Ian Mell
Biographic Data
| ID | 1676843 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Ian Mell |
| GIVEN NAMES | Ian |
| FAMILY NAME | Mell |
| SIGNATURE | MELL I |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Manchester |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-0544-0836 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 22 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 39 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 22 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2007 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Exploring domestic garden identities
Domestic gardens are spaces imbued with meaning, expression, and identity. This paper seeks to explore garden identities across their lifespan in the Netherlands by investigating older people’s personal histories through thematic analysis. Oral history interviews (n = 20) were conducted in 2019 with residents living in Breda and Tilburg, two medium-sized cities in the south of the Netherlands. The findings suggest that garden identities change ov…
The Biodiversity Crisis – Planning for Nature Recovery
The Biodiversity Crisis and Emerging Roles for PlanningMark Scott and Gavin ParkerThe Global Biodiversity ChallengeMeri Juntti, Joshua Castellino and Oscar ForeroPlanning and Biodiversity Net Gain
Characterising the urban–rural fringe area (Urfa) in China
Urban-Rural Fringe Areas (URFAs) in China have experienced significant change since 1978 due to extensive urban growth and sprawl. This article explores the characteristics of URFAs in China through a scoping review approach. Analysis identifies that URFAs in China possess features that are located in and connected to urban and rural areas, mixed land use, occupied by both urban and rural populations, and driven by changes in social structure, ec…
Green infrastructure as panacea , deus ex machina , or both
The concept of ‘green infrastructure’ gained prominence within urban planning as decision-makers attempted to create more sustainable and multi-functional places. However, as the concept gained traction its advocates engaged in a process of terminological exploration which led to divergencies in praxis. The result has been an ongoing debate regarding what green infrastructure ‘is’ and whether alternative terms are better placed to address contemp…
Examining the long-term impacts of Covid-19 on green infrastructure
This article was published open access under a CC BY licence: https://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0
Action research for transformative change
As major policy actors (e.g. governments, global organisations) grapple with 'wicked’ sustainability challenges, the use of demonstration projects or ‘living labs’ has promise in showcasing potential solutions. However, these projects can struggle to realise enduring change, with initial experimental deliverables tending not to be replicated and remaining as once-offs. As well as demonstrating solutions, projects also need to overcome the conside…
Infrastructure That Connects/Infrastructure That Divides
10.1080/14649357.2023.2166287
Rethinking the ‘green city’ – contemporary research, teaching, and practice in urban greening
To fully appreciate the breadth of what ‘landscape’ means in different contexts requires a continual examination of how alternative approaches to landscape teaching, research and policy are integrated. To better understand such diversity asks us – as landscape professionals – to challenge our disciplinary, geographical, and political views and engage with new ideas, theories, and techniques. This includes reflections on biodiversity, climate chan…
Playing games around climate change – new ways of working to develop climate change resilience
This paper uses game theory to examine the efforts of public sector actors in the UK to integrate climate change interventions within development processes. Drawing on desk-based analysis and interviews, we identify instances where private-sector developers act strategically to exploit public-sector imperatives to deliver economic growth and housing. We find these imperatives constrained the agency of planners to effectively reconcile climate mit…
A ‘green’ chameleon
While the concept of green infrastructure (GI) is increasingly popular, definitions, terminology, and goals differ based on geographic and disciplinary context. This paper examines these differences through a three-part systematic review: 1) content analysis of academic GI review publications, 2) bibliometric review of academic publications focusing on GI and GI-associated terms, and 3) an online search for grey GI literature. Parsing out concept…
Parks, Covid-19 and the impact of austerity funding on public-service provision in a time of crisis
Since 2010 funding for local government in the UK has been drastically cut, first under the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition and subsequently by successive Conservative governments The impact of this has been a drastic downscaling of funding of local health, education and environmental services The limitations placed upon local planning authorities (LPA) by fiscal cuts has been brought to the fore in the UK (and internationally), by the no…
Access to Nature in a Post Covid-19 World
Covid-19 changed the way many people viewed and interacted with the natural environment. In the UK, a series of national lockdowns limited the number of places that individuals could use to support their mental and physical health. Parks, gardens, canals and other "green infrastructure" (GI) resources remained open and were repositioned as "essential infrastructure" supporting well-being. However, the quality, functionality and location of GI in …
The planning and design of good quality urban parks in China
