Atkinson, Rowland, Professor

Professor Rowland Atkinson

School of Geography and Planning

Research Chair in Inclusive Societies

rowland.atkinson@sheffield.ac.uk

D26b, Geography and Planning Building

Full contact details

Professor Rowland Atkinson
School of Geography and Planning
D26b
Geography and Planning Building
Winter Street
��«Ӱҵ
S3 7ND

Profile

Rowland’s work crosses the disciplinary boundaries of urban and housing studies, sociology, geography and criminology. At the core of his work is an interest in how forms of poverty and exclusion are related to the choices and actions of more advantaged groups in cities. These interests have led him to conduct pioneering working on gentrification and displacement, gated communities and their wider social effects, social mix and public housing estates and, most recently, the impact of the super-rich on urban life.

Through his work Rowland has sought to understand the spatial form of social inequalities in cities. Such spatialised inequalities may be seen the examples of the material wealth disparities that drive gentrification, the displacement of crime by gated communities, or the hoarding of housing resources by the wealthy. He is the author of (Verso), (with Gareth Millington) and (with Sarah Blandy).

From 1997 Rowland worked at the Department of Urban Studies, at the University of Glasgow, where he looked at issues of social exclusion and area effects (the compounding force of disadvantage faced by poorer residents in poorer areas). It was here that he also took an interest in the rise of gated communities in the UK, leading the first UK study and beginning to further consider the role of the middle-classes and higher income households in shaping social outcomes more broadly across the city. Rowland is currently working a suite of research projects as part of the Global Alpha NETwork, or GANET. This includes work on offshore investment in urban spaces and its links to crime, the capture of city contexts by the super-rich and a historical analysis of wealth elites in the urban north of England.

Professor Rowland Atkinson talks about teaching in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at the University of ��«Ӱҵ

Qualifications

From 2005 I directed the Housing and Community Research Unit, University of Tasmania, Australia, where a very different urban context and issues of indigenous health and housing influenced my thinking. My work here continued to focus on issues of gentrification, public housing and state-led strategies of social mixing to create more sustainable communities and I worked on a series of initiatives designed to generate more interest in these issues from policy-makers nationally.

From 2009 I moved back to the UK to the University of York where I became Reader in Urban Studies and Criminology and my work became more focused on questions of social harm and crime in urban contexts (a book on Urban Criminology, with Gareth Millington, is now in print with Routledge).

Research interests

Gentrification and displacement
Cities and crime
Wealth
Poverty and exclusion
Segregation and urban security
Gated communities and fortress homes

Research projects

Social inequalities and urban fragmentation strategies (Newton Mobility Grant)
War in Peacetime: Investigating urban violence and social trauma (Max Batley)
Challenging the stigmatisation of poverty and place-based disadvantage (Australian Research Council)
Life in the Alpha-Territory: London's 'super-rich' neighbourhoods (ESRC)
Alpha territoriality in Hong Kong and London: The local implications of transnational real estate investment by the super-rich (HK RGC and UK ESRC)
Empty Homes: The Impact on ‘Blue-Green’ Towns (Funder: ABRDN Financial Fairness Trust)

Professor Rowland Atkinson talks about his research

Publications

Books

Atkinson R (2020) FOREWORD: CLIMAX CULTURE.
(2017) . Bristol University Press.
Atkinson R & Blandy S (2016) Domestic fortress: Fear and the new home front. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Atkinson R & Jacobs K (2016) House, Home and Society. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Edited books

Atkinson R & Ayres T (Ed.) (2022) . Routledge.
(Ed.) (2017) Building better societies: Promoting social justice in a world falling apart..
Atkinson R (Ed.) (2014) . London: Routledge.
Winlow S & Atkinson R (Ed.) (2013) . London: Routledge.
(Ed.) (2007) . Policy Press.
Atkinson R & Blandy S (Ed.) (2006) Gated Communities: International Perspectives. Taylor and Francis / Routledge.
Atkinson RG & Blandy S (Ed.) (2006) Gated Communities: International Perspectives. London: Taylor and Francis.
Atkinson R & Bridge G (Ed.) (2004) . London: Routledge.

