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Dr Matthew Wargent
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Matthew Wargent
Lecturer in Urban Planning and Development
Overview
I am a social scientist who specialises in the planning, development, and governance of cities, with a particular focus on the politics of community development and public participation in shaping urban spaces. My research examines the evolving role of expertise in planning, including the commodification of urban knowledge, and the growing influence of digital technologies on decision-making and governance.
My latest research project, Just Neighbourhoods?, explores social and environmental justice in under-represented neighbourhoods across the UK's four nations. Recent papers from other projects include:
- An exploration of the historic influence of private sector expertise in urban planning and governance (shortlisted paper, Planning Perspectives Prize 2024)
- The impact of community-led planning on UK housebuilding (funded by MHCLG)
- A decade of policy development of neighbourhood planning in England (commended paper, AESOP Best Published Paper Award 2024)
- A Polanyian analysis of the regulation of development land markets
- Essays on epistemic justice and the transformation of street space
I have a particular interest in urban and planning theory and try to demonstrate the relevance of theory in both my teaching and research. A new edited collection on planning theory will be published by Routledge in 2025, co-edited with colleagues at UCL and the University of London.
I currently serve as Book Review Editor for Town Planning Review and welcome inquiries about forthcoming titles for review. I joined the School of Geography and Planning in October 2021. Prior to this, I held a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Reading and was a Research Fellow at the Bartlett School of Planning, UCL. I completed my PhD at the University of Sheffield in 2017 funded by the ESRC. I am a Fellow of Advance HE (FHEA) and Associate Member of the RTPI (AssocRTPI).
Publication
2025
- Allmendinger, P., Tewdwr-Jones, M. and Wargent, M. eds. 2025. Critical Planning Futures: New Directions for Planning Theory. Routledge.
2024
- Shepherd, E. and Wargent, M. 2024. Embedding the land market: Polanyi, urban planning, and regulation. Environment and Planning A 56(3), pp. 905-926. (10.1177/0308518X231203484)
- Smeds, E. et al. 2024. ‘Seeing like a citizen’: rethinking city street transformations through the lens of epistemic justice. Planning Theory and Practice 24(5), pp. 697-729. (10.1080/14649357.2023.2273664)
2023
- Parker, G., Wargent, M., Salter, K. and Yuille, A. 2023. Neighbourhood planning in England: a decade of institutional learning. Progress in Planning 174, article number: 100749. (10.1016/j.progress.2023.100749)
- Wargent, M. 2023. Digital participatory planning: citizen engagement, democracy, and design. [Book Review]. Journal of the American Planning Association 89(2), pp. 262-264. (10.1080/01944363.2023.2174350)
- Salter, K., Parker, G. and Wargent, M. 2023. Localism and the will to housing: neighbourhood development plans and their role in local housing site delivery in England. Planning Practice and Research 38(2), pp. 253-273. (10.1080/02697459.2022.2145032)
- Inch, A., Wargent, M. and Tait, M. 2023. Serving the public interest? Towards a history of private sector planning expertise in England. Planning Perspectives 38(2), pp. 231-251. (10.1080/02665433.2022.2063165)
- Lynn, T., Parker, G. and Wargent, M. 2023. Underrepresented neighbourhood plan areas in Middlesbrough. Project Report. Peterborough: Kingfisher Commons.
2022
- Parker, G., Sturzaker, J. and Wargent, M. 2022. Levelling up neighbourhoods - back to the very local future?. Town and Country Planning 91(3-4), pp. 99-101.
2021
- Wargent, M. and Talen, E. 2021. Rethinking neighbourhoods. Town Planning Review 92(1), pp. 89–95. (10.3828/tpr.2020.43)
- Wargent, M. 2021. Localism, governmentality and failing technologies: the case of neighbourhood planning in England. Territory, Politics, Governance 9(4), pp. 571-591. (10.1080/21622671.2020.1737209)
2020
- Parker, G., Wargent, M. and Street, E. 2020. Planning by gaslight: on reforms, skills and political work in planning. Town & Country Planning 89(11/12), pp. 371-373.
- Wargent, M., Parker, G. and Street, E. 2020. Private expertise and the reorganization of spatial planning in England. In: Moisio, S. et al. eds. Handbook on the Changing Geographies of the State: New Spaces of Geopolitics. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, pp. 416-427.