Previous studies have identified barriers to investment in good quality urban parks during the planning and design stage, particularly noting the ineffectiveness of planning instruments, a low political will to invest in urban green spaces and constraints in governance operation. The factors that influence the quality of urban parks in the planning and design stages of investment were investigated through interviews with technical professionals w…
Progressing Green Infrastructure planning
Growing recognition has developed between policy-makers and practitioners that green infrastructure (GI) provides an approach to planning for effectively integrating ecosystems, biodiversity, socio-economic and political factors into a coherent framework for environmental management. While there has been progressive development of the concept, a deeper analysis demonstrates that this process has been disjointed. We identify four factors or ‘axes’…
What Future for Green Infrastructure Planning? Evaluating the Changing Environment for Green Infrastructure Planning Following the Revocation of Regional Planning Policy in England
The revocation of the regional tier of planning by the UK Coalition Government in 2010 removed the established framework of strategic planning in England. Using a case study of green infrastructure (GI), this paper examines whether revocation has negatively impacted the development of environmental, and specifically GI policies and practice. It questions if changing government policy narratives have hindered advocacy and subsequently the delivery…
I stick to this side of the park
This paper presents the results of the 'Beyond the Peace Walls' pilot project, which examined the role of urban parks in Belfast, a city marked by a history of sectarianism. It explores the interface of culture, inclusivity and belonging through the concept of 'shared spaces' following the rationale that has guided policy-making in Northern Ireland since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. By examining the alternative narratives of …
Evaluating the challenges of eco-city development in China
Patterns of sustainable development have varied dramatically in the last five decades in China with a growing relevance of investments in ‘eco-cities’ being embedded within this discourse by politicians, planning professionals and academics (Qiu, 2009; Li, X., 2012; Li, H. L., 2012). However, the current status of eco-city programmes in China remains dynamic after ten years of development. This article critically examines the development of eco-c…
The impact of austerity on funding green infrastructure
Greening Ahmedabad—creating a resilient Indian city using a green infrastructure approach to investment
Ahmedabad is the commercial centre of the Indian state of Gujarat. With a population of 5.1 million, it is subject to a range of socio-economic and ecological pressures which influence how the city’s landscape is planned. In 2013, the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) released a second draft of the 3rd Development Plan for the city. This document outlined how the city plans to strategically deliver built infrastructure, as well as, enh…
Financing the future of green infrastructure planning
With the formation of the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government in 2010, the funding of local government in the UK changed fundamentally. Through an austerity approach to development, local planning authorities (LPAs) have been required to make significant budgetary savings, raising questions over what services are legally and morally dispensable. One service severely impacted has been green space (green infrastructure) management. I…
Green infrastructure
When Lowenthal (1985) talked about the past being a foreign country, he discussed how our perceptions of the landscape were shaped by experience, by socio-cultural actions and by our changing commi
Green Infrastructure Planning
Green infrastructure
When Lowenthal (1985) talked about the past being a foreign country, he discussed how our perceptions of the landscape were shaped by experience, by socio-cultural actions and by our changing commi
The impact of austerity on funding green infrastructure
Financing the future of green infrastructure planning
With the formation of the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government in 2010, the funding of local government in the UK changed fundamentally. Through an austerity approach to development, local planning authorities (LPAs) have been required to make significant budgetary savings, raising questions over what services are legally and morally dispensable. One service severely impacted has been green space (green infrastructure) management. I…
I stick to this side of the park
This paper presents the results of the 'Beyond the Peace Walls' pilot project, which examined the role of urban parks in Belfast, a city marked by a history of sectarianism. It explores the interface of culture, inclusivity and belonging through the concept of 'shared spaces' following the rationale that has guided policy-making in Northern Ireland since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. By examining the alternative narratives of …
Rethinking the ‘green city’ – contemporary research, teaching, and practice in urban greening
To fully appreciate the breadth of what ‘landscape’ means in different contexts requires a continual examination of how alternative approaches to landscape teaching, research and policy are integrated. To better understand such diversity asks us – as landscape professionals – to challenge our disciplinary, geographical, and political views and engage with new ideas, theories, and techniques. This includes reflections on biodiversity, climate chan…