Journal articles

Atkinson R, Higgins K & Bourne J (2024) . Finance and Space, 1(1), 299-317.
Tarazona-Vento A & Atkinson R (2024) . City.
Atkinson R & O’Farrell L (2023) . Urban Studies.
Hall A, Antonopoulos GA, Atkinson R & Wyatt T (2023) . The British Journal of Criminology, 63(2), 265-282.
Jacobs K, Atkinson R & Warr D (2022) . Housing Studies.
Atkinson R & Jacobs K (2022) . Housing, Theory and Society, 39(2), 147-150.
Morales ER, Atkinson R & Higgins K (2022) . Journal of Urban Design, 27(3), 328-347.
Atkinson R (2020) . Housing Studies, 35(8), 1489-1491.
Parker S & Atkinson RG (2020) . British Politics, 15(2), 160-177.
McKenzie R & Atkinson R (2020) . Urban Studies, 57(1), 21-38.
Atkinson RG (2019) . International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 43(1), 2-13.
Hardey M & Atkinson RG (2018) . Sociological Research Online, 23(3), 553-571.
Atkinson R & Blandy S (2018) . Urban Studies, 55(2), 483-486.
Atkinson RG, Parker S & Burrows R (2017) . Theory, Culture & Society, 34(5-6), 179-200.
Atkinson R, Parker S & Morales ER (2017) . Territory, Politics, Governance, 5(4), 443-458.
Atkinson RG & Rodgers T (2016) . British Journal of Criminology, 56(6), 1291-1307.
Burrows R, Webber R & Atkinson RG (2016) . Sociological Review.
Atkinson R (2015) . Environment and Planning A.
Atkinson R (2015) . British Journal of Criminology, 55(5), 866-882.
Atkinson R (2015) . Housing, Theory and Society, 32(4), 373-388.
Howley P, O’Neill S & Atkinson R (2015) . Environment and Planning A, 47(4), 939-956.
Atkinson RG (2011) Ears have walls: The listening body in urban space. Aether, 7, 20-28.
Atkinson R & Beer D (2010) . City, 14(5), 529-544.
Dowling R, Atkinson R & McGuirk P (2010) . Urban Policy and Research, 28(4), 391-410.
Atkinson R, Taylor E & Walter M (2010) . Social & Legal Studies, 19(3), 311-330.
Atkinson R & Jacobs K (2010) . International Journal of Housing Policy, 10(2), 155-171.
Atkinson R (2009) . Geografiska Annaler, Series B: Human Geography, 91(4), 299-310.
Atkinson R & Willis P (2009) . City, 13(4), 403-417.
Johnston R (2009) . Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie, 100(3), 370-371.
Atkinson R & Easthope H (2009) . International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 33(1), 64-79.
Atkinson R, Picken F & Tranter B (2009) . Urban Research & Practice, 2(1), 1-17.
Atkinson R & Blandy S (2009) . Antipode, 41(1), 92-110.
Atkinson R, Dowling R & McGuirk P (2009) . Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 41(12), 2816-2822.
Atkinson R (2008) . Urban Studies, 45(12), 2626-2636.
Atkinson R (2008) Housing policies, social mix and community outcomes. AHURI Final Report(122), i-58.
Jacobs K & Atkinson R (2008) . Housing, Theory and Society, 25(3), 157-163.
Atkinson R & Easthope H (2008) . Built Environment, 34(3), 307-318.
Atkinson R (2008) . Social Policy & Administration, 42(6), 593-610.
Helms G, Atkinson R & MacLeod G (2007) . European Urban and Regional Studies, 14(4), 267-276.
Atkinson R, Bagaeen S, Birch K, Flint J, Mitchell D & Paton K (2007) . Urban Studies, 44(8), 1619-1629.
Atkinson R (2007) . Urban Studies, 44(10), 1905-1917.
