This page contains links to a selection of my professional studies and publications. You are welcome to browse and download, but please respect copyright.
You can also find my academic work via Orcid or Researchgate and details of my books are on this page.
Place writing
The End of the World is a River. Julian Dobson and Ella Hubbard, Elsewhere, 2 July 2026.
Journal articles
Dobson, J. (2026). Civic Geographies of Care: Mapping the Scope and Scales of Universities’ Civic Action Area, 2026, 58:e70121. https://doi.org/10.1111/area.70121
Dobson, J. and Redman, J. (2026). Environmental wellbeing: a concept and principles for research, policy and action. Local Environment, 31(3), 215-235. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2025.2506587
Dobson, J., Eadson, W. and Dempsey, N. (2026). Objects of desire: rules as boundary objects for system change in greenspace governance. International Journal of Public Sector Management, May 6 2026, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM-07-2025-0311
Dobson, J. and Owolade, F. (2025). Resourcing universities to increase their civic impact: meeting challenges of communication, complexity and commitment. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 47(4), 524-542. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2025.2461811
Dobson, J., Udall, J., Baker, C. and Crawley Jackson, A. (2023). Commoning Civics: Exchanges of Knowledge Beyond the ‘Civic University’. New Formations, 110 and 111, 42-59. DOI: 10.3898/NewF:110-111.03.2024
Dobson, J. (2022). Boosterism and belonging: ‘pride in place’ and the levelling-up agenda. People, Place and Policy Online, 16 (2), 170-176. http://doi.org/10.3351/ppp.2022.2679785798
Dobson, J., Gore, T., Graham, K., & Swade, K. (2021). Paradise Regained? Localised and Limited Nature Connexions in the UK’s Covid-19 Lockdown. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 3. http://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2021.708209
Dobson, J. (2021). Wellbeing and blue-green space in post-pandemic cities: drivers, debates and departures. Geography compass. http://doi.org/10.1111/gec3.12593
Dobson, J., & Dempsey, N. (2021). Known but not done: how logics of inaction limit the benefits of urban green spaces. Landscape Research, 1-13. http://doi.org/10.1080/01426397.2020.1864819
Dobson, J., Birch, J., Brindley, P., Henneberry, J., McEwan, K., Mears, M., … Jorgensen, A. (2021). The magic of the mundane: The vulnerable web of connections between urban nature and wellbeing. Cities, 108, 102989. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2020.102989
Dobson, J., & Dempsey, N. (2019). Working out what works: The role of tacit knowledge where urban greenspace research, policy and practice intersect. Sustainability, 11 (18), 5029. http://doi.org/10.3390/su11185029
Dobson, J. (2018). From contest to context: urban green space and public policy. People, Place and Policy Online, 12 (2), 72-83. http://doi.org/10.3351/ppp.2018.3824435278
Dobson, J. (2018). Reinterpreting urban institutions for sustainability: How epistemic networks shape knowledge and logics. Environmental Science & Policy, 92, 133-140. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2018.11.018
Dobson, J. (2017). From ‘me towns’ to ‘we towns’: activist citizenship in UK town centres. Citizenship Studies, 21 (8), 1015-1033. http://doi.org/10.1080/13621025.2017.1380605
Dobson, J. (2016). Rethinking town centre economies: Beyond the ‘place or people’ binary. Local Economy, 31 (3), 335-343. http://doi.org/10.1177/0269094216640472
Dobson, J. (2015). Britain’s town centres: From resilience to transition. Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal, 8 (4), 347-355. https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/hsp/jurr/2015/00000008/00000004/art00005
Book chapters
Dobson, J. (2022). Public realm. In The Future of the City Centre. (pp. 134-149). Routledge: http://doi.org/10.4324/9781003141198-12
Dobson, J. (2016). From Crown to commons? In Sustainable Regeneration of Former Military Sites. (pp. 19-31). Routledge: http://doi.org/10.4324/9781315621784-2
Research, reports and white papers
Civic capitals at risk: The fragile foundations of the civic university. Civic University Network, 2025. Julian Dobson and Femi Owolade. https://civicuniversitynetwork.co.uk/portfolio-items/civic-capitals-at-risk-the-fragile-foundations-of-the-civic-university/
Community improvement districts pilot programme: final report. Power to Change, 2023. https://www.powertochange.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/88-PTC-CID-report-V3.pdf This report by a team at Sheffield Hallam University and Shared Asset shares learning from the first pilot scheme to explore the potential of ‘community improvement districts’ in England.
Future Parks Accelerator evaluation: final report. National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Trust, 2022. An evaluation report of a national programme to rethink investment in public parks and green spaces, focusing on eight locations in the UK.
