical review. Progress in Planning 203 (2) 101042. (10.1016/j.progress.2026.101042)
- Shahab, S. et al. 2026. Managing urban development for biodiversity: a cross-country analysis of local planning practices. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning 28 (4), pp.790-806. (10.1080/1523908X.2026.2618680)
- Dehghani, M. and Shahab, S. 2026. Reassessing the cluster approach to knowledge-based urban development. Urban Research & Practice (10.1080/17535069.2026.2694418)
- Shahab, S. 2026. Tiny houses: A housing solution or a planning problem?. In: Bell, K. , Foster, E. and Satheesh, S. eds. The Sage Handbook of Eco-Social Policy and Politics. Sage. , pp.288-300.
- Derkacz, A. J. and Shahab, S. 2026. Beyond affordability: a multifaceted index for rental housing availability. Journal of Urban Planning and Development 152 (1)(10.1061/JUPDDM.UPENG-6093)
- Havel, M. B. , Shahab, S. and Zaleczna, M. 2026. Coasian approaches to urban development: Establishing responsibilities and enhancing cooperation in urban governance. Planning Theory (10.1177/14730952261416508)
- Golubchikov, O. , Shahab, S. and Haupt, W. 2026. Unlikely climate pioneers? Net-zero governance and innovation in left behind places. Applied Geography 186 103824. (10.1016/j.apgeog.2025.103824)
- Guelton, S. et al., 2026. Revisiting (neo)liberalism in land policy: Trends in property rights regimes across Europe. Land Use Policy 160 107843. (10.1016/j.landusepol.2025.107843)
- Slaev, A. and Shahab, S. 2026. A theory of complex property rights: institutions for governing natural and built environments. Elgar Studies in Planning Theory, Policy and Practice Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
- Golubchikov, O. et al. 2026. The unlikely geographies of climate governance: what makes 'left-behind' areas lead?. Presented at: The RGS-IBG Annual International Conference London, UK 1-4 September 2026.
- Richmond, J. et al. 2026. What if urban parks were created with teenage girls and young women in mind?. Urban Design 179 , pp.12-14.
- Shahab, S. , Ay, D. and Hartmann, T. 2026. Understanding contemporary land questions across the globe: property rights, public interest, and land policy. Presented at: World Planning Schools Congress Helsinki, Finland 29 June - 3 July 2026.
- Shahab, S. and Hengstermann, A. 2026. How does planning theory engage with property rights? Revisiting ten planning paradigms. Presented at: UK-Ireland Planning Research Conference Cardiff. UK 7-9 September 2026.
- Shahab, S. and Hengstermann, A. 2026. Property rights in planning theory: a critical review. Presented at: The 20th Annual Conference of the Association on Planning, Law, and Property Rights (PLPR) Atlanta, GA, USA 17-20 February 2026.
2025
- Zerei, M. and Shahab, S. 2025. Nature-Based Solutions in urban green infrastructure: A systematic review of success factors and implementation challenges. Land 14 (4) 818. (10.3390/land14040818)
- Falco, E. , Garda, E. and Shahab, S. 2025. Transaction costs of implementing the transfer of development rights program in Milan. Planning Practice and Research 40 (1), pp.103-121. (10.1080/02697459.2024.2413828)
- Ghaderian, M. , Hakimian, P. and Shahab, S. 2025. The trajectory of water sensitive urban design: integrating water management with urban planning and design. Australian Planner 61 (1), pp.29-42. (10.1080/07293682.2025.2526201)
- Falco, E. , Garda, E. and Shahab, S. 2025. Transaction costs of implementing the transfer of development rights program in Milan. Presented at: The 19th Annual Conference of the Association on Planning, Law, and Property Rights (PLPR) Cardiff, UK 3-7 March 2025.
- Shahab, S. 2025. Beyond conformance: Evaluating policy side effects. Presented at: The 19th Annual Conference of the Association on Planning, Law, and Property Rights (PLPR) Cardiff, UK 3-7 March 2025.