Atkinson R & Blandy S (2007) . Housing Studies, 22(4), 443-458.
Chapman D, Nelson S, Higgins M, Tolbert LC, Steinfeld E, Biddulph M, Holyoak J, Tait M, Sinha A, Thomas G , Atkinson R et al (2007) . Journal of Urban Design, 12(2), 313-337.
Atkinson R & Wood G (2007) . Australian Planner, 44(4), 12-13.
Atkinson R & Willis P (2007) . Information, Communication & Society, 10(6), 818-845.
Atkinson R (2006) . Urban Studies, 43(4), 819-832.
Thomson H, Atkinson R, Petticrew M & Kearns A (2006) . Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 60(2), 108-115.
Atkinson R, Thomson H, Kearns A & Petticrew M (2006) . Policy & Politics, 34(1), 5-26.
Atkinson R, Blandy S, Flint J & Lister D (2005) . Town Planning Review, 76(4), 401-422.
Atkinson R & Blandy S (2005) . Housing Studies, 20(2), 177-186.
Savitch HV, Atkinson R, Portney KE, McGreal S, Rbein C, Harwood SA, Hultquist A, Greenbaum RT & Dodson B (2004) . Urban Studies, 41(3), 697-712.
Atkinson R & Kintrea K (2004) . Sociology, 38(3), 437-455.
Atkinson R (2004) . European Journal of Housing Policy, 4(1), 107-131.
Atkinson R & Flint J (2004) . Criminal Justice Matters, 55(1), 10-11.
Atkinson R & Flint J (2004) . Housing Studies, 19(6), 875-892.
Goodlad R & Atkinson R (2004) . Housing Studies, 19(3), 447-463.
Atkinson R & Flint J (2004) . Policy & Politics, 32(3), 333-350.
Atkinson R (2003) . Urban Studies, 40(12), 2343-2350.
Atkinson R (2003) . Urban Studies, 40(9), 1829-1843.
Parkes A, Kearns A & Atkinson R (2002) . Urban Studies, 39(13), 2413-2438.
Atkinson R & Kintrea K (2002) . European Journal of Housing Policy, 2(2), 147-166.
Atkinson R & Kintrea K (2001) . Urban Studies, 38(12), 2277-2298.
Atkinson R & Flint J (2001) Accessing hidden and hard to reach populations: snowball research strategies. Social Research Update, 33.
Atkinson R (2000) . Urban Studies, 37(1), 149-165.
Atkinson R (2000) . Area, 32(3), 287-295.
Atkinson R (2000) . Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 15(4), 307-326.
Atkinson R & Kintrea K (2000) . Policy & Politics, 28(1), 93-108.
Dowall DE, Magnusson L, Fujita K, Santana DB, Atkinson R, Milligan C, Jacobs K & Macaloo C (1999) . Urban Studies, 36(10), 1819-1831.
Boal FW, Priemus H, Taylor N, Atkinson R, Coles T, Thomas H, Riley R, Kapcia A, Bagguley P & Wilson MGA (1998) . Urban Studies, 35(12), 2369-2387.
Atkinson R (1997) The new urban frontier; Gentrification and the revanchist city - Smith,N. SCANDINAVIAN HOUSING & PLANNING RESEARCH, 14(2), 93-95.
Elander I, Marsh A, Atkinson R & Lowe SG (1997) . Scandinavian Housing and Planning Research, 14(2), 87-98.
Atkinson R, Galster GC, Rosengard A, Ho KC, Smith R, Ashworth GJ, Lightbody J, Gilchrist E & Puddifoot J (1995) . Urban Studies, 32(7), 1215-1227.
ATKINSON R (1995) PAPERING OVER THE CRACKS - HOUSING CONDITIONS AND THE NATIONS HEALTH - LEATHER,P, MACKINTOSH,S, ROLFE,S. URBAN STUDIES, 32(2), 428-430.
Liu Y & Atkinson R () . Urban Studies.
Atkinson R & Mingay M () . City, 1-17.
McKenzie R, Atkinson R & Ingianni A () . Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space.
Ho H & Atkinson RG () . Urban Studies.