- Parker, G. et al. 2020. The future of the planning profession. Planning Theory and Practice 21(3), pp. 453-480. (10.1080/14649357.2020.1776014)
- Parker, G., Wargent, M., Salter, K., Dobson, M., Lynn, T. and Yuille, A. 2020. Impacts of Neighbourhood Planning in England. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/929422/Impacts_of_Neighbourhood_Planning_in_England.pdf
2019
- Wargent, M., Parker, G. and Street, E. 2019. Public-private entanglements: consultant use by local planning authorities in England. European Planning Studies 28(1), pp. 192-210. (10.1080/09654313.2019.1677565)
- Parker, G., Street, E. and Wargent, M. 2019. Advocates, advisors and scrutineers: the technocracies of private sector planning in England. In: Raco, M. and Savini, F. eds. Planning and Knowledge: How New Forms of Technocracy are Shaping Contemporary Cities. Bristol: Policy Press, pp. 157-167., (10.1332/policypress/9781447345244.003.0012)
- Wargent, M. 2019. Soft spaces in Europe: re-negotiating governance, boundaries and borders [Book Review]. People, Place and Policy 12(3), pp. 265-268. (10.3351/ppp.2019.2727638372)
- Parker, G., Salter, K. and Wargent, M. 2019. Neighbourhood planning in practice. London: Lund Humphries.
2018
- Parker, G., Street, E. and Wargent, M. 2018. The rise of the private sector in fragmentary planning in England. Planning Theory and Practice 19(5), pp. 734-750. (10.1080/14649357.2018.1532529)
- Wargent, M. 2018. Cities in time: temporary urbanism and the future of the city, Ali Madanipour [Book Review]. Town Planning Review 89(5), pp. 548-549. (10.3828/tpr.2018.36a)
- Wargent, M. and Parker, G. 2018. Re-imagining neighbourhood governance: the future of neighbourhood planning in England. Town Planning Review 89(4), pp. 379-402. (10.3828/tpr.2018.23)
- Wargent, M. 2018. "Localism and neighbourhood planning: power to the people?" edited by Sue Brownill and Quintin Bradley [Book Review]. International Journal of Housing Policy 18(2), pp. 351-353. (10.1080/19491247.2017.1417883)
2017
- Parker, G., Lynn, T. and Wargent, M. 2017. Contestation and conservatism in neighbourhood planning in England: reconciling agonism and collaboration?. Planning Theory and Practice 18(3), pp. 446-465. (10.1080/14649357.2017.1316514)
2015
- Parker, G., Lynn, T. and Wargent, M. 2015. Sticking to the script? The co-production of neighbourhood planning in England. Town Planning Review 86(5), pp. 519-536. (10.3828/tpr.2015.31)
Articles
- Shepherd, E. and Wargent, M. 2024. Embedding the land market: Polanyi, urban planning, and regulation. Environment and Planning A 56(3), pp. 905-926. (10.1177/0308518X231203484)
- Smeds, E. et al. 2024. ‘Seeing like a citizen’: rethinking city street transformations through the lens of epistemic justice. Planning Theory and Practice 24(5), pp. 697-729. (10.1080/14649357.2023.2273664)
- Parker, G., Wargent, M., Salter, K. and Yuille, A. 2023. Neighbourhood planning in England: a decade of institutional learning. Progress in Planning 174, article number: 100749. (10.1016/j.progress.2023.100749)
- Wargent, M. 2023. Digital participatory planning: citizen engagement, democracy, and design. [Book Review]. Journal of the American Planning Association 89(2), pp. 262-264. (10.1080/01944363.2023.2174350)
- Salter, K., Parker, G. and Wargent, M. 2023. Localism and the will to housing: neighbourhood development plans and their role in local housing site delivery in England. Planning Practice and Research 38(2), pp. 253-273. (10.1080/02697459.2022.2145032)
- Inch, A., Wargent, M. and Tait, M. 2023. Serving the public interest? Towards a history of private sector planning expertise in England. Planning Perspectives 38(2), pp. 231-251. (10.1080/02665433.2022.2063165)
- Parker, G., Sturzaker, J. and Wargent, M. 2022. Levelling up neighbourhoods - back to the very local future?. Town and Country Planning 91(3-4), pp. 99-101.
- Wargent, M. and Talen, E. 2021. Rethinking neighbourhoods. Town Planning Review 92(1), pp. 89–95. (10.3828/tpr.2020.43)
- Wargent, M. 2021. Localism, governmentality and failing technologies: the case of neighbourhood planning in England. Territory, Politics, Governance 9(4), pp. 571-591. (10.1080/21622671.2020.1737209)
- Parker, G., Wargent, M. and Street, E. 2020. Planning by gaslight: on reforms, skills and political work in planning. Town & Country Planning 89(11/12), pp. 371-373.