2024
- Shahab, S. and Claus, T. 2024. The 18th Annual Conference on Planning, Law, and Property Rights (PLPR), Munich, Germany, 18–22 March 2024. Town Planning Review 96 (1), pp.103-109. (10.3828/tpr.2024.33)
- James, M. and Shahab, S. 2024. Big costs for tiny houses: exploring the transaction costs of developing tiny houses in England. International Journal of Housing Policy 24 (3), pp.421-445. (10.1080/19491247.2024.2308725)
- Zarei, M. , Arasteh, M. and Shahab, S. 2024. Exploring port-city relationships: A bibliometric and content analysis. Sustainability 16 (11) 4341. (10.3390/su16114341)
- Shahab, S. and Lades, L. K. 2024. Sludge and transaction costs. Behavioural Public Policy 8 (2), pp.327-348. (10.1017/bpp.2021.12)
- Guelton, S. et al., 2024. Property rights regimes across Europe - A comparative survey-based overview [Abstract]. Presented at: 18th annual Association on Planning, Law, and Property Rights (PLPR) conference Munich, Germany 18-22 March 2024. PLPR 2024 Book of Abstracts. , pp.76.
- Shahab, S. and Wenner, F. 2024. Biodiversity net gain as a developer obligation. Presented at: 18th annual Association on Planning, Law, and Property Rights (PLPR) conference Munich, Germany 18-22 March 2024. PLPR 2024 Book of Abstracts.
2023
- Shahab, S. and Webb, B. 2023. How are the UK Core Cities responding to retail-related challenges in city centres?. Local Economy 38 (7), pp.650-671. (10.1177/02690942241258138)
- Bruno, E. et al., 2023. Integrating ecosystem services in transfer of development rights: a literature review. Land Use Policy 131 106694. (10.1016/j.landusepol.2023.106694)
- Shahab, S. and Webb, B. 2023. How are the UK Core Cities responding to retail-related challenges in city centres?. Presented at: Symposium on Repurposing City Centres London, UK 14 July 2023.
- Morgan, J. and Shahab, S. 2023. Impact of land value tax on the equity of planning outcomes.. Land 12 (6) 1152. (10.3390/land12061152)
- Cassarino, M. et al., 2023. Gender experiences of active travel and psychological wellbeing: a scoping review of key factors and outcomes. Presented at: Psychological Society of Ireland Annual Conference Cork, Ireland 8-10 November 2023.
2022
- Vejchodska, E. , Shahab, S. and Hartmann, T. 2022. Revisiting the purpose of land policy: efficiency and equity. Journal of Planning Literature 37 (4), pp.575-588. (10.1177/08854122221112667)
- Friel, A. , Potts, R. and Shahab, S. 2022. Smarter cities, smarter planning: an exploration into the role of planners within the smart city movement. In: Allam, Z. et al., Resilient and Sustainable Cities: Research, Policy and Practice.. Elsevier. , pp.150-166.
- Aram, F. , Shahab, S. and Solgi, E. 2022. Editorial: Impacts of urban green spaces on environmental perceptions and social life.. Frontiers in Environmental Science 1050597. (10.3389/fenvs.2022.1050597)
- Lashgari, Y. S. and Shahab, S. 2022. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on retail in city centres. Sustainability 14 (18) 11463. (10.3390/su141811463)
- Shahab, S. 2022. Transaction costs in planning literature: a systematic review. Journal of Planning Literature 37 (3), pp.403-414. (10.1177/08854122211062085)
- Shahab, S. 2022. Reducing the hidden costs of building your own house in England and Wales. Presented at: Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) Annual Congress Tartu, Estonia 25-29 July 2022.
- Shahab, S. 2022. Strategies of municipal land policies: housing development in Germany, Belgium, and Netherlands. Presented at: International Conference on Public Value Capture across Europe ? International Experience Warsaw, Poland 23 June 2022.
2021
- Atri, M. et al., 2021. The effects of thermal-spatial behaviours of land covers on urban heat islands in semi-arid climates. Sustainability 13 (24) 13824.
- Cassarino, M. , Biscaya, S. and Shahab, S. 2021. Understanding the impact of transformations in urban planning and design on the wellbeing of vulnerable groups: a systematic review of happy places for all [Abstract]. Presented at: International Conference on Environmental Psychology (ICEP) 2021 Siracusa, Italy 5-8 October 2021.
