Professor Craig Watkins

BSc, PhD

School of Geography and Planning

Professor of Town and Regional Planning

Professor Craig Watkins - Vice-President and Head of the Faculty of Social Sciences
Profile picture of Professor Craig Watkins - Vice-President and Head of the Faculty of Social Sciences
c.a.watkins@sheffield.ac.uk
Geography and Planning Building

Full contact details

Professor Craig Watkins
School of Geography and Planning
Geography and Planning Building
Winter Street
Sheffield
S3 7ND
Profile

I graduated with a BSc (Economics) from the University of Strathclyde in 1989 and, after a (very) brief period in industry, worked as a researcher in the Department of Economics at the University of Strathclyde, the Department of Land Economics at the University of Paisley and the School of Planning and Housing at Heriot-Watt University. For much of this period, I also worked part-time on a PhD (Land Economics) at the University of Paisley.

In 1995, I was appointed to a lectureship in the Department of Land Economy at the University of Aberdeen and in 1999 was promoted to Senior Lecturer.

I joined the Department of Urban Studies and Planning in February 2004 and was promoted to Reader in September 2004. I was Head of Department from 2011 - 2013.

Research interests

My current and recent research focuses on the structure and operation of property markets, particularly local housing systems, and the impact of public policy on real estate market performance. This research addresses theoretical and empirical issues and is generally, although not exclusively, located within a quantitative economic framework. There are four main sub-themes to this work:

  • Analysing the submarket structure and operation of local property markets.
  • Measuring and modelling property market performance.
  • Exploring the interaction between planning, public policy and property market behaviour.
  • Methodological advances in property research.

Current and recent projects

  •  (RICS)
  •  (Economic & Social Research Council, Arts & Humanities Research Council, Joseph Rowntree Foundation)
  •  (British Academy)
  •  (RTPI)
  •  (Economic & Social Research Council)
  • New behavioural business practices: agent interactions in the housing market (RICS)
  •  (Rotherham MBC)
  •  (Sheffield City Council)
  •  (Royal Town Planning Institute)
  •  (Department for Communities and Local Government)
Publications

Books

  • Jones C & Watkins C (2009) . Oxford: Wiley Blackwell.
  • Adams D & Watkins C (2002) . Oxford: Blackwell.
  • Gibb K, Leishman C, Marsh A, Meen G, Ong ViforJ R & Watkins C () . Routledge.

Edited books

  • Adams D, Watkins C & White M (Eds.) (2005) . Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

