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Course

Cities, Planning, Law and Justice - JURD7773

Faculty: Faculty of Law

School: Faculty of Law

Course Outline: See below

Campus: Sydney

Career: Postgraduate

Units of Credit: 6

EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)

Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 3

Enrolment Requirements:

Pre-requisites: Principles of Public Law (JURD7141/JURD7140/LAWS1140/LAWS1141) & Principles of Private Law (JURD7150/JURD7171/LAWS1071/LAWS1150) & pre-2013: 36 UOC of JURD courses / fm 2013: 72 UOC of JURD courses.

Equivalent: LAWS3073

Excluded: JURD7371, LAWS3073, LAWS8071

CSS Contribution Charge: 2 (more info)

Tuition Fee: See Tuition Fee Schedule

Further Information: See Class Timetable

View course information for previous years.

Description

This course examines the way in which the law structures cities and suburbs. It begins by asking: what does justice mean in an urban context? Students will explore the growing literature on urban justice, including concepts of the right to the city, the just city, spatial justice, and environmental justice.

The course will introduce students to the legal regime for planning in NSW as well as other areas of law relevant to the built environment such as heritage, environmental and property law. Drawing insights from national and international experience, particularly in the United States, students will critically examine the contribution of these legal regimes to justice in Sydney.

Main topics
  • Theories of urban justice
  • The legal framework for strategic planning and development assessment in NSW
  • Democracy and public participation in planning and development
  • Ecologically sustainable development, ecology and the city
  • Heritage, “character” and equity
  • The relationships between property, “community” and exclusion
  • Urban activism in Sydney and internationally
  • Trends in the governance of the built environment and their implications for justice
This course will be useful for students with interests in: environmental, property and real estate law, urban development and public policy. Cities are a fascinating topic for study, and the course will develop a critical understanding of intersections between law and fields such as urban studies, geography, economics, public health and social policy. The course overlaps somewhat with JURD7371 Development and Planning Law and students are excluded from doing both. JURD7371 Development and Planning Law is more focused the practice of planning law in New South Wales, whereas this course is broader and more theoretical.

Recommended Prior Knowledge

Some understanding of land law is desirable. JURD7283 Land Law is recommended.

Course Aims

  • To introduce students to theories of urban justice and their practical application in Sydney and other cities.
  • To provide an overview of the range of laws governing the production of the built environment in NSW, and to encourage students to critically consider their implications for justice.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to:
  1. Discuss the meaning of justice in an urban context;
  2. Describe the range of laws governing the production of the built environment in NSW;
  3. Critically discuss trends in the governance of the built environment and their implications for justice in Sydney and internationally;
  4. Demonstrate effective oral communication skills by discussing and debating course concepts in a scholarly, reflective and respectful manner; and
  5. Demonstrate effective written communication skills by articulating legal concepts clearly, persuasively and appropriately.

Assessment

Class Participation 20%
Book review or poster 30%
Take home exam 50%

Library

Study Levels

Undergraduate Study Postgraudate Study Postgraduate Research Study Non-Award Study

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