- Shahab, S. , Bagheri, B. and Potts, R. 2021. Barriers to employing e-participation in the Iranian planning system. Cities 116 103281. (10.1016/j.cities.2021.103281)
- Cassarino, M. , Shahab, S. and Biscaya, S. 2021. Envisioning happy places for all: a systematic review of the impact of transformations in the urban environment on the wellbeing of vulnerable groups. Sustainability 13 (14) 8086. (10.3390/su13148086)
- Shahab, S. and Potts, R. 2021. e-participation in developing countries: an Iranian case study. Presented at: 5th International Conference on Urban E-Planning Lisbon, Portugal 7 - 10 September 2021.
- Shahab, S. 2021. Improving the post planning-decision process to deliver high-quality developments. Presented at: Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) Annual Congress 2021 Virtual 12-14 July 2021.
- Sadler, G. and Shahab, S. 2021. Self‐build and custom housebuilding registers in England: a transaction‐cost and effectiveness analysis. Sustainability 13 (9) 4912. (10.3390/su13094912)
- Shahab, S. , Hartmann, T. and Jonkman, A. 2021. Strategies of municipal land policies: housing development in Germany, Belgium, and Netherlands. European Planning Studies 29 (6), pp.1132-1150. (10.1080/09654313.2020.1817867)
- Gingell, A. H. and Shahab, S. 2021. An analysis of self‐build and custom housebuilding in the south west of England.. Urban Science 5 (1) 9. (10.3390/urbansci5010009)
- Shahab, S. and Viallon, F. 2021. Swiss land improvement syndicates: 'Impure' Coasian solutions?. Planning Theory 20 (1), pp.44-62. (10.1177/1473095220923629)
- Dickinson, D. and Shahab, S. 2021. Post planning-decision process: ensuring the delivery of high-quality developments in Cardiff. Land Use Policy 100 105114. (10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.105114)
- Ahmadpoor, N. and Shahab, S. 2021. Realising the value of greenspace: a planners' perspective on the COVID-19 pandemic. Town Planning Review 92 (1), pp.49-56. (10.3828/tpr.2020.37)
- Sadler, G. and Shahab, S. 2021. Perceived effectiveness and transaction costs of self-build and custom housebuilding registers in England. Presented at: International Scientific and Practical Conference 2021 Kyiv, Ukraine 20-21 May 2021.
- Shahab, S. , Hartmann, T. and Jonkman, A. 2021. Strategies of municipal land policies: proposing an alternative to the passive-active dichotomy. Presented at: Annual Conference of the Association on Planning, Law, and Property Rights 2021 (PLPR) Virtual 1-25 February 2021.
2020
- Kelly, J. A. et al., 2020. Enabling a just transition: a composite indicator for assessing home heating energy-poverty risk and the impact of environmental policy measures. Energy Policy 146 111791. (10.1016/j.enpol.2020.111791)
- Gao, Y. , Shahab, S. and Ahmadpoor, N. 2020. Morphology of urban villages in China: a case study of Dayuan Village in Guangzhou. Urban Science 4 (2) 23. (10.3390/urbansci4020023)
- Hou, J. et al., 2020. Implementation analysis of transfer of development rights for conserving privately-owned built heritage in Hong Kong: A transaction costs perspective. Growth and Change 51 (1), pp.530-550. (10.1111/grow.12350)
- Shahab, S. and Allam, Z. 2020. Reducing transaction costs of tradable permit schemes using blockchain smart contracts. Growth and Change 51 (1), pp.302-308. (10.1111/grow.12342)
- Ralphs, E. , Shahab, S. and Ahmadpoor, N. 2020. Access to small airports and the impact on regional growth in the UK. Current Urban Studies 8 (1), pp.24-56. (10.4236/cus.2020.81002)
- Shahab, S. and Hartmann, T. 2020. Land policy in Germany: shifting from a passive to an active strategy?. Presented at: The 14th annual conference of the Association on Planning, Law, and Property Rights (PLPR) Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic 17–21 February 2020.
2019
- Viallon, F. and Shahab, S. 2019. Understanding the design and implementation of Land Improvement Syndicates (LIS): A transaction costs analysis framework. Presented at: REAL CORP 2019: 24th International Conference on Urban Planning and Regional Development in the Information Society GeoMultimedia 2019 Karlsruhe, Germany 2-4 April 2019.