Chapters

Ferrazzi D & Atkinson R (2024) , Research Handbook on Housing, the Home and Society (pp. 284-295). Edward Elgar Publishing
Atkinson R (2023) , 50 Dark Destinations (pp. 299-304). Policy Press
Atkinson R (2022) , Shades of Deviance (pp. 167-170). Routledge
Atkinson R (2022) , Shades of Deviance (pp. 183-186). Routledge
Atkinson R & Ayres T (2022) , Shades of Deviance (pp. 3-17). Routledge
Blandy S & Atkinson R (2022) , The Routledge Handbook of Property, Law and Society (pp. 146-155). Routledge
Atkinson R (2022) Conclusion: highs and lows - breaching social and spatial boundaries, HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES (pp. 208-221).
Atkinson R & Kei Ho H (2020) , Handbook of Urban Segregation Edward Elgar Publishing
Atkinson R (2020) FOREWORD: CLIMAX CULTURE, VIDEO GAMES, CRIME AND NEXT-GEN DEVIANCE (pp. XIII-XVII).
Atkinson R & Blandy S (2020) , International Encyclopedia of Human Geography (pp. 259-263). Elsevier
Atkinson R & McGarrigle J (2020) , International Encyclopedia of Human Geography (pp. 119-123). Elsevier
Atkinson R (2019) In Raymen T & Smith O (Ed.), Deviant Leisure : Criminological Perspectives on Leisure and Harm (pp. 215-236). Palgrave Macmillan (Springer)
Atkinson R (2017) The (in)visibility of riches, urban life and exclusion, Building better societies: Promoting social justice in a world falling apart (pp. 165-178).
Atkinson R, Mckenzie L & Winlow S (2017) (pp. 195-200). Bristol University Press
Atkinson R, Mckenzie L & Winlow S (2017) (pp. 1-12). Bristol University Press
Atkinson R, Burrows R, Glucksberg L, Ho HK, Knowles C & Rhodes D (2017) , Cities and the Super-Rich (pp. 253-271). Palgrave Macmillan US
Atkinson R & Blandy S (2017) Domestic fortress Fear and the new home front Introduction, DOMESTIC FORTRESS: FEAR AND THE NEW HOME FRONT (pp. 1-+).
Atkinson R & Blandy S (2016) , Domestic Fortress Manchester University Press
Atkinson R & Blandy S (2016) , Domestic Fortress Manchester University Press
Atkinson R & Blandy S (2016) , Domestic Fortress Manchester University Press
Atkinson R & Blandy S (2016) , Domestic Fortress Manchester University Press
Atkinson R & Blandy S (2016) , Domestic Fortress Manchester University Press
Atkinson R & Blandy S (2016) , Domestic Fortress Manchester University Press
Atkinson R & Blandy S (2016) , Domestic Fortress Manchester University Press
Atkinson R & Blandy S (2016) , Domestic Fortress Manchester University Press
Atkinson R & Blandy S (2016) , Domestic Fortress Manchester University Press
Atkinson R & Jacobs K (2016) , House, Home and Society (pp. 110-128). Macmillan Education UK
Atkinson R & Jacobs K (2016) , House, Home and Society (pp. 140-152). Macmillan Education UK
Atkinson R, Burrows R & Rhodes D (2016) , Handbook on Wealth and the Super-Rich Edward Elgar Publishing
Atkinson RG (2016) , Networked Urbanism: Social Capital in the City (pp. 41-58).
Atkinson R & Jacobs K (2016) , House, Home and Society (pp. 56-71). Macmillan Education UK
Atkinson R & Jacobs K (2016) , House, Home and Society (pp. 1-15). Macmillan Education UK
Atkinson R & Jacobs K (2016) , House, Home and Society (pp. 97-109). Macmillan Education UK
Atkinson R & Jacobs K (2016) , House, Home and Society (pp. 83-96). Macmillan Education UK
Atkinson R & Jacobs K (2016) , House, Home and Society (pp. 129-139). Macmillan Education UK
Atkinson R & Jacobs K (2016) , House, Home and Society (pp. 72-82). Macmillan Education UK
Atkinson R & Jacobs K (2016) , House, Home and Society (pp. 153-160). Macmillan Education UK
Atkinson R & Jacobs K (2016) , House, Home and Society (pp. 32-45). Macmillan Education UK
Atkinson R & Jacobs K (2016) , House, Home and Society (pp. 16-31). Macmillan Education UK
Atkinson R & Jacobs K (2016) , House, Home and Society (pp. 46-55). Macmillan Education UK
Wykes M (2014) , Shades of Deviance: A Primer on Crime, Deviance and Social Harm (pp. 143-146).
Atkinson R (2014) In Atkinson R (Ed.), Shades of Deviance: A Primer on Crime, Deviance and Social Harm (pp. 162-165). London: Routledge.
