Papers by Rosalie Callway
Journal of planning literature, Feb 4, 2024
Cities & health, May 22, 2024
Sustainability Science
Addressing increasingly urgent global challenges requires the rapid mobilisation of new research ... more Addressing increasingly urgent global challenges requires the rapid mobilisation of new research groups that are large in scale, co-produced and focussed explicitly on investigating root causes at a systemic level. This requires new ways of operationalising and funding research programmes to better support effective interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary (ID/TD) partnerships between a wide range of academic disciplines and stakeholder groups. Understanding the challenges and approaches that teams can follow to overcome them can come through critical reflection on experiences initiating new research programmes of this nature and sharing of these reflections. We aimed to offer a framework for critical reflection and an overview of how we developed it and to share our reflections on operationalising a newly formed large-scale ID/TD research programme. We present a framework of 10 areas for critical reflection: systems, unknowns and imperfection, ID/TD understanding, values, societal i...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
A local plan is a statutory policy document that supports urban development decisions across a lo... more A local plan is a statutory policy document that supports urban development decisions across a local government area in England. Local plans are reported to need more specific requirements for development proposals regarding wider health determinants to address potential health outcomes and health inequalities. This study reviews the integration of Health in Local Plans of seven local planning authorities through documentary analysis methods. A review framework was formulated based on health and planning literature regarding local plans, health policy and determinants of health and dialogue with a local government partner. The findings identify opportunities to strengthen the consideration of Health in Local Plans, including ensuring that policies are informed by local health priorities and signpost national guidance, strengthening health-related requirements for developers (e.g., indoor air quality, fuel poverty and security of tenure) and improving implementation of requirements f...
International Journal of Qualitative Methods
Large scale, multi-organisational collaborations between researchers from diverse disciplinary ba... more Large scale, multi-organisational collaborations between researchers from diverse disciplinary backgrounds are increasingly recognised as important to investigate and tackle complex real-world problems. However differing expectations, epistemologies, and preferences across these teams pose challenges to following best practice for ensuring high-quality and rigorous qualitative research, while maintaining goodwill and team cohesion across team members. This article presents critical reflections from the real-world experiences of a team navigating the challenges of collaborating on a large-scale, cross-disciplinary interview study. Based on these experiences, we extend the literature on large team qualitative collaboration by highlighting the importance of balancing autonomy and collaboration, and propose eight recommendations to support high quality research and team cohesion. We identify how this balance can be achieved at different times: when centralised decision-making should be ...
Evaluative practice is described as an integrated or 'embedded' part of urban design proc... more Evaluative practice is described as an integrated or 'embedded' part of urban design processes, helping to establish, trace and refine designers' intentions, supporting the rational enhancement of design decisions and associated actions. This assumption is central to standard evaluative frameworks, such as the UK sustainable neighbourhood masterplan standard, BREEAM Communities (BC). There is a need to better understand this concept of 'embedded evaluation', by examining how evaluation functions in the transition from masterplan design to end-use. This includes examining to what extent standard evaluative frameworks like BC promote an embedded evaluative approach, directing decisions and material outcomes towards the standard's definition of a sustainable neighbourhood. Adopting an empirical lens of green infrastructure (GI) evaluation and an analytical framework of Strategy-as-Practice, this research examines the enactment of formal evaluative practices in s...
Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 2019
Green Infrastructure (GI) evaluation is reported to improve the sustainability of neighbourhood m... more Green Infrastructure (GI) evaluation is reported to improve the sustainability of neighbourhood masterplans, but there has been little research examining the links between GI evaluation and masterplan decision-making. A study of six English masterplanned sites was carried out, with paired case studies reflecting three types of neighbourhood development (estate regeneration, urban infill, and rural-urban extension) to examine whether the sustainable neighbourhood standard, BREEAM Communities (BC), affected GI evaluation and masterplan decisions. In each of three pairs, one site had adopted BC and one had not. Strategy-as-Practice provided a conceptual framework to analyse 13 evaluative episodes, based on 48 interviews and public documents. The analysis revealed that GI-related recommendations were typically deprioritised at later masterplan stages, despite earlier decisions or the application of BC. Potential ways to enhance the embeddedness of GI evaluative practice include improving practitioners' understanding of GI and increasing accountability at later masterplan stages, such as through sustainability reporting.