- Ahmadpoor, N. and Shahab, S. 2019. Spatial knowledge acquisition in the process of navigation: A review. Current Urban Studies 7 (1), pp.1-19. (10.4236/cus.2019.71001)
- Shahab, S. , Clinch, J. P. and O'Neill, E. 2019. Impact-based planning evaluation : Advancing nomative criteria for policy analysis.. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science 46 (3), pp.534-550. (10.1177/2399808317720446)
- Shahab, S. , Clinch, J. P. and O'Neill, E. 2019. An analysis of the factors influencing transaction costs in Transferable Development Rights programmes.. Ecological Economics 156 , pp.409-419. (10.1016/j.ecolecon.2018.05.018)
- Shahab, S. and Viallon, F. 2019. Land improvement syndicates: A coasian analysis of a Swiss land policy instrument. Presented at: 2019 RSA Annual Conference: Pushing Regions beyond their Borders Santiago de Compostela, Spain 5-7 June 2019.
- Shahab, S. and Viallon, F. 2019. Swiss majority-based land improvement syndicates: A transaction-costs story. Presented at: the 4th International Conference on CHANGING CITIES: Spatial, Design, Landscape & Socio-economic Dimensions Chania, Crete Island, Greece 24-29 June 2019.
- Shahab, S. and Viallon, F. 2019. A transaction cost analysis of Swiss land improvement syndicates. Town Planning Review 90 (5), pp.545-565. (10.3828/tpr.2019.34)
2018
- Shahab, S. , Clinch, J. and O'Neill, E. 2018. Timing and distributional aspects of transaction costs in Transferable Development Rights programmes. Habitat International 75 , pp.131-138. (10.1016/j.habitatint.2018.03.006)
- Shahab, S. , Clinch, J. P. and O'Neill, E. 2018. Estimates of transaction costs in transfer of development rights programs.. Journal of the American Planning Association 84 (1), pp.61-75. (10.1080/01944363.2017.1406816)
- Shahab, S. , Clinch, J. P. and O'Neill, E. 2018. Accounting for transaction costs in planning policy evaluation.. Land Use Policy 70 , pp.263-272. (10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.09.028)
- Shahab, S. 2018. Revealing some of the hidden costs of Transferable Development Rights (TDR) programmes. Presented at: Real Estate & Land Planning (RELAND) International Conference Mykonos, Greece 4-8 September 2018.
- Shahab, S. 2018. Uncovering the hidden costs of Transferable Development Rights (TDR) programmes. Presented at: Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) Annual Congress Gothenburg, Sweden 10-14 July.
2017
- Shahab, S. 2017. Factors influencing transaction costs in TDR programs. Presented at: Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) Annual Congress Lisbon, Portugal 11-14 July 2017.
- Shahab, S. 2017. Taking transaction costs into account in evaluating planning policy instruments. Presented at: Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) Annual Congress Lisbon, Portugal 11-14 July 2017.
Articles
- Shahab, S. and Hengstermann, A. 2026. Property rights in planning theory: A critical review. Progress in Planning 203 (2) 101042. (10.1016/j.progress.2026.101042)
- Shahab, S. et al. 2026. Managing urban development for biodiversity: a cross-country analysis of local planning practices. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning 28 (4), pp.790-806. (10.1080/1523908X.2026.2618680)
- Dehghani, M. and Shahab, S. 2026. Reassessing the cluster approach to knowledge-based urban development. Urban Research & Practice (10.1080/17535069.2026.2694418)
- Derkacz, A. J. and Shahab, S. 2026. Beyond affordability: a multifaceted index for rental housing availability. Journal of Urban Planning and Development 152 (1)(10.1061/JUPDDM.UPENG-6093)
- Havel, M. B. , Shahab, S. and Zaleczna, M. 2026. Coasian approaches to urban development: Establishing responsibilities and enhancing cooperation in urban governance. Planning Theory (10.1177/14730952261416508)
- Golubchikov, O. , Shahab, S. and Haupt, W. 2026. Unlikely climate pioneers? Net-zero governance and innovation in left behind places. Applied Geography 186 103824. (10.1016/j.apgeog.2025.103824)
- Guelton, S. et al., 2026. Revisiting (neo)liberalism in land policy: Trends in property rights regimes across Europe. Land Use Policy 160 107843. (10.1016/j.landusepol.2025.107843)
- Richmond, J. et al. 2026. What if urban parks were created with teenage girls and young women in mind?. Urban Design 179 , pp.12-14.
