A critical study of how we determine the built environment, the research explores literal and legislative ‘grey areas’ within the planning system in the belief that they have extraordinary potential as tools for better development. This potential is frequently masked by the obscurity of past successes, legalese, and the expense and complexity of the legal process.

The work is split between historical research and live projects. For the former, I will explore the history of planning and land law with a focus on moments of ‘greyness’ where interpretation, negotiation and opportunism have led to unique forms of development, emphasising ‘planning’ as an evolving cultural process. These studies will be complemented by a series of public tests and experiments – in various media – which explore and exploit current planning law in the emerging context of localism and state withdrawal from public services.