Evaluative practice is described as an embedded part of urban design processes, where evaluation ... more Evaluative practice is described as an embedded part of urban design processes, where evaluation can establish, trace and refine design intentions. The assumption that evaluative practice may shape decision-making is also central to standardised evaluative frameworks, such as the UK sustainable neighbourhood masterplan standard, BREEAM Communities. There is a need to examine the relationships between evaluation, design and construction in real-world practice in order to better understand this concept of 'embedded evaluation', considering whether and how these relationships change in the transition from design to construction. Adopting an empirical lens of green infrastructure evaluation in masterplanning and an analytical framework of Strategy-as-Practice, the enactment of formal evaluative practices is examined. Using interviews, observations and document analysis, a single evaluative episode is presented, from a larger set of six UK case studies, to illustrate how different actors structure, enact and respond to evaluative practices. The analysis highlights dynamic relationships between different evaluation, design and construction practices. Four themes are identified that may affect these interactions: external drivers; agency and control; evaluative negotiation and reflexive response. Potential implications for green infrastructure evaluation and BREEAM Communities include the need to address dominant evaluative intentions, such as financial value, and to assign reflexive responsibility.
Journal of Sustainability Research
In the context of UK housebuilding this paper explores and critically reviews the initial measure... more In the context of UK housebuilding this paper explores and critically reviews the initial measurement of social sustainability in the first phase of a new housing project on a large estate regeneration development in South Acton, London (conducted in March-April 2015). The research uses an existing "ex post" social sustainability framework adopted for use in other new UK housing projects and also examines local residents' attitudes to the first phase of the estate regeneration. The social sustainability assessment framework (created to reflect a UK housebuilder's perspective) is based on the analysis and comparison of a range of national datasets and interviews and survey work with new and existing residents and other stakeholders on the estate, and the surrounding areas. The research shows stronger ratings for a number of physical improvements in the new development, but weaker scores for local identity and links with neighbours. The research also shows a mixed picture in their attitudes towards the urban regeneration. The paper provides a critical discussion of the results and the framework, and concludes by setting out the lessons learned from the research for social sustainability assessment. The research will be useful for practitioners, housebuilders and policy makers involved in housing, and those with a wider interest in community wellbeing.
Sustainability, 2020
A growing number of international standards promote Healthy Built Environment (HBE) principles wh... more A growing number of international standards promote Healthy Built Environment (HBE) principles which aim to enhance occupant and user health and wellbeing. Few studies examine the implementation of these standards; whether and how they affect health through changes to built-environment design, construction, and operations. This study reviews a set of sustainability and HBE standards, based on a qualitative analysis of standard documents, standard and socio-technical literature on normalization and negotiation, and interviews with 31 practitioners from four geographical regions. The analysis indicates that standards can impact individual, organizational, and market-scale definitions of an HBE. Some changes to practice are identified, such as procurement and internal layout decisions. There is more limited evidence of changes to dominant, short-term decision-making practices related to cost control and user engagement in operational decisions. HBE standards risk establishing narrow definitions of health and wellbeing focused on building occupants rather than promoting broader, contextually situated, principles of equity, inclusion, and ecosystem functioning crucial for health. There is a need to improve sustainability and HBE standards to take better account of local contexts and promote systems thinking. Further examination of dominant collective negotiation processes is required to identify opportunities to better embed standards within organizational practice.
Town and Country Planning Journal, 2019
The potential benefits of green infrastructure (GI) to new neighbourhood developments are the foc... more The potential benefits of green infrastructure (GI) to new neighbourhood developments are the focus of a growing body of research. Such benefits include supporting wellbeing, raising property values, reducing flood risk, and improving biodiversity. There has been less research, however, examining how GI is evaluated by practitioners during large-scale masterplan processes, and whether formal GI evaluative practices affect what is ultimately designed and delivered. The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method for Communities (BREAM Communities) sustainable neighbourhood standard assumes that if certain formal evaluative activities, including those relating to GI, occur at the pre-planning design stage, developers will take greater account of these issues in the transition to masterplan delivery. This article presents recent research findings on whether adopting BREEAM Communities (BC) affected how GI was evaluated and what was constructed onsite.
Journal of Environmental Planning and Management , 2019
Green Infrastructure (GI) evaluation is reported to improve the sustainability of neighbourhood m... more Green Infrastructure (GI) evaluation is reported to improve the sustainability of neighbourhood masterplans, but there has been little research examining the links between GI evaluation and masterplan decision-making. A study of six English masterplanned sites was carried out, with paired case studies reflecting three types of neighbourhood development (estate regeneration, urban infill, and rural-urban extension) to examine whether the sustainable neighbourhood standard, BREEAM Communities (BC), affected GI evaluation and masterplan decisions. In each of three pairs, one site had adopted BC and one had not. Strategy-as-Practice provided a conceptual framework to analyse 13 evaluative episodes, based on 48 interviews and public documents. The analysis revealed that GI-related recommendations were typically deprioritised at later masterplan stages, despite earlier decisions or the application of BC. Potential ways to enhance the embeddedness of GI evaluative practice include improving practitioners’ understanding of GI and increasing accountability at later masterplan stages, such as through sustainability reporting.