Atkinson R (2014) In Atkinson R (Ed.), Shades of Deviance: A Primer on Crime, Deviance and Social Harm (pp. 24-26). London: Routledge.
Atkinson R (2014) In Atkinson R (Ed.), Shades of Deviance: A Primer on Crime, Deviance and Social Harm (pp. 1-14). London: Routledge.
Atkinson R (2014) In Atkinson R (Ed.), Shades of Deviance: A Primer on Crime, Deviance and Social Harm (pp. 241-243). London: Routledge.
Atkinson R & Bridge G (2013) , The Gentrification Debates: A Reader (pp. 51-62).
Atkinson R & Bridge G (2013) In Brown-Saracino J (Ed.), The Gentrification Debates (pp. 51-70). New York: Routledge.
Atkinson R (2013) In Atkinson R & Winlow S (Ed.), New Directions in Crime and Deviancy (pp. 239-251). London: Routledge.
Winlow S & Atkinson R (2013) In Atkinson R & Winlow S (Ed.), New Directions in Crime and Deviancy (pp. 1-18). London: Routledge.
Atkinson R (2011) , International Encyclopedia of Housing and Home (pp. 269-274).
Atkinson R (2011) , International Encyclopedia of Housing and Home (pp. 415-418).
Atkinson R & Blandy S (2009) , International Encyclopedia of Human Geography (pp. 297-301). Elsevier
Atkinson R & McGarrigle J (2009) , International Encyclopedia of Human Geography (pp. 76-80). Elsevier
Atkinson R & Blandy S (2009) , International Encyclopedia of Human Geography: Volume 1-12 (pp. V4-297-V4-301).
Atkinson R & McGarrigle J (2009) , International Encyclopedia of Human Geography: Volume 1-12 (pp. V10-76-V10-80).
Atkinson RG (2008) The flowing enclave and the misanthropy of networked affluence In Blokland T & Savage M (Ed.), Networked Urbanism: Social Capital in the City (pp. 41-58). Ashgate
Helms G & Atkinson R (2007) , Securing an urban renaissanceCrime, community, and British urban policy (pp. 233-244). Policy Press
Atkinson R & Helms G (2007) Introduction, Securing an Urban Renaissance: Crime, Community, and British Urban Policy (pp. 1-18).
Rowland A (2006) , Housing, urban governance and anti-social behaviourPerspectives, policy and practice (pp. 100-116). Policy Press
Atkinson R (2006) , Building on the pastVisions of housing futures (pp. 162-184). Policy Press
Atkinson R (2006) Spaces of discipline and control: The compounded citizenship of social renting, Housing, Urban Governance and Anti-Social Behaviour: Perspectives, Policy and Practice (pp. 99-116).
Atkinson RG (2006) Mob-mentality: The threat to community sustainability from the search for safety In Malpass P & Cairncross L (Ed.), Building on the Past: Visions of Housing Futures (pp. 163-184). Bristol: Policy Press.
Atkinson RG (2006) Housing and the new spaces of disciplinary control In Flint J (Ed.), Housing, Urban Governance and Anti-social Behaviour Perspectives, Policy and Practice (pp. 91-116). Bristol: Policy Press.
Atkinson R, Buck N & Kintrea K (2005) , Changing Cities (pp. 154-171). Macmillan Education UK
Atkinson RG, Buck N & Kintrea K (2005) British neighbourhoods and poverty: linking place and social exclusion In Buck N, Gordon I, Harding A & Turok I (Ed.), Changing Cities: Rethinking Urban Competitiveness, Cohesion and Governance (pp. 154-171). London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Atkinson R & Bridge G (2004) In Atkinson R & Bridge G (Ed.), Gentrification in a Global Context (pp. 1-17). London: Routledge.
Turok I, Bailey N, Atkinson R, Bramley G, Docherty I, Gibb K, Goodlad R, Hastings A, Kintrea K, Kirk K , Leibovitz J et al (2004) (pp. 13-32). Bristol University Press
Turok I, Bailey N, Atkinson R, Bramley G, Docherty I, Gibb K, Goodlad R, Hastings A, Kintrea K, Kirk K , Leibovitz J et al (2004) , City matters (pp. 13-32). Policy Press
Turok I, Bailey N, Atkinson R, Bramley G, Docherty I, Gibb K, Goodlad R, Hastings A, Kintrea K, Kirk K , Leibovitz J et al (2004) , City matters (pp. 13-32). Policy Press
Turok I, Bailey N, Atkinson R, Bramley G, Docherty I, Gibb K, Goodlad R, Hastings A, Kintrea K, Kirk K , Leibovitz J et al (2004) , City mattersCompetitiveness, cohesion and urban governance (pp. 12-31). Policy Press