- Zerei, M. and Shahab, S. 2025. Nature-Based Solutions in urban green infrastructure: A systematic review of success factors and implementation challenges. Land 14 (4) 818. (10.3390/land14040818)
- Falco, E. , Garda, E. and Shahab, S. 2025. Transaction costs of implementing the transfer of development rights program in Milan. Planning Practice and Research 40 (1), pp.103-121. (10.1080/02697459.2024.2413828)
- Ghaderian, M. , Hakimian, P. and Shahab, S. 2025. The trajectory of water sensitive urban design: integrating water management with urban planning and design. Australian Planner 61 (1), pp.29-42. (10.1080/07293682.2025.2526201)
- Shahab, S. and Claus, T. 2024. The 18th Annual Conference on Planning, Law, and Property Rights (PLPR), Munich, Germany, 18–22 March 2024. Town Planning Review 96 (1), pp.103-109. (10.3828/tpr.2024.33)
- James, M. and Shahab, S. 2024. Big costs for tiny houses: exploring the transaction costs of developing tiny houses in England. International Journal of Housing Policy 24 (3), pp.421-445. (10.1080/19491247.2024.2308725)
- Zarei, M. , Arasteh, M. and Shahab, S. 2024. Exploring port-city relationships: A bibliometric and content analysis. Sustainability 16 (11) 4341. (10.3390/su16114341)
- Shahab, S. and Lades, L. K. 2024. Sludge and transaction costs. Behavioural Public Policy 8 (2), pp.327-348. (10.1017/bpp.2021.12)
- Shahab, S. and Webb, B. 2023. How are the UK Core Cities responding to retail-related challenges in city centres?. Local Economy 38 (7), pp.650-671. (10.1177/02690942241258138)
- Bruno, E. et al., 2023. Integrating ecosystem services in transfer of development rights: a literature review. Land Use Policy 131 106694. (10.1016/j.landusepol.2023.106694)
- Morgan, J. and Shahab, S. 2023. Impact of land value tax on the equity of planning outcomes.. Land 12 (6) 1152. (10.3390/land12061152)
- Vejchodska, E. , Shahab, S. and Hartmann, T. 2022. Revisiting the purpose of land policy: efficiency and equity. Journal of Planning Literature 37 (4), pp.575-588. (10.1177/08854122221112667)
- Aram, F. , Shahab, S. and Solgi, E. 2022. Editorial: Impacts of urban green spaces on environmental perceptions and social life.. Frontiers in Environmental Science 1050597. (10.3389/fenvs.2022.1050597)
- Lashgari, Y. S. and Shahab, S. 2022. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on retail in city centres. Sustainability 14 (18) 11463. (10.3390/su141811463)
- Shahab, S. 2022. Transaction costs in planning literature: a systematic review. Journal of Planning Literature 37 (3), pp.403-414. (10.1177/08854122211062085)
- Atri, M. et al., 2021. The effects of thermal-spatial behaviours of land covers on urban heat islands in semi-arid climates. Sustainability 13 (24) 13824.
- Shahab, S. , Bagheri, B. and Potts, R. 2021. Barriers to employing e-participation in the Iranian planning system. Cities 116 103281. (10.1016/j.cities.2021.103281)
- Cassarino, M. , Shahab, S. and Biscaya, S. 2021. Envisioning happy places for all: a systematic review of the impact of transformations in the urban environment on the wellbeing of vulnerable groups. Sustainability 13 (14) 8086. (10.3390/su13148086)
- Sadler, G. and Shahab, S. 2021. Self‐build and custom housebuilding registers in England: a transaction‐cost and effectiveness analysis. Sustainability 13 (9) 4912. (10.3390/su13094912)
- Shahab, S. , Hartmann, T. and Jonkman, A. 2021. Strategies of municipal land policies: housing development in Germany, Belgium, and Netherlands. European Planning Studies 29 (6), pp.1132-1150. (10.1080/09654313.2020.1817867)
- Gingell, A. H. and Shahab, S. 2021. An analysis of self‐build and custom housebuilding in the south west of England.. Urban Science 5 (1) 9. (10.3390/urbansci5010009)
- Shahab, S. and Viallon, F. 2021. Swiss land improvement syndicates: 'Impure' Coasian solutions?. Planning Theory 20 (1), pp.44-62. (10.1177/1473095220923629)
- Dickinson, D. and Shahab, S. 2021. Post planning-decision process: ensuring the delivery of high-quality developments in Cardiff. Land Use Policy 100 105114. (10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.105114)
