Dr Philip O'Brien

  • Senior Lecturer (Urban Studies & Social Policy)

Research interests

Philip’s research primarily focuses on the land and property development process and the relationship between state and market within this, addressing:

  • The role of planning in stimulating market-led development
  • Land value capture
  • Institutionalist theory in planning and development

Research groups

Publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2015 | 2013
Number of items: 22.

2025

O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X (2025) Spatial imaginaries and the construction of regions: a Cultural Political Economy approach. Territory, Politics, Governance, (doi: 10.1080/21622671.2025.2465261) (Early Online Publication)

2024

Dembski, Sebastian and O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X (2024) Zoning in or zoning out? lessons from Europe. In: Sykes, Olivier and Sturzaker, John (eds.) Planning in a Failing State: Reforming Spatial Governance in England. Policy Press: Bristol, pp. 103-119. ISBN 9781447365044 (doi: 10.46692/9781447365075.007)

O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X, Watkins, Craig and Dunning, Richard (2024) The economics of land use planning and zoning. In: Gibb, Kenneth, Leishman, Chris, Marsh, Alex, Meen, Geoff, Ong Viforj, Rachel and Watkins, Craig (eds.) The Routledge Handbook of Housing Economics. Routledge: London, pp. 242-252. ISBN 9780367347178 (doi: 10.4324/9780429327339-23)

2023

Dembski, Sebastian and O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X (2023) The quest for certainty: introducing zoning into a discretionary system in England and the European experience. Raumforschung und Raumordnung | Spatial Research and Planning, 81(6), pp. 579-590. (doi: 10.14512/rur.1695)

2022

Stephens, Mark ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8068-7329, O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X and Earley, Alice ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8088-750X (2022) Resilience in the housing system: Market institutions from the global financial crisis to COVID-19. Project Report. UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence.

Dembski, Sebastian and O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X (2022) Country Profile: United Kingdom. Project Report. Academy for Territorial Development in the Leibniz Association, Hanover.

2021

Stephens, Mark ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8068-7329, O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X and Earley, Alice ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8088-750X (2021) Resilience in the housing system: The mortgage and housebuilding industries from the global financial crisis to Covid-19. Project Report. UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence.

O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X (2021) Planning reform: a zonal future? In: Stephens, Mark, Perry, John, Williams, Peter, Young, Gillian and Fitzpatrick, Suzanne (eds.) UK Housing Review 2021 [29th ed]. Chartered Institute of Housing: Coventry. ISBN 9781916385436

2020

Satsangi, M. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0998-6307, Hoolachan, A., O'Brien, P. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X, Dembski, S., Dunning, R. and Lord, A. (2020) Housing Land Allocation, Assembly and Delivery: Lessons from Europe. Documentation. Scottish Land Commission.

Dembski, Sebastian and O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X (2020) The myth of zoning: the European experience. Town and Country Planning, 2020(Aug), pp. 281-284.

Dunning, R., Payne, S., O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X and Buck, M. (2020) Land Value Capture: Attitudes from the House-building Industry on Alternative Mechanisms. Documentation. RICS Research Trust.

Dunning, R., Moore, T., Ferrari, E., Hoolachan, J., Keskin, B., Powell, R. and O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X (2020) Affordable Housing Need in Scotland post 2021. Documentation. Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, Chartered Institute of Housing and Shelter Scotland.

O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X, Lord, Alex and Dembski, Sebastian (2020) How do planners manage risk in alternative land development models? An institutional analysis of land development in the Netherlands. Land Use Policy, 91, 104409. (doi: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.104409)

O'Brien, Phil ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X and Dembski, Sebastian (2020) The Netherlands: From Public to Private Development without Loss of Control. Project Report. Scottish Land Commission, Inerness.

2019

O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X (2019) Spatial imaginaries and institutional change in planning: the case of the Mersey Belt in north-west England. European Planning Studies, 27(8), pp. 1503-1522. (doi: 10.1080/09654313.2019.1588859)

2018

Sykes, Olivier and O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X (2018) Europe inside out: regions to be fearful? Town and Country Planning, 2018(Feb), pp. 96-99.

