Peter Matthews

Peter read his first degree, History, at Robinson College Cambridge, graduating in 2004. A dissertation in post-war comprehensive redevelopment, using the case study of his home city of Bradford, developed an interest in urban planning and governance. This led to his studying on the MSc Urban and Regional Planning at Heriot Watt in 2005/6. Following this he carried out doctoral research at the University of Glasgow, Department of Urban Studies, supervised by Annette Hastings and Keith Kintrea.

His thesis followed the historical development of urban regeneration policy in Scotland between 1988 and the present day. It pioneered interpretive, ethnographic approaches to researching and understanding regeneration policy and the changes that have occurred over the past three decades.

He is on the management committee of Prospect Community Housing Association in west Edinburgh and volunteers for Planning Aid for Scotland. He has also worked as a local government officer for the City of Edinburgh Council and a civil servant for the Scottish Government.

Research interests

Urban inequalities and deprivation
Policies responses to social inequalities including equity in public service provision in urban environments and spatial targeting
Governance and government of policy including community empowerment and engagement in policy processes
Policy analysis and methodology, particularly advanced qualitative methods and interpretive policy analysis .