- Ahmadpoor, N. and Shahab, S. 2021. Realising the value of greenspace: a planners' perspective on the COVID-19 pandemic. Town Planning Review 92 (1), pp.49-56. (10.3828/tpr.2020.37)
- Kelly, J. A. et al., 2020. Enabling a just transition: a composite indicator for assessing home heating energy-poverty risk and the impact of environmental policy measures. Energy Policy 146 111791. (10.1016/j.enpol.2020.111791)
- Gao, Y. , Shahab, S. and Ahmadpoor, N. 2020. Morphology of urban villages in China: a case study of Dayuan Village in Guangzhou. Urban Science 4 (2) 23. (10.3390/urbansci4020023)
- Hou, J. et al., 2020. Implementation analysis of transfer of development rights for conserving privately-owned built heritage in Hong Kong: A transaction costs perspective. Growth and Change 51 (1), pp.530-550. (10.1111/grow.12350)
- Shahab, S. and Allam, Z. 2020. Reducing transaction costs of tradable permit schemes using blockchain smart contracts. Growth and Change 51 (1), pp.302-308. (10.1111/grow.12342)
- Ralphs, E. , Shahab, S. and Ahmadpoor, N. 2020. Access to small airports and the impact on regional growth in the UK. Current Urban Studies 8 (1), pp.24-56. (10.4236/cus.2020.81002)
- Ahmadpoor, N. and Shahab, S. 2019. Spatial knowledge acquisition in the process of navigation: A review. Current Urban Studies 7 (1), pp.1-19. (10.4236/cus.2019.71001)
- Shahab, S. , Clinch, J. P. and O'Neill, E. 2019. Impact-based planning evaluation : Advancing nomative criteria for policy analysis.. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science 46 (3), pp.534-550. (10.1177/2399808317720446)
- Shahab, S. , Clinch, J. P. and O'Neill, E. 2019. An analysis of the factors influencing transaction costs in Transferable Development Rights programmes.. Ecological Economics 156 , pp.409-419. (10.1016/j.ecolecon.2018.05.018)
- Shahab, S. and Viallon, F. 2019. A transaction cost analysis of Swiss land improvement syndicates. Town Planning Review 90 (5), pp.545-565. (10.3828/tpr.2019.34)
- Shahab, S. , Clinch, J. and O'Neill, E. 2018. Timing and distributional aspects of transaction costs in Transferable Development Rights programmes. Habitat International 75 , pp.131-138. (10.1016/j.habitatint.2018.03.006)
- Shahab, S. , Clinch, J. P. and O'Neill, E. 2018. Estimates of transaction costs in transfer of development rights programs.. Journal of the American Planning Association 84 (1), pp.61-75. (10.1080/01944363.2017.1406816)
- Shahab, S. , Clinch, J. P. and O'Neill, E. 2018. Accounting for transaction costs in planning policy evaluation.. Land Use Policy 70 , pp.263-272. (10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.09.028)
Book sections
- Shahab, S. 2026. Tiny houses: A housing solution or a planning problem?. In: Bell, K. , Foster, E. and Satheesh, S. eds. The Sage Handbook of Eco-Social Policy and Politics. Sage. , pp.288-300.
- Friel, A. , Potts, R. and Shahab, S. 2022. Smarter cities, smarter planning: an exploration into the role of planners within the smart city movement. In: Allam, Z. et al., Resilient and Sustainable Cities: Research, Policy and Practice.. Elsevier. , pp.150-166.
Books
- Slaev, A. and Shahab, S. 2026. A theory of complex property rights: institutions for governing natural and built environments. Elgar Studies in Planning Theory, Policy and Practice Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
Conferences
- Golubchikov, O. et al. 2026. The unlikely geographies of climate governance: what makes 'left-behind' areas lead?. Presented at: The RGS-IBG Annual International Conference London, UK 1-4 September 2026.
- Shahab, S. , Ay, D. and Hartmann, T. 2026. Understanding contemporary land questions across the globe: property rights, public interest, and land policy. Presented at: World Planning Schools Congress Helsinki, Finland 29 June - 3 July 2026.
- Shahab, S. and Hengstermann, A. 2026. How does planning theory engage with property rights? Revisiting ten planning paradigms. Presented at: UK-Ireland Planning Research Conference Cardiff. UK 7-9 September 2026.