Community businesses and high streets: ‘taking back’ and leading forward. Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University (2022). https://www.powertochange.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Community-businesses-and-high-streets-CRESR.pdf Explores the contribution community businesses can make to high street regeneration.
Why should we invest in parks? Evidence from the Parks for People programme. Heritage Lottery Fund (2021). https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/why-should-we-invest-in-parks-evidence-from-the-parks-for-people-programme
Capturing and enhancing the impact of the civic university: current thinking, issues and challenges. Sheffield Hallam University, Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (2021). Explores the background to current interest in the ‘civic university’ and the challenges of measuring impact. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/capturing-and-enhancing-the-impact-of-the-civic-university-current-thinking-issues-and-challenges
A framework for civic impact: a way to assess universities’ activities and progress. Civic University Network (2021). https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/a-framework-for-civic-impact-a-way-to-assess-universities-activities-and-progress
Space to thrive: A rapid evidence review of the benefits of parks and green spaces for people and communities. National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery Community Fund (2019). Considers current evidence on the benefits of public parks and green spaces and draws out key themes. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/space-to-thrive-a-rapid-evidence-review-of-the-benefits-of-parks-and-green-spaces-for-people-and
New seeds beneath the snow? This report for Local Trust examined three neighbourhoods involved in the £150m Big Local regeneration programme, examining the prospects for community self-help in a climate of austerity and the withdrawal of public services.
Between a rock and a hard place. This study for the Bill Sargent Trust examined the work of food banks in Hampshire, examining why people use food banks in the county and how these rapidly developing forms of voluntary help are responding.
Responsible Recovery. Report for the think tank ResPublica, examining the failure of traditional approaches to local regeneration and arguing for relational approaches to welfare reform and neighbourhood renewal in order to build thriving communities.
Grey places need green spaces. A major report for Groundwork UK, explaining the crisis facing our urban green spaces and options for their future care, drawing on the principles of the historic commons.
A lasting legacy: Mab Lane Community Woodland. Assessment of the impact of investment in the community woodland at Mab Lane, Liverpool, for The Mersey Forest, June 2013.
In the public interest? Achieving community benefits from Ministry of Defence land disposals. Original research for the Bill Sargent Trust.
A future for community forests – A contribution to the debate about the future of England’s woodlands, written for The Mersey Forest and published in January 2011
Communities and Local Government Select Committee inquiry into regeneration – written evidence submitted to House of Commons select committee, spring 2011, critiquing current government policy and suggesting alternative approaches.
The 21st century agora: a new and better vision for town centres – We coordinated this collaborative submission to the Mary Portas review of the high street, commissioned by prime minister David Cameron in May 2011.
Regeneration Manifesto – principles for the future of regeneration, developed with New Start magazine and leading thinkers and practitioners.
We can, you can – Lessons from the Renew Northwest exemplar learning programme, 2007 – showing approaches needed to deliver successful regeneration projects
Commentary
Robert Macfarlane’s new book is a plea to feel the pulse of our rivers. The Conversation, 1 May 2025.
Dobson, J. (2024) Editorial: Post-election special issue. People, Place and Policy, 18(2), pp. 66-68. https://doi.org/10.3351/ppp.2024.7347255754
High street regeneration has to start with community trust and care. Julian Dobson and Sara González, The Conversation, 21 November 2023.
Why geographers shouldn’t stop caring about the high street. Geography Directions, 19 September 2023.
Plan will put everyone within 15 minutes of green space – but what matters is justice not distance. The Conversation, 2 February 2023.
Saving the high street: three ways community businesses can kickstart a revival. The Conversation, 25 August 2022.
Why political decision-making is failing our urban green spaces. Nicola Dempsey and Julian Dobson, The Conversation, 1 October 2020.
Green spaces help combat loneliness – but they demand investment. The Conversation, 23 October 2018.
Television won’t save the high street – but it really doesn’t matter. – Huffington Post, May 2013
John Graves’ Sheffield legacy is a great example of civic responsibility – The Guardian, April 2013
HMV’s travails show the need for citizens to reclaim town and city space – The Guardian, January 2013
Civic sector 2013: The collaborative local economy – New Start, December 2012
From ‘me’ towns to ‘we’ towns – Huffington Post, November 2012
Five important tests for the big society’s second year – Article for The Guardian’s voluntary sector network, April 2011.
Journalism
Saving our city centres, one local market at a time. Feature for The Guardian’s Cities section, with an extract from How to Save Our Town Centres.
The high street – from shopping centre to social centre – Article for Placemaking 2012 magazine, published by RUDI.