2017

Dunning, Richard, O'Brien, Phil ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X and Moore, Tom (2017) Rapid Evidence Assessment of Changes to Mortgage Interest Relief in Ireland 1998 to 2016. Project Report. Residential Landlords Association.

O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X, Sykes, Olivier and Shaw, David (2017) Evolving conceptions of regional policy in Europe and their influence across different territorial scales. In: Deas, Iain and Hincks, Stephen (eds.) Territorial Policy and Governance: Alternative Paths. Series: Regions and cities. Routledge: London ; New York, NY, pp. 35-52. ISBN 9780415661379

Lord, Alex and O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X (2017) What price planning? Reimagining planning as “market maker”. Planning Theory and Practice, 18(2), pp. 217-232. (doi: 10.1080/14649357.2017.1286369)

2015

Lord, Alex, O'Brien, Phil ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X, Sykes, Olivier and Sturzaker, John (2015) Planning as 'market maker': how planning is used to stimulate development in Germany, France and the Netherlands. Project Report. RTPI.

O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X, Sykes, Olivier and Shaw, David (2015) L'évolution des conceptions du développment territorial et de la gouvernance en Europe: des paradigmes en mutation aux nouvelles approches politiques = The evolving context for territorial development policy and governance in Europe– from shifting paradigms to new policy approaches. L'Information Géographique, 79, pp. 72-97.

2013

O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X (2013) The Euro files: a tail of the unexpected? Town and Country Planning, 2013(Apr),

This list was generated on Wed Jul 9 03:22:57 2025 BST.
Jump to: Articles | Book Sections | Research Reports or Papers
Number of items: 22.

Articles

O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X (2025) Spatial imaginaries and the construction of regions: a Cultural Political Economy approach. Territory, Politics, Governance, (doi: 10.1080/21622671.2025.2465261) (Early Online Publication)

Dembski, Sebastian and O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X (2023) The quest for certainty: introducing zoning into a discretionary system in England and the European experience. Raumforschung und Raumordnung | Spatial Research and Planning, 81(6), pp. 579-590. (doi: 10.14512/rur.1695)

Dembski, Sebastian and O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X (2020) The myth of zoning: the European experience. Town and Country Planning, 2020(Aug), pp. 281-284.

O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X, Lord, Alex and Dembski, Sebastian (2020) How do planners manage risk in alternative land development models? An institutional analysis of land development in the Netherlands. Land Use Policy, 91, 104409. (doi: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.104409)

O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X (2019) Spatial imaginaries and institutional change in planning: the case of the Mersey Belt in north-west England. European Planning Studies, 27(8), pp. 1503-1522. (doi: 10.1080/09654313.2019.1588859)

Sykes, Olivier and O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X (2018) Europe inside out: regions to be fearful? Town and Country Planning, 2018(Feb), pp. 96-99.

Lord, Alex and O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X (2017) What price planning? Reimagining planning as “market maker”. Planning Theory and Practice, 18(2), pp. 217-232. (doi: 10.1080/14649357.2017.1286369)

O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X, Sykes, Olivier and Shaw, David (2015) L'évolution des conceptions du développment territorial et de la gouvernance en Europe: des paradigmes en mutation aux nouvelles approches politiques = The evolving context for territorial development policy and governance in Europe– from shifting paradigms to new policy approaches. L'Information Géographique, 79, pp. 72-97.

O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X (2013) The Euro files: a tail of the unexpected? Town and Country Planning, 2013(Apr),

Book Sections

Dembski, Sebastian and O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X (2024) Zoning in or zoning out? lessons from Europe. In: Sykes, Olivier and Sturzaker, John (eds.) Planning in a Failing State: Reforming Spatial Governance in England. Policy Press: Bristol, pp. 103-119. ISBN 9781447365044 (doi: 10.46692/9781447365075.007)

O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X, Watkins, Craig and Dunning, Richard (2024) The economics of land use planning and zoning. In: Gibb, Kenneth, Leishman, Chris, Marsh, Alex, Meen, Geoff, Ong Viforj, Rachel and Watkins, Craig (eds.) The Routledge Handbook of Housing Economics. Routledge: London, pp. 242-252. ISBN 9780367347178 (doi: 10.4324/9780429327339-23)

