Dr Gavan Rafferty, PhD, MSc, BA (Hons), Pg Cert HEP, MRTPI, FHEA, is a Lecturer in Spatial Planning and Development at the Belfast School of Architecture and the Built Environment, Ulster University, where he serves as Course Director for the BSc/MSci Planning, Regeneration and Development programme.

Before joining Ulster University in 2009, Gavan was a Lecturer (2007–2009) and Research Assistant (2005–2007) at Queen's University Belfast. He also worked as a Development Control Officer (2004–2005) with the former Planning Service in Northern Ireland, providing him with valuable professional experience in development management.

Gavan holds Chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and is a member of the National Planning Knowledge Group for the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR). He is also a member of the Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) and previously served as Chairperson of the RTPI Northern Ireland Branch (2009–2010).

Dr Rafferty is a member of the Research on Property and Planning (RPP) centre within the Built Environment Research Institute (BERI) at Ulster University, and his research interests include:

• the interplay between community planning (integrated service delivery) and spatial planning (land use development)
• community engagement, rights and co-production in community planning and spatial planning
• inclusive and healthy planning, including the co-design of chlid-friendly and age-friendly places
• regeneration and urban governance in post-conflict societies/contested spaces
• European and cross-border spatial planning 

BelfastTHRIVES - Transformative Health and Regeneration Initiatives for Vibrancy, Equality and Sustainability

Rafferty, G., CoI, Architecture Built Environment and Planning (UoA 13)

Leavey, G., CoI, Psychology Psychiatry and Neuroscience (UoA 4)

Golden, S., PI, Architecture Built Environment and Planning (UoA 13)

Belfast City Council: £30,000.00

1/12/20 → 31/08/21

Models of spatial planning and development in a post-Brexit landscape: collaborating across external borders

Rafferty, G., Hewitt, N., Blair, N. & Mc Elduff, L.

Dept. of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Ireland: £4,989.00

1/01/17 → 31/12/18

Greater Monkstown Place Shaping Pilot

Rafferty, G. & Blair, N. (Principal Investigators)

Antrim & N'abbey Borough in collaboration with (then) PLACE: £1,500.00

1/03/17 → 28/02/20

Community Participation in Planning: Learning and Skills Framework

Rafferty, G. (Principal Investigator)

C.E.C. Erasmus+: £182,954.00

1/01/15 → 27/02/17