Journal articles

  • Alkay E & Watkins C (2023) . Town Planning Review, 94(4), 363-384.
  • Dunning RJ, Moore T & Watkins C (2021) . Land Use Policy, 105, 105434-105434.
  • Meier P, Purshouse R, Bain M, Bambra C, Bentall R, Birkin M, Brazier J, Brennan A, Bryan M, Cox J , Fell G et al (2019) . Wellcome Open Research, 4.
  • Costello G, Leishman C, Rowley S & Watkins C (2019) . Geographical Journal, 185(4), 432-446.
  • Dunning R, Levy D, Watkins C & Young G (2019) . Housing Studies, 34(5), 849-867.
  • Adams D & Watkins C (2018) . Town Planning Review, 89(5), 437-442.
  • Alkay E, Watkins C & Keskin B (2018) . International Journal of Strategic Property Management, 22(2), 119-130.
  • Leishman C & Watkins C (2017) . Regional Studies, Regional Science, 4(1), 202-217.
  • Keskin B, Dunning R & Watkins C (2017) . Journal of European Real Estate Research, 10(1), 73-90.
  • Keskin B & Watkins CA (2017) . Urban Studies, 54(6), 1446-1462.
  • Campbell H, Tait M & Watkins C (2014) . Journal of Planning Education and Research, 34(1), 45-59.
  • Leishman C, Costello G, Rowley S & Watkins C (2013) . Urban Studies, 50(6), 1201-1220.
  • Hincks S, Leishman C & Watkins C (2013) . Town Planning Review, 84(1), 1-7.
  • Adams D, Leishman C & Watkins C (2012) . Urban Studies, 49(4), 705-720.
  • Watkins CA, Adams D & Leishman C (2012) . Urban Studies: an international journal for research in urban studies, 49(March (4)), 705-720.
  • Jones C, Watkins C & Watkins D (2011) . International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, 4(4), 341-356.
  • Watkins CA & McMaster R (2011) . Housing Theory and Society, 28(3), 280-286.
  • Jackson C & Watkins C (2011) . Urban Studies, 48(11), 2321-2338.
  • Ferrari E, Laughlin DL & Watkins C (2011) . Town Planning Review, 82(4), 393-424.
  • Wong C & Watkins C (2009) . Town Planning Review, 80(4-5), 481-516.
  • Watkins CA & Wong C (2009) . Town Planning Review, 80(4-5), 481-516.
  • Jackson CC, Stevenson S & Watkins CA (2008) NY-LON: Does a single cross-continental office market exist?. Journal of Real Estate Portfolio Management, 14(2), 79-92.
  • Watkins C (2008) . Housing Studies, 23(2), 163-177.
  • Watkins CA (2008) . Housing Studies, 23(2), 163-177.
  • Adams D, Watkins C & White M (2008) Preface. Planning Public Policy and Property Markets, xi-xii.
  • Jackson C & Watkins C (2007) . Environment and Planning A, 39(5), 1134-1146.
  • Crook A, Henneberry J, Watkins C, Rowley S & Crook A (2007) Levy raises complexity fear. Planning, 19(1), 16-16.
  • McMaster R & Watkins C (2006) . Cambridge Journal of Economics, 30(6), 901-922.
  • Case B, Colwell PF, Leishman C & Watkins C (2006) . Real Estate Economics, 34(1), 77-107.
  • Crook A, Rowley S, Henneberry J & Watkins C (2006) North fear southern siphon: a centralised planning gain levy could see funds redircted towards growth areas. Planning(July), 20-20.
  • Jones C, Leishman C & Watkins C (2005) . Town Planning Review, 76(2), 215-233.
  • Jackson C & Watkins C (2005) . Urban Studies, 42(8), 1453-1469.
  • Adair A, Berry J, McGreal S, Poon J, Hutchison N, Watkins C & Gibb K (2005) . Journal of Property Investment & Finance, 23(1), 7-21.
  • Roulac S, Adair A, Crosby N, Lim L, Watkins C & Davis P (2004) . Journal of Real Estate Literature, 12(2), 133-156.
  • Jones C, Leishman C & Watkins C (2004) . Housing Studies, 19(2), 269-283.
  • Leishman C & Watkins C (2004) . Journal of Property Investment & Finance, 22(4), 307-319.
  • Roulac S, Adair A, Crosby N, Lim LC, Watkins C & Davis P (2004) The emerging global real estate appraisal research agenda: Evidence from the ARES, ERES, PPRES and RICS conferences. Journal of Real Estate Literature, 12(2), 135-155.
  • Leishman C, Dunse NA, Warren FJ & Watkins C (2003) . Journal of Property Investment & Finance, 21(1), 45-60.
  • Jones C, Leishman C & Watkins C (2003) . Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 35(7), 1315-1326.
  • Adair AS, Crosby N, Lim LC & Watkins C (2003) . Journal of Property Research, 20(1), 91-115.
  • Watkins C & White M (2003) . Journal of Property Investment & Finance, 21(1).
  • Adair A, Berry J, McGreal S, Hutchison N, Watkins C & Gibb K (2003) . Journal of Property Research, 20(4), 371-386.
  • Adair A, Crosby N, Cheng Lim L & Watkins C (2002) . Pacific Rim Property Research Journal, 8(2), 84-93.
  • Costello G & Watkins C (2002) . Housing Studies, 17(6), 857-873.
  • Dunse N, Leishman C & Watkins C (2002) . Urban Studies, 39(3), 483-506.
  • Leishman C & Watkins C (2002) . Journal of Property Investment & Finance, 20(1), 36-58.
  • Watkins CA (2001) . Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 33(12), 2235-2253.
  • Dunse N, Leishman C & Watkins C (2001) . Journal of Property Investment & Finance, 19(3), 236-250.
  • Nanthakumaran N, Watkins C & Orr A (2000) . Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 32(4), 655-671.
  • Rosenburg L & Watkins C (1999) . Urban Studies, 36(11), 1973-1996.
  • Watkins C (1999) . Journal of Property Investment & Finance, 17(2), 157-175.
  • Pawson H & Watkins C (1998) . Scottish Geographical Magazine, 114(3), 157-163.
  • Watkins C (1998) . Journal of Property Research, 15(1), 57-70.
  • Pawson H & Watkins C (1998) . Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, 89(4), 416-430.
  • Pawson H & Watkins C (1998) . Urban Studies, 35(8), 1291-1309.
  • Hoesli M, Thion B & Watkins C (1997) . Journal of Property Research, 14(1), 15-26.
  • Jones C & Watkins C (1996) . Urban Studies, 33(7), 1129-1140.
  • Keskin B & Watkins C () Defining Spatial Housing Submarkets: Exploring the Case for Expert Delineated Boundaries. Urban Studies.