- Parker, G. et al. 2020. The future of the planning profession. Planning Theory and Practice 21(3), pp. 453-480. (10.1080/14649357.2020.1776014)
- Wargent, M., Parker, G. and Street, E. 2019. Public-private entanglements: consultant use by local planning authorities in England. European Planning Studies 28(1), pp. 192-210. (10.1080/09654313.2019.1677565)
- Wargent, M. 2019. Soft spaces in Europe: re-negotiating governance, boundaries and borders [Book Review]. People, Place and Policy 12(3), pp. 265-268. (10.3351/ppp.2019.2727638372)
- Parker, G., Street, E. and Wargent, M. 2018. The rise of the private sector in fragmentary planning in England. Planning Theory and Practice 19(5), pp. 734-750. (10.1080/14649357.2018.1532529)
- Wargent, M. 2018. Cities in time: temporary urbanism and the future of the city, Ali Madanipour [Book Review]. Town Planning Review 89(5), pp. 548-549. (10.3828/tpr.2018.36a)
- Wargent, M. and Parker, G. 2018. Re-imagining neighbourhood governance: the future of neighbourhood planning in England. Town Planning Review 89(4), pp. 379-402. (10.3828/tpr.2018.23)
- Wargent, M. 2018. "Localism and neighbourhood planning: power to the people?" edited by Sue Brownill and Quintin Bradley [Book Review]. International Journal of Housing Policy 18(2), pp. 351-353. (10.1080/19491247.2017.1417883)
- Parker, G., Lynn, T. and Wargent, M. 2017. Contestation and conservatism in neighbourhood planning in England: reconciling agonism and collaboration?. Planning Theory and Practice 18(3), pp. 446-465. (10.1080/14649357.2017.1316514)
- Parker, G., Lynn, T. and Wargent, M. 2015. Sticking to the script? The co-production of neighbourhood planning in England. Town Planning Review 86(5), pp. 519-536. (10.3828/tpr.2015.31)
Book sections
- Wargent, M., Parker, G. and Street, E. 2020. Private expertise and the reorganization of spatial planning in England. In: Moisio, S. et al. eds. Handbook on the Changing Geographies of the State: New Spaces of Geopolitics. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, pp. 416-427.
- Parker, G., Street, E. and Wargent, M. 2019. Advocates, advisors and scrutineers: the technocracies of private sector planning in England. In: Raco, M. and Savini, F. eds. Planning and Knowledge: How New Forms of Technocracy are Shaping Contemporary Cities. Bristol: Policy Press, pp. 157-167., (10.1332/policypress/9781447345244.003.0012)
Books
- Allmendinger, P., Tewdwr-Jones, M. and Wargent, M. eds. 2025. Critical Planning Futures: New Directions for Planning Theory. Routledge.
- Parker, G., Salter, K. and Wargent, M. 2019. Neighbourhood planning in practice. London: Lund Humphries.
Monographs
- Lynn, T., Parker, G. and Wargent, M. 2023. Underrepresented neighbourhood plan areas in Middlesbrough. Project Report. Peterborough: Kingfisher Commons.
- Parker, G., Wargent, M., Salter, K., Dobson, M., Lynn, T. and Yuille, A. 2020. Impacts of Neighbourhood Planning in England. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/929422/Impacts_of_Neighbourhood_Planning_in_England.pdf
Research
Recent research grants include:
- 2025: Delivering public health and well-being priorities through development plans in Wales. Public Health Wales, £11,402
- 2023-2025: Just neighbourhoods? Under-representation in UK community-led planning. Nuffield Foundation, £269,614
- 2022-2023: Underrepresented Neighbourhood Plan areas within Middlesbrough. Middlesbrough Council, £15,100
- 2022-2023: What is the street for? Interrogating ‘ways of seeing’ and the epistemic justice of reconfiguring public space. British Academy and Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, £4,991
- 2020-2021: Impact of Neighbourhood Planning in England. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, £63,039
Teaching
I am currently Course Director for the BSc Urban Planning & Development and BSc Urban Planning & Development with Professional Placement Year and teach a number of modules across the School.
Current modules
- CP0145 Property, Urban Development and Regeneration
- CP0259 Community Engagement, Mediation and Negotiation Skills
- CP0312 Planning Theory and Practice
- CPT930 Governing Urban and Regional Dynamics
- CPT931 Digital Planning and Development
Previous modules
- CP0384 Digital Planning
- CPT857 Planning and Real Estate
- CPT870 Space and Place: International Planning Practice
Supervisions
I am always happy to chat with prospective students. Please get in touch if you are interested in pursuing a PhD in any of the following areas:
- Participation, politics, and neighbourhoods
- Community action and governance
- Localism and devolution
- Politics of planning reform
- Private sector expertise in urban governance
- Digital technology in planning and urban development
Contact Details
WargentM@cardiff.ac.uk
+44 29208 75281
Glamorgan Building, Room 1.52, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3WA
+44 29208 75281
Glamorgan Building, Room 1.52, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3WA