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The thesis sets out the candidate’s contribution to the field of landscape planning in relation to themes such as sustainability, multifunctionality and resilience. It contextualises the candidate’s work in terms of the literature linking spatial planning, natural resource management and sustainable development, and shows how these have, most recently, led to a concern for ‘re-connection’. It then considers more specifically the influence of ten published outputs concerning interventions on behalf of the cultural landscape. Substantially, the candidate’s contribution is viewed as a way of ‘designing with nature’, within the legacy of Ian McHarg. The first part of the thesis explains how the candidate contributed broadly to a gradual acceptance of natural resource management as a legitimate concern for spatial planning, and how this was subsequently re-interpreted within a discourse of sustainable development. A set of ten published outputs is then critically reviewed in terms of: a synoptic overview; a contribution to the theory of landscape planning; an exploration of aspects of practical implementation; and a consideration of future prospects for promoting social-environmental resilience through the medium of multifunctional landscape. The thesis concludes by anticipating further development of the themes of multifunctionality, sustainability, resilience and re-connection within a ‘Neo-McHargian’ context.

Contentions that expansion of the British coal mining industry into predominantly rural areas may pose serious threats to agriculture and food production are reviewed in the light of the available evidence. It is considered that, whilst the severity of impacts and rate of future development may have been overstated, the conflicts are sufficiently significant to warrant close examination. Further, land use planners are responding for the first time to mining proposals affecting entire coalfields, thus making it essential to establish the correct principles of development from the outset. It is noted that past assessments of agricultural impacts have failed to reflect their diverse and pervasive nature, thus necessitating the identification of more appropriate methods of forecasting. In the light of current weaknesses in practice, it is argued that a formal system of impact assessment may prove necessary. Those characteristics of mining operations and associated end-uses which are likely to affect agriculture are analysed, as are those aspects of the farm enterprise most vulnerable to disruption. These various characteristics are then used as a basis for the assessment of mining-agriculture impacts. A review of the strategic nature of impacts arising from mining programmes is considered desirable, and limited proposals are made regarding assessment at this scale. More detailed consideration is given to an appraisal framework for individual mining proposals, and this is tested in relation to part of the 'Vale of Belvoirl coalfield. It is concluded that, although further methodological refinements and field investigations are necessary, the early implementation of an impact assessment procedure is nevertheless justified.