Book chapters

  • Gibb K, Leishman C, Marsh A, Meen G, Viforj RO & Watkins C (2024) , The Routledge Handbook of Housing Economics (pp. 1-12). Routledge
  • O'Brien P, Watkins C & Dunning R (2024) , The Routledge Handbook of Housing Economics (pp. 242-252). Routledge
  • Gibb K, Leishman C, Marsh A, Meen G, Viforj RO & Watkins C (2024) , The Routledge Handbook of Housing Economics (pp. 1-12). Taylor & Francis
  • (2017) In d'Amato M & Kauko T (Ed.) Springer International Publishing
  • Dunning R, Keskin B & Watkins C (2017) , Studies in Systems, Decision and Control (pp. 209-223). Springer International Publishing
  • Ed Ferrari RD & Watkins C (2015) (pp. 175-200). Wiley
  • Jones C, Leishman C & Watkins CA (2011) Structural change in urban housing markets In Gibb K & Marsh A (Ed.), Housing Economics Sage
  • Watkins CA & McMaster R (2011) Economics and under-determination: a case study of urban land and housing In Gibb K & Marsh A (Ed.), Housing Economics Sage
  • Watkins C (2011) , International Encyclopedia of Housing and Home (pp. 39-44).
  • McMaster R & Watkins C (2011) , International Encyclopedia of Housing and Home (pp. 135-138).
  • Watkins CA (2009) Microeconomic perspectives on the structure and operation of local housing markets In Smith S & Munro M (Ed.), Microstructures of Housing Markets (pp. 5-19). London: Routledge.
  • Adams D, Watkins C & White M (2008) In Adams D, Watkins C & White M (Ed.), Planning, Public Policy & Property Markets (pp. 237-251). Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Adams D, Watkins C & White M (2008) In Adams D, Watkins C & White M (Ed.), Planning, Public Policy & Property Markets (pp. 1-13). Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Adair A, Berry J, Gibb K, Hutchison N, Mcgreal S & Watkins C (2008) In Adams D, Watkins C & White M (Ed.), Planning, Public Policy & Property Markets (pp. 149-166). Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Payne S, Adams D & Watkins C (2008) Corporate social responsibility and the UK housebuilding industry In Murray M & Dainty A (Ed.), Corporate Social Responsibility in the Construction Industry Routledge
  • Adair A, Berry J, Gibb K, Hutchison N, McGreal S & Watkins C (2005) Urban Regeneration, Property Indices and Market Performance, PLANNING, PUBLIC POLICY AND PROPERTY MARKETS (pp. 148-166).
  • Adams D, Watkins C & White M (2005) , PLANNING, PUBLIC POLICY AND PROPERTY MARKETS (pp. 239-251).
  • Adams D, Watkins C & White M (2005) Planning, Public Policy & Property Markets Preface, PLANNING, PUBLIC POLICY AND PROPERTY MARKETS (pp. XI-+).
  • Adams D, Watkins C & White M (2005) Examining Public Policy and Property Markets, PLANNING, PUBLIC POLICY AND PROPERTY MARKETS (pp. 3-13).
  • (2002) (pp. 175-210). Wiley
  • (2002) (pp. 54-93). Wiley
  • (2002) (pp. 244-264). Wiley
  • (2002) (pp. 211-243). Wiley
  • (2002) (pp. 150-171). Wiley
  • (2002) (pp. 121-149). Wiley
  • (2002) (pp. 94-118). Wiley
  • (2002) (pp. 265-282). Wiley
  • (2002) (pp. 3-18). Wiley
  • (2002) (pp. 19-53). Wiley
  • Jones C & Watkins CA (1999) Planning for the housing system In Allmendinger P & Chapman M (Ed.), Planning Beyond 2000 Chichester: Wiley.
  • Campbell H, Tait M & Watkins C () , Readings in Planning Theory (pp. 187-213). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Conference proceedings

