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World-leading research

Henley Business School's research is both academic and applied, often developed in close collaboration with major corporate partners, world governments and international organisations.

Henley has a unique blend of expertise with a faculty of around 150 academics, many of whom are internationally-renowned, widely published experts in their field. The School’s associates and partnerships in more than 20 countries provide a global dimension to its research activities, which include international conferences, research seminars and workshops.

Research at Henley Business School covers six broad areas and includes Real Estate and Planning.

Boasting a world-class reputation and based out of the largest school of its type in the UK, our academics address real world issues and influence industry and Government alike.

Our work has been at the forefront of research into the built environment for 40 years. Boasting a world-class reputation in teaching and research, and based out of the largest school of its type in the UK, we have a longstanding tradition of close collaboration with industry, as well as informing policy and professional practice.

Our applied industry research encompasses commercial direct and indirect real estate markets, commercial real estate appraisal/valuation, commercial lease policy, and property management. Meanwhile, our policy and practice research agenda includes housing economics and policy, social and planning policy, governance and regulation, and community led planning.

It is predicted that three quarters of the world population will be “urban” by 2050. The Real Estate and Planning Division’s interdisciplinary expertise is therefore of critical importance in addressing real world issues such as sustainable real estate development.

Impact

Through our close relationships with industry, policy and professional practice, our research enables us to have a significant impact on Government policy and industry practices in the UK and internationally.

Our work underpinning policy extends from local neighbourhood planning to sustainable global city development, while our research into commercial lease law, policy, practice and pricing has driven Government strategy and supported industry change.

Major industry bodies, including the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Investment Property Forum and Royal Town Planning Institute, also call on our expertise to shape their research agendas in areas including property valuation, performance measurement, depreciation, development viability and neighbourhood planning.

Projects

We conduct both funded and non-funded research, with research income generated from sources including government, industry and Research Councils. Some of our currently funded and recently completed projects include:

  • Promoting Independent Cycling for Enhancing Later Life Experience and Social Synergy through Design (EPSRC, £350,716) 
  • Area, Regeneration and Localisation: Evidence and Policy Review (Sheffield Hallam University, £2,399) 
  • Climate-KIC Pathfinder - Urban Agri-Food Business Incubator Network Association (Climate KIC, £61,398) 
  • Development Appraisal Theory and Practice (RICS Research Trust, £9,375) 
  • IPF Liquidity Pricing (IPF, £49,740) 
  • Liquidity Premia in European Real Estate Securities (EPRA, £10,260) 
  • RTPI Planning Aid England West Midlands Research on Support for Community-led Planning (RTPI, £10,000) 
  • Supporting Property Market Transparency in Panama (FCO, £24,963) 
  • The Impact of Financial Regulations on the European Listed Real Estate Sector (EPRA, £3,209) 
  • The Value, Impact and Delivery of the CIL (DCLG, £58,375) 
  • Unravelling Liquidity in Direct Commercial Real Estate: an International Comparative Study (IPF, £44,286)

Study opportunities

Henley Business School has a vibrant group of about 260 PhD and DBA researchers. Doctoral students are an integral part of our research community and participate in the research activities of the school. Doctoral students have dedicated computer labs, access to funding for conference presentations, career support and a series of school-wide events with opportunities for cross-discipline discussion and networking. Doctoral research topics are aligned with the research interests of the supervisors. Henley Business School offers up to 28 full scholarships per year representing an overall investment of £840,000 in postgraduate research education.

Postgraduate research