Book reviews

Atkinson R (2016) . Urban Studies, 53(6), 1336-1338.

Conference proceedings papers

Morales ER, Atkinson R & Higgins K (2022) Road - gate - enclosure: elite securityscapes in London and Mexico City. JOURNAL OF PLANNING LITERATURE, Vol. 37(4) (pp 650-650)
(2020) Humanity under duress. Humanity Under Duress. ��«Ӱҵ, 2019 - 2019.
Morales García de Alba E & Atkinson R (2019) Defragmenting public space : a guide for policymakers. Defragmenting Public Space: A Guide for Policymakers, 2019 - 2019.
Flint J, Atkinson R, Ferrari E, Gore T & Lever J (2016) . People, Place and Policy, Vol. 10(2) (pp 174-184)
Atkinson R & Smith O (2012) . Crime, Media, Culture: An International Journal, Vol. 8(2) (pp 161-172)
Atkinson R & Jacobs K (2009) . Housing, Theory and Society, Vol. 26(4) (pp 233-247)
Atkinson R (2008) Between practice, policy and academia: The difficult space of the housing researcher. Reshaping Australasian Housing Research: Refereed Papers and Presentations from the 2nd Australasian Housing Researchers' Conference 2007, AHRC 2007
(2008) (pp 1-11)
Atkinson R, Picken F & Tranter B (2006) Second homes in Australia: Charting the growth of holiday homeownership and its community impacts. Australasian Housing Researchers Conference

Reports

Atkinson R (2024) Executive Summary - Low-use homes in rural and coastal areas of the UK: Geography, impact and responses
Atkinson R, Simas Lima R, Bourne J & Bailey C (2024) Low-use homes in rural and coastal areas of the UK: Geography, impact and responses
Atkinson R, Wulff M, Reynolds M & Spinney A (2011) Gentrification and displacement: The household impacts of neighbourhood change
Atkinson R (2008) Housing policies, social mix and community outcomes

Dictionary/encyclopaedia entries

Atkinson R (2012) . In International Encyclopedia of Housing and Home Elsevier.
Atkinson R & Blandy S (2012) . In International Encyclopedia of Housing and Home Elsevier.
Atkinson R (2012) . In International Encyclopedia of Housing and Home Elsevier.
Atkinson R & Blandy S (2011) . In International Encyclopedia of Housing and Home.
(2004) Sage Publications, Inc..
Atkinson R & Flint J (2003) Snowball Sampling. In The A to Z of Social Research. London: Sage.

Other

Thomson H, Atkinson R, Petticrew M & Kearns A (2005) Do national urban regeneration programmes impact on health and the socio-economic determinants of health? A systematic review of UK regeneration programmes (1980-2004). EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, 15, 119-119.

Research group

PhD supervision

I am primary supervisor for the following students:

Dario Ferrazzi, Crime, criminality and urban space
Yixin Liu, Gated communities in China

Interested in PhD study?

I welcome enquiries from prospective PhD students who have interests in the following areas:

urban patterns of wealth, inequality and segregation
crime and disorder
gated communities

Teaching activities

I currently teach on the following modules:

, Cities
, Urban Theory
, Dissertation

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School of Geography and Planning

School of Geography and Planning

Professor Rowland Atkinson

Research projects

Books

Edited books

Journal articles

Chapters

Book reviews

Conference proceedings papers

Reports

Dictionary/encyclopaedia entries

Other

PhD supervision

Links