  • Watkins C & Alkay E (2017) . 24th Annual European Real Estate Society Conference
  • Watkins C & Alkay E (2016) . 25th Annual European Real Estate Society Conference
  • Watkins C, Alkay E & Keskin B (2015) . 22nd Annual European Real Estate Society Conference
  • Coskun Y, Watkins C & White M (2014) Macroeconomic Change, Housing Affordability and Public Policies: The Case of Turkey

Reports

  • Hincks S, Dunning R, Moore T, Young G & Watkins C (2020) A view from the north : understanding local authority housing and planning capacity in an era of austerity
  • Crook A, Lord A, Dunning R, Buck M, Cantillon S, Burgess G, Watkins C & Whitehead C (2020) The Incidence, Value and Delivery of Planning Obligations and Community Infrastructure Levy in England in 2018-19,
  • Crook A, Lord A, Dunning R, Dockerill B, Carro A, Burgess G & Watkins C (2018) The Incidence, Value and Delivery of Planning Obligations and Community Infrastructure Levy in England in 2016-17,
  • Crook A, Watkins C, Lord A, Dunning R, Burgess G & Whitehead C (2018) First memorandum of evidence to House of Commons Select committe on Housing, Communities & Local Government on Land Value Capture
  • Dunning R, Henneberry J, Inch A, Payne S, Watkins C, While A, Young G & Hickman H (2017) Attitudinal research on financial payments to reduce opposition to new homes
  • Watkins CA (2015) The Value of Planning
  • Dunning R, Watkins CA, Inch A, Payne S, While A, Young G, Hickman H, Bramley G, McIntosh S, Watkins D & Valler D (2014) The impact of the New Homes Bonus on attitudes and behaviour
  • Crook A, Dunning R, Ferrari E, Henneberry J, Rowley S, Watkins C, Whitehead C, Monk S, Burgess G & Grant F-L (2010) The incidence value and delivery of planning obligations in England, 2007-08
  • Wong C, Baker M, Hincks S, Rae A, Ferrari E & Watkins C (2008) Outcome Indicators for Spatial Planning in England
  • Crook A, Henneberry J, Rowley S, Smith R & Watkins C (2008) Valuing Planning Obligations in England: Update Study for 2005-06
  • Crook A, Rowley S, Henneberry J & Watkins C (2007) The use and value of planning obligations in Wales
  • Crook A, Henneberry J, Rowley S, Watkins C & Halcrow Group (2006) Valuing planning obligations in England

Dictionary or encyclopaedia entries

  • McMaster R & Watkins C (2012) . In International Encyclopedia of Housing and Home Elsevier.
  • Watkins C (2012) . In International Encyclopedia of Housing and Home Elsevier.
Teaching activities

I teach on the following modules:

  • TRP 107, Economics for Spatial Planning
  • TRP 6410, Property Economics

PhD supervision

I am Primary Supervisor for the following PhD students:

  • Rami Shamseen, Decentralisation and the growth of core cities
  • Chan-Woo Kim, Commercial real estate rental markets in Europe