The planning and design of good quality urban parks in China
Previous studies have identified barriers to investment in good quality urban parks during the planning and design stage, particularly noting the ineffectiveness of planning instruments, a low political will to invest in urban green spaces and constraints in governance operation. The factors that influence the quality of urban parks in the planning and design stages of investment were investigated through interviews with technical professionals w…
Greening Ahmedabad—creating a resilient Indian city using a green infrastructure approach to investment
Ahmedabad is the commercial centre of the Indian state of Gujarat. With a population of 5.1 million, it is subject to a range of socio-economic and ecological pressures which influence how the city’s landscape is planned. In 2013, the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) released a second draft of the 3rd Development Plan for the city. This document outlined how the city plans to strategically deliver built infrastructure, as well as, enh…
Exploring domestic garden identities
Domestic gardens are spaces imbued with meaning, expression, and identity. This paper seeks to explore garden identities across their lifespan in the Netherlands by investigating older people’s personal histories through thematic analysis. Oral history interviews (n = 20) were conducted in 2019 with residents living in Breda and Tilburg, two medium-sized cities in the south of the Netherlands. The findings suggest that garden identities change ov…
Action research for transformative change
As major policy actors (e.g. governments, global organisations) grapple with 'wicked’ sustainability challenges, the use of demonstration projects or ‘living labs’ has promise in showcasing potential solutions. However, these projects can struggle to realise enduring change, with initial experimental deliverables tending not to be replicated and remaining as once-offs. As well as demonstrating solutions, projects also need to overcome the conside…
Green Infrastructure Planning
Green infrastructure
When Lowenthal (1985) talked about the past being a foreign country, he discussed how our perceptions of the landscape were shaped by experience, by socio-cultural actions and by our changing commi
Greening Ahmedabad—creating a resilient Indian city using a green infrastructure approach to investment
Ahmedabad is the commercial centre of the Indian state of Gujarat. With a population of 5.1 million, it is subject to a range of socio-economic and ecological pressures which influence how the city’s landscape is planned. In 2013, the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) released a second draft of the 3rd Development Plan for the city. This document outlined how the city plans to strategically deliver built infrastructure, as well as, enh…
Financing the future of green infrastructure planning
With the formation of the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government in 2010, the funding of local government in the UK changed fundamentally. Through an austerity approach to development, local planning authorities (LPAs) have been required to make significant budgetary savings, raising questions over what services are legally and morally dispensable. One service severely impacted has been green space (green infrastructure) management. I…
Evaluating the challenges of eco-city development in China
Patterns of sustainable development have varied dramatically in the last five decades in China with a growing relevance of investments in ‘eco-cities’ being embedded within this discourse by politicians, planning professionals and academics (Qiu, 2009; Li, X., 2012; Li, H. L., 2012). However, the current status of eco-city programmes in China remains dynamic after ten years of development. This article critically examines the development of eco-c…
The impact of austerity on funding green infrastructure
Progressing Green Infrastructure planning
Growing recognition has developed between policy-makers and practitioners that green infrastructure (GI) provides an approach to planning for effectively integrating ecosystems, biodiversity, socio-economic and political factors into a coherent framework for environmental management. While there has been progressive development of the concept, a deeper analysis demonstrates that this process has been disjointed. We identify four factors or ‘axes’…
What Future for Green Infrastructure Planning? Evaluating the Changing Environment for Green Infrastructure Planning Following the Revocation of Regional Planning Policy in England
The revocation of the regional tier of planning by the UK Coalition Government in 2010 removed the established framework of strategic planning in England. Using a case study of green infrastructure (GI), this paper examines whether revocation has negatively impacted the development of environmental, and specifically GI policies and practice. It questions if changing government policy narratives have hindered advocacy and subsequently the delivery…
I stick to this side of the park
This paper presents the results of the 'Beyond the Peace Walls' pilot project, which examined the role of urban parks in Belfast, a city marked by a history of sectarianism. It explores the interface of culture, inclusivity and belonging through the concept of 'shared spaces' following the rationale that has guided policy-making in Northern Ireland since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. By examining the alternative narratives of …
A ‘green’ chameleon
