Law

Land, Property and Environment

Module code: M3124
Level 6
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Seminar
Assessment modes: Portfolio

Drawing on and developing knowledge of land law, this module will enable you to further explore the law relating to land. There’s an emphasis on the intersection between land use and the environment.

It will introduce you to different theories of property and alternative models of land ‘ownership’, in order to facilitate critical perspectives on dominant norms and structures.

The module will include analysis of property mechanisms, such as conservation covenants, for purposes of environmental protection, as well as the role of nature conservation legislation in the regulation of land use.

It will address the legal protection of landscape and the rationale for such interventions, as well as the legal framework governing the public’s right to access land for recreational activities. It will also explore the legal regulation of agricultural land use in the context of issues such as biodiversity, food security and climate change resilience.

Module learning outcomes

• Demonstrate an understanding of different concepts of property and an ability to critically evaluate these different concepts.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the law relating to land in specific policy contexts and be able to critically analyse the efficacy of the relevant laws.
• Demonstrate familiarity with the appropriate legal instruments and some of the relevant critical literature.