- Shahab, S. and Hengstermann, A. 2026. Property rights in planning theory: a critical review. Presented at: The 20th Annual Conference of the Association on Planning, Law, and Property Rights (PLPR) Atlanta, GA, USA 17-20 February 2026.
- Falco, E. , Garda, E. and Shahab, S. 2025. Transaction costs of implementing the transfer of development rights program in Milan. Presented at: The 19th Annual Conference of the Association on Planning, Law, and Property Rights (PLPR) Cardiff, UK 3-7 March 2025.
- Shahab, S. 2025. Beyond conformance: Evaluating policy side effects. Presented at: The 19th Annual Conference of the Association on Planning, Law, and Property Rights (PLPR) Cardiff, UK 3-7 March 2025.
- Guelton, S. et al., 2024. Property rights regimes across Europe - A comparative survey-based overview [Abstract]. Presented at: 18th annual Association on Planning, Law, and Property Rights (PLPR) conference Munich, Germany 18-22 March 2024. PLPR 2024 Book of Abstracts. , pp.76.
- Shahab, S. and Wenner, F. 2024. Biodiversity net gain as a developer obligation. Presented at: 18th annual Association on Planning, Law, and Property Rights (PLPR) conference Munich, Germany 18-22 March 2024. PLPR 2024 Book of Abstracts.
- Shahab, S. and Webb, B. 2023. How are the UK Core Cities responding to retail-related challenges in city centres?. Presented at: Symposium on Repurposing City Centres London, UK 14 July 2023.
- Cassarino, M. et al., 2023. Gender experiences of active travel and psychological wellbeing: a scoping review of key factors and outcomes. Presented at: Psychological Society of Ireland Annual Conference Cork, Ireland 8-10 November 2023.
- Shahab, S. 2022. Reducing the hidden costs of building your own house in England and Wales. Presented at: Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) Annual Congress Tartu, Estonia 25-29 July 2022.
- Shahab, S. 2022. Strategies of municipal land policies: housing development in Germany, Belgium, and Netherlands. Presented at: International Conference on Public Value Capture across Europe ? International Experience Warsaw, Poland 23 June 2022.
- Cassarino, M. , Biscaya, S. and Shahab, S. 2021. Understanding the impact of transformations in urban planning and design on the wellbeing of vulnerable groups: a systematic review of happy places for all [Abstract]. Presented at: International Conference on Environmental Psychology (ICEP) 2021 Siracusa, Italy 5-8 October 2021.
- Shahab, S. and Potts, R. 2021. e-participation in developing countries: an Iranian case study. Presented at: 5th International Conference on Urban E-Planning Lisbon, Portugal 7 - 10 September 2021.
- Shahab, S. 2021. Improving the post planning-decision process to deliver high-quality developments. Presented at: Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) Annual Congress 2021 Virtual 12-14 July 2021.
- Sadler, G. and Shahab, S. 2021. Perceived effectiveness and transaction costs of self-build and custom housebuilding registers in England. Presented at: International Scientific and Practical Conference 2021 Kyiv, Ukraine 20-21 May 2021.
- Shahab, S. , Hartmann, T. and Jonkman, A. 2021. Strategies of municipal land policies: proposing an alternative to the passive-active dichotomy. Presented at: Annual Conference of the Association on Planning, Law, and Property Rights 2021 (PLPR) Virtual 1-25 February 2021.
- Shahab, S. and Hartmann, T. 2020. Land policy in Germany: shifting from a passive to an active strategy?. Presented at: The 14th annual conference of the Association on Planning, Law, and Property Rights (PLPR) Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic 17–21 February 2020.
- Viallon, F. and Shahab, S. 2019. Understanding the design and implementation of Land Improvement Syndicates (LIS): A transaction costs analysis framework. Presented at: REAL CORP 2019: 24th International Conference on Urban Planning and Regional Development in the Information Society GeoMultimedia 2019 Karlsruhe, Germany 2-4 April 2019.
- Shahab, S. and Viallon, F. 2019. Land improvement syndicates: A coasian analysis of a Swiss land policy instrument. Presented at: 2019 RSA Annual Conference: Pushing Regions beyond their Borders Santiago de Compostela, Spain 5-7 June 2019.