While the concept of green infrastructure (GI) is increasingly popular, definitions, terminology, and goals differ based on geographic and disciplinary context. This paper examines these differences through a three-part systematic review: 1) content analysis of academic GI review publications, 2) bibliometric review of academic publications focusing on GI and GI-associated terms, and 3) an online search for grey GI literature. Parsing out concept…
Parks, Covid-19 and the impact of austerity funding on public-service provision in a time of crisis
Since 2010 funding for local government in the UK has been drastically cut, first under the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition and subsequently by successive Conservative governments The impact of this has been a drastic downscaling of funding of local health, education and environmental services The limitations placed upon local planning authorities (LPA) by fiscal cuts has been brought to the fore in the UK (and internationally), by the no…
Access to Nature in a Post Covid-19 World
Covid-19 changed the way many people viewed and interacted with the natural environment. In the UK, a series of national lockdowns limited the number of places that individuals could use to support their mental and physical health. Parks, gardens, canals and other "green infrastructure" (GI) resources remained open and were repositioned as "essential infrastructure" supporting well-being. However, the quality, functionality and location of GI in …
The planning and design of good quality urban parks in China
Previous studies have identified barriers to investment in good quality urban parks during the planning and design stage, particularly noting the ineffectiveness of planning instruments, a low political will to invest in urban green spaces and constraints in governance operation. The factors that influence the quality of urban parks in the planning and design stages of investment were investigated through interviews with technical professionals w…
Playing games around climate change – new ways of working to develop climate change resilience
This paper uses game theory to examine the efforts of public sector actors in the UK to integrate climate change interventions within development processes. Drawing on desk-based analysis and interviews, we identify instances where private-sector developers act strategically to exploit public-sector imperatives to deliver economic growth and housing. We find these imperatives constrained the agency of planners to effectively reconcile climate mit…
Infrastructure That Connects/Infrastructure That Divides
10.1080/14649357.2023.2166287
Rethinking the ‘green city’ – contemporary research, teaching, and practice in urban greening
To fully appreciate the breadth of what ‘landscape’ means in different contexts requires a continual examination of how alternative approaches to landscape teaching, research and policy are integrated. To better understand such diversity asks us – as landscape professionals – to challenge our disciplinary, geographical, and political views and engage with new ideas, theories, and techniques. This includes reflections on biodiversity, climate chan…
The Biodiversity Crisis – Planning for Nature Recovery
The Biodiversity Crisis and Emerging Roles for PlanningMark Scott and Gavin ParkerThe Global Biodiversity ChallengeMeri Juntti, Joshua Castellino and Oscar ForeroPlanning and Biodiversity Net Gain
Characterising the urban–rural fringe area (Urfa) in China
Urban-Rural Fringe Areas (URFAs) in China have experienced significant change since 1978 due to extensive urban growth and sprawl. This article explores the characteristics of URFAs in China through a scoping review approach. Analysis identifies that URFAs in China possess features that are located in and connected to urban and rural areas, mixed land use, occupied by both urban and rural populations, and driven by changes in social structure, ec…
Green infrastructure as panacea , deus ex machina , or both
The concept of ‘green infrastructure’ gained prominence within urban planning as decision-makers attempted to create more sustainable and multi-functional places. However, as the concept gained traction its advocates engaged in a process of terminological exploration which led to divergencies in praxis. The result has been an ongoing debate regarding what green infrastructure ‘is’ and whether alternative terms are better placed to address contemp…
Examining the long-term impacts of Covid-19 on green infrastructure
This article was published open access under a CC BY licence: https://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0
Action research for transformative change
As major policy actors (e.g. governments, global organisations) grapple with 'wicked’ sustainability challenges, the use of demonstration projects or ‘living labs’ has promise in showcasing potential solutions. However, these projects can struggle to realise enduring change, with initial experimental deliverables tending not to be replicated and remaining as once-offs. As well as demonstrating solutions, projects also need to overcome the conside…
Exploring domestic garden identities
Domestic gardens are spaces imbued with meaning, expression, and identity. This paper seeks to explore garden identities across their lifespan in the Netherlands by investigating older people’s personal histories through thematic analysis. Oral history interviews (n = 20) were conducted in 2019 with residents living in Breda and Tilburg, two medium-sized cities in the south of the Netherlands. The findings suggest that garden identities change ov…
Political science (15 works) · Business (13 works) · Environmental planning (13 works) · Geography (12 works) · Urban Green Space and Health (12 works) · Land Use and Ecosystem Services (11 works) · Economics (9 works) · Politics (8 works) · Sociology (8 works) · Green infrastructure (7 works)