ARCOM 2017 - Working Papers, 2017
Evaluative practice is described as an embedded part of urban design processes, where evaluation ... more Evaluative practice is described as an embedded part of urban design processes, where evaluation can establish, trace and refine design intentions. The assumption that evaluative practice may shape decision-making is also central to standardised evaluative frameworks, such as the UK sustainable neighbourhood masterplan standard, BREEAM Communities. There is a need to examine the relationships between evaluation, design and construction in real-world practice in order to better understand this concept of 'embedded evaluation', considering whether and how these relationships change in the transition from design to construction. Adopting an empirical lens of green infrastructure evaluation in masterplanning and an analytical framework of Strategy-as-Practice, the enactment of formal evaluative practices is examined. Using interviews, observations and document analysis, a single evaluative episode is presented, from a larger set of six UK case studies, to illustrate how different actors structure, enact and respond to evaluative practices. The analysis highlights dynamic relationships between different evaluation, design and construction practices. Four themes are identified that may affect these interactions: external drivers; agency and control; evaluative negotiation and reflexive response. Potential implications for green infrastructure evaluation and BREEAM Communities include the need to address dominant evaluative intentions, such as financial value, and to assign reflexive responsibility.
Sustainable neighbourhood standards, such as BREEAM Communities, have been examined by various re... more Sustainable neighbourhood standards, such as BREEAM Communities, have been examined by various researchers. There is less research that directly contrasts some of the more fundamental assumptions in such standards with core concepts applied in the field of urban design.
This paper summarises a literature review which examines narratives around sustainable development, urban design and neighbourhood masterplanning. Two areas are identified that affect the standard’s uptake and application: (i) the need for greater consistency in BREAAM Communities’ structure, including how ‘global’ sustainability issues are addressed in differing local contexts and stakeholder agendas, as well as the need for post-construction validation; (ii) how BREAAM Communities might better reflect the wider context, where numerous factors impact construction sector application of voluntary standards, (e.g. the rate developments enter the market, private and public sector demand for ‘sustainable’ neighbourhoods, perceptions of cost, administrative burden and relevance).
It is these technical and contextual concerns that may ultimately determine how successful a standard can be in achieving its aims for sustainable urban development. Further empirical research is required to understand evaluative and decision-making practices in masterplanning and how BREEAM Communities may contribute to them.
Across the globe we find examples of local initiatives that stimulate green economies either led ... more Across the globe we find examples of local initiatives that stimulate green economies either led by communities themselves or through the formal engagement and mobilization of the public by local government and other local institutions. There are a huge range of sustainability projects and green businesses that benefit from local skills, innovation and community support. This chapter seeks to highlight how adopting a publicly ‘embedded’ approach, one that is culturally and socially-tied to local communities, will produce more lasting and equitable outcomes.
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Papers by Rosalie Callway
This paper summarises a literature review which examines narratives around sustainable development, urban design and neighbourhood masterplanning. Two areas are identified that affect the standard’s uptake and application: (i) the need for greater consistency in BREAAM Communities’ structure, including how ‘global’ sustainability issues are addressed in differing local contexts and stakeholder agendas, as well as the need for post-construction validation; (ii) how BREAAM Communities might better reflect the wider context, where numerous factors impact construction sector application of voluntary standards, (e.g. the rate developments enter the market, private and public sector demand for ‘sustainable’ neighbourhoods, perceptions of cost, administrative burden and relevance).
It is these technical and contextual concerns that may ultimately determine how successful a standard can be in achieving its aims for sustainable urban development. Further empirical research is required to understand evaluative and decision-making practices in masterplanning and how BREEAM Communities may contribute to them.
This paper summarises a literature review which examines narratives around sustainable development, urban design and neighbourhood masterplanning. Two areas are identified that affect the standard’s uptake and application: (i) the need for greater consistency in BREAAM Communities’ structure, including how ‘global’ sustainability issues are addressed in differing local contexts and stakeholder agendas, as well as the need for post-construction validation; (ii) how BREAAM Communities might better reflect the wider context, where numerous factors impact construction sector application of voluntary standards, (e.g. the rate developments enter the market, private and public sector demand for ‘sustainable’ neighbourhoods, perceptions of cost, administrative burden and relevance).
It is these technical and contextual concerns that may ultimately determine how successful a standard can be in achieving its aims for sustainable urban development. Further empirical research is required to understand evaluative and decision-making practices in masterplanning and how BREEAM Communities may contribute to them.