Department of Planning, Property and Environmental Management
Shape the Future of Places and Spaces
Top 10 in the UK
Complete University Guide 2025
Join one of the UK’s largest and most wide-ranging departments covering planning, environmental management, and real estate, and take confident steps toward a successful and meaningful future.
You’ll be taught by inspiring academics who are leaders in their fields, gain hands-on experience using state-of-the-art facilities, and work alongside a diverse, interdisciplinary community of peers, all driven by a shared commitment to creating positive change in the world around us.
Become part of a welcoming academic environment where staff and students collaborate closely, learning from one another and growing together as a team. At Manchester, you won’t just study the built and natural environment - you’ll help shape its future.

Proud heritage
Be part of our heritage - planning has been taught here for more than 70 years

Facilities
Our students have access to several support facilities, such as the urban design studio and the Manchester Urban Design Lab (MUD-Lab) and the modelmaking workshop.

Officially recognised
Courses accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
After Your Studies
Information based on graduate data across some Planning, Property and Environmental Management master's courses, 2017-2021.
Example Roles
Our graduates have gone on to successful careers in areas including environmental management and consultancy, urban planning and design, real estate development, urban and regional development policy, central and local government, international development, energy and water, non-governmental organisations, and research.

Some example job titles:
- Planner
- Environmental Consultant
- Surveyor
- Senior Planning Officer
- Head of Environment Partnerships
Graduate Destinations
Real Estate
Consulting
Local/ National Government
Heritage/ Environmental Services
Construction
Top Employers
- Transport for London
- Savills
- Deloitte
- Cushman & Wakefield
- The Environment Agency
- Rolls-Royce
- Turley
- Jacobs
- EDF Energy
- BP
- AECOM



Roisin's Manchester
MSc Real Estate Development
Roisin is studying MSc Real Estate Development part-time whilst also working at a property organisation in Manchester. Roisin chose part-time to assist in excelling her professional career at the same time as her studies. The wide array of optional units and flexibility led Roisin to choosing The University of Manchester.
Meet the Planning, Property and Environmental Management Academics

Prof Anupam Nanda
Professor of Urban Economics and Real Estate
As Professor of Urban Economics and Real Estate and Deputy Head of our Planning and Environmental Management Department here at Manchester, Anupam has been with the University since 2019 and is a true expert in his field.
"As an economist, I look for imperfections and inefficiencies in the market to analyse and understand how those shape our lives, and the property market is a great laboratory to test various economic theories."

Prof Celia Wong
Professor of Spatial Planning
Cecilia is Professor of Spatial Planning at Manchester and the Director of the Spatial Policy and Analysis Lab within the Manchester Urban Institute. Having joined the University in 1993, one of her favourite things about her work is training the next generations of planners.
"Manchester, which I call a ‘can-do’ city, is an ideal laboratory for anyone who is interested in learning about spatial planning and urban development, and our Department provides a vibrant and welcoming place for students."

Dr Ian Mell
Reader in Environmental and Landscape Planning
Ian, Reader in Environmental and Landscape Planning, has been at the forefront of researching Green Infrastructure. Having worked across a broad spectrum of jobs before joining the University, Ian is keen on embedding employability and professional responsibility across the department.
"I, and colleagues, take pride in training graduates who will be aware of their role in the workplace and the privileged position they have in shaping the future of our cities."
Faculty of Humanities
The University of Manchester