- Shahab, S. and Viallon, F. 2019. Swiss majority-based land improvement syndicates: A transaction-costs story. Presented at: the 4th International Conference on CHANGING CITIES: Spatial, Design, Landscape & Socio-economic Dimensions Chania, Crete Island, Greece 24-29 June 2019.
- Shahab, S. 2018. Revealing some of the hidden costs of Transferable Development Rights (TDR) programmes. Presented at: Real Estate & Land Planning (RELAND) International Conference Mykonos, Greece 4-8 September 2018.
- Shahab, S. 2018. Uncovering the hidden costs of Transferable Development Rights (TDR) programmes. Presented at: Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) Annual Congress Gothenburg, Sweden 10-14 July.
- Shahab, S. 2017. Factors influencing transaction costs in TDR programs. Presented at: Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) Annual Congress Lisbon, Portugal 11-14 July 2017.
- Shahab, S. 2017. Taking transaction costs into account in evaluating planning policy instruments. Presented at: Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) Annual Congress Lisbon, Portugal 11-14 July 2017.
Research
My research sits at the intersection of urban planning, land policy, and environmental governance. Working across disciplinary boundaries, I advance methodological, empirical, and theoretical debates on how institutional arrangements shape urban development outcomes. My work is grounded in new institutional economics, particularly property rights and transaction cost theories, and explores how these perspectives can inform the design, implementation, and evaluation of planning and policy instruments.
A central strand of my scholarship examines transaction costs within planning processes. My research pioneered the systematic empirical measurement of policy-related transaction costs in the planning literature, illustrated through Transferable Development Rights (TDR) programmes in the United States. This work helped reframe debates on planning effectiveness by demonstrating the analytical and practical importance of accounting for institutional costs in policy evaluation. These contributions were recognised through the Royal Town Planning Institute’s Award for Research Excellence (2018) and the American Planning Association’s Award (2019).
More recently, my research has expanded towards a property-rights-centred framework for analysing governance, sustainability, and land-use conflicts. Developed most fully in my co-authored monograph “A Theory of Complex Property Rights: Institutions for Governing Natural and Built Environments”, this work reconceptualises property rights as dynamic institutional arrangements rather than static legal categories. It introduces a novel classification of entitlements, control, and responsibilities, providing analytical tools for understanding how institutional structures shape development trajectories, resource governance, and socio-environmental outcomes.
Across these themes, my research seeks to bridge theory and practice by developing conceptual and analytical frameworks that support more effective, efficient, and equitable planning and policy decisions.
Teaching
Teaching
I lead the postgraduate module ‘Planning and Real Estate’ and also contribute to several modules including 'Site Planning and Development Valuation', 'Space and Place: International Planning Practice', ‘Environmental Policy and Climate Change’, and ‘Research Project’.
Biography
Qualifications
- Professional Diploma for Entrepreneurial Educators, University College Dublin, Ireland (2018)
- PhD (Planning and Environmental Policy), University College Dublin, Ireland (2017)
- Master of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Tehran, Iran (2011)
Honours and awards
2024 - Nominated for Most Outstanding Use of the Learning Environment in the Enriching Student Life Awards at Cardiff University.
2023 - Finalist for the Inspire Future Generations Awards of the Thornton Education Trust for the project ‘Cardiff Breaking Barriers Summer School: Building capacity of the future place-makers’.
2021 - Awarded an ASCE Outstanding Reviewer of the year prize for the Journal of Urban Planning and Development.
2019 - Awarded the American Planning Association (APA) Article of the Year Prize.
2018 - Awarded the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Award for Research Excellence, Early Career category.
Academic positions
- Senior Lecturer, School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University, UK (2022-Present)
- Lecturer, School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University, UK (2018-2022)
- Visiting Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, University College Dublin, Ireland (2019-2020)
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, University College Dublin, Ireland (2017-2018)
Supervisions
I am happy to supervise students interested in the following research areas:
Land Policy:
- Instruments of Land Policy (e.g., Land Readjustment, TDR, Land Taxation)
- Transaction Costs, Property Rights, and Land Policy
- Land Value Capture
- Urban Sprawl and Land Take
Housing and Development Management:
- Self-build and Custom Housebuilding
- Planning Gain and Developer Obligations
- Quality of Real Estate Development
Current supervision
Contact Details
[email protected]
+44 29208 76092
Glamorgan Building, Room 1.55, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3WA
+44 29208 76092
Glamorgan Building, Room 1.55, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3WA