The Future of Parish and Town Councils in Delivering Sustainable Development

This Research & Knowledge Exchange Doctoral Project brief summarises our priority areas of research interest under the heading of: The Future of Parish and Town Councils in Delivering Sustainable Development.

We welcome all research degree applications aligned with and in response to this brief.

Parish and town councils represent the largest tier of local government in England and play an increasingly important role in supporting sustainable communities, local democracy and place-based governance. As expectations around climate action, biodiversity, community wellbeing and local service delivery continue to grow, there is increasing interest in understanding how these councils can contribute to sustainable development and community resilience. 

This doctoral project invites candidates to explore the evolving role of parish and town councils in responding to contemporary environmental, economic and social challenges. Potential research topics include sustainable development, climate governance, biodiversity, community resilience, local democracy, neighbourhood planning, digital transformation, collaborative governance and public participation. Comparative, interdisciplinary and international perspectives are also welcomed. 

Building upon an established programme of research involving more than 600 parish and town councils across Devon and Cornwall, the project offers opportunities to contribute to both academic knowledge and policy development while engaging directly with practitioners, local government organisations and community stakeholders. 

This project is explicitly framed around sustainable development and will provide opportunities to explore how original research can contribute to the achievement and implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Projects deriving from this brief are expected to sit within the Research & Knowledge Exchange strategy and the following department.

All successful research degree project proposals must emphasise a clear alignment between the project idea and our Research & Knowledge Exchange strategy.