Dr Christopher Maidment

School of Real Estate & Planning (University of Reading)

Chris joined the University of Reading as a Lecturer in Planning in August 2019, from Anglia Ruskin University. Chris previously worked in municipal government, as part of a team preparing a local spatial plan.

Prior to this, Chris studied for his PhD at the University of Sheffield. His PhD draws on different ways in which the ‘public interest’ can be understood, and how these variations are present in plan-making. The fieldwork explored case studies of spatial plan-making in Central Lincolnshire and the Peak District National Park, using multiple qualitative methods.

At the core of Chris’ research interests is understanding the relationship between normative theories of planning and the practice environment; both how planning theory should shape practice and how practice should influence the development of theory.

Chris has recently been involved in collaborative research exploring the professional capacity of practicing planners and a multi-disciplinary project aimed at improving decision-making around sustainable drainage in Brazil, India and the UK. He is currently leading a new project exploring the relationship between organisational arrangements and the 'effectiveness' of planning practice.

In addition to being a chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), Chris is also a member of the RTPI South East committee and a judge for the national RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence.