In 2014-2015 Spanton undertook an intensive period of study in Urban Regeneration and Development, at the University of Manchester. This immersive, applied, full-time post-graduate course included both practical skills and theory, with over 300 hours of lectures, workshops, seminars and real-world client-based projects.

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Areas of study included: regeneration policy and practice, local economic development, neighbourhood planning techniques, planning and urban theory, policy analysis and review, community consultation and development skills, land appraisal and urban design.

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Spanton’s dissertation was entitled, Performance, policy, place: perspectives on social enterprise and focussed on how social enterprises can practically activate social change – evidenced with key findings on Birmingham-based social enterprises and cooperatives.

Specific project research and experience includes:

• Research and writing on city-regions

• Reporting on social policy in Leeds using GIS techniques

• Research and writing on cities and austerity

• Design assessment of a public square in Manchester City Centre

• Devising site design guidance and plans for neighbourhood developments in Stretford and Trafford

• Writing a neighbourhood plan for Bootle, Cumbria

• Planning the redeveloping of a Victorian market building in Manchester’s Northern Quarter

• Research and writing on planning theories from the Global South

• Producing a residual land appraisal for a site in Holt Town, Manchester