O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X (2021) Planning reform: a zonal future? In: Stephens, Mark, Perry, John, Williams, Peter, Young, Gillian and Fitzpatrick, Suzanne (eds.) UK Housing Review 2021 [29th ed]. Chartered Institute of Housing: Coventry. ISBN 9781916385436

O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X, Sykes, Olivier and Shaw, David (2017) Evolving conceptions of regional policy in Europe and their influence across different territorial scales. In: Deas, Iain and Hincks, Stephen (eds.) Territorial Policy and Governance: Alternative Paths. Series: Regions and cities. Routledge: London ; New York, NY, pp. 35-52. ISBN 9780415661379

Research Reports or Papers

Stephens, Mark ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8068-7329, O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X and Earley, Alice ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8088-750X (2022) Resilience in the housing system: Market institutions from the global financial crisis to COVID-19. Project Report. UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence.

Dembski, Sebastian and O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X (2022) Country Profile: United Kingdom. Project Report. Academy for Territorial Development in the Leibniz Association, Hanover.

Stephens, Mark ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8068-7329, O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X and Earley, Alice ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8088-750X (2021) Resilience in the housing system: The mortgage and housebuilding industries from the global financial crisis to Covid-19. Project Report. UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence.

Satsangi, M. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0998-6307, Hoolachan, A., O'Brien, P. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X, Dembski, S., Dunning, R. and Lord, A. (2020) Housing Land Allocation, Assembly and Delivery: Lessons from Europe. Documentation. Scottish Land Commission.

Dunning, R., Payne, S., O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X and Buck, M. (2020) Land Value Capture: Attitudes from the House-building Industry on Alternative Mechanisms. Documentation. RICS Research Trust.

Dunning, R., Moore, T., Ferrari, E., Hoolachan, J., Keskin, B., Powell, R. and O'Brien, Philip ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X (2020) Affordable Housing Need in Scotland post 2021. Documentation. Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, Chartered Institute of Housing and Shelter Scotland.

O'Brien, Phil ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X and Dembski, Sebastian (2020) The Netherlands: From Public to Private Development without Loss of Control. Project Report. Scottish Land Commission, Inerness.

Dunning, Richard, O'Brien, Phil ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X and Moore, Tom (2017) Rapid Evidence Assessment of Changes to Mortgage Interest Relief in Ireland 1998 to 2016. Project Report. Residential Landlords Association.

Lord, Alex, O'Brien, Phil ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-706X, Sykes, Olivier and Sturzaker, John (2015) Planning as 'market maker': how planning is used to stimulate development in Germany, France and the Netherlands. Project Report. RTPI.

This list was generated on Wed Jul 9 03:22:57 2025 BST.

Grants

CI, Urban Retrofit UK: Scaling-up place-based adaptations to the built environment through planning and development systems, ESRC, 2024-2027, £1,502,504

CI, EqualHouse: From Housing Inequality to Sustainable, Inclusive and Affordable Housing Solutions, Horizon Europe, 2024-2027, €2,999,185

CI, UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE) (Phase 2), ESRC, 2022-2026, £1,172,652

CI, Housing Land Allocation, Assembly and Delivery (Scottish Land Commission), 2020, £24,800 

CI, Affordable housing need in Scotland post 2021 (Scottish Federation of Housing Associations), 2020, £40,900

CI, Land: Value to capture? (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Research Trust), 2018-2019, £8,400   

CI, Rapid evidence assessment of changes to mortgage interest tax relief in Ireland 1998-2016, Residential Landlords Association of England and Wales, 2018-2019, £4,000

CI, UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE), EHRC, AHRC and Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2017-2022, £6,070,028

CI, Planning as ‘market maker’: how planning is used to stimulate development in Germany, France and the Netherlands (Royal Town Planning Institute Small Project Impact Research Scheme), 2015, £10,000

Supervision

Contact Philip if you are interested in undertaking doctoral research in:

  • State-market relations in land and property development
  • The economic role of planning
  • Planning and institutionalism

Teaching

Philip teaches on the MSc. City Planning, the MSc. City Planning and Real Estate Development, and the MSc. Real Estate programmes.

Convenor

  • Development Process
  • International Real Estate Analysis
  • International Real Estate Markets
  • Real Estate Institutions and Markets (Nankai-Glasgow Graduate School)

 


Phillip Staff Photo