PhD Research ProjectDefining Scenic Beauty
Through Lived Experience
This research explores how scenic beauty is understood through everyday language, emotion, and social relationships in Cornwall. Your perspective — as a resident, worker, or visitor — is central to this study.
Take the Survey
Share your understanding of scenic beauty in your area. Takes approximately 10–15 minutes to complete. All responses are anonymous.
Start QuestionnaireResearch Questions
RQ1
How does the indeterminate statutory concept of “natural beauty” operate in planning and governance within the Cornwall National Landscape?
RQ2
How does the distribution of social capital influence whether planning functions as an enabler or constraint to sustainable business within this landscape?
About This Research
This research explores how landscapes like the Cornwall National Landscape are valued, managed, and experienced by the people who live and work within them. It focuses on how ideas such as “natural beauty” influence planning decisions, and how local relationships, knowledge, and community networks shape opportunities for sustainable businesses. By completing this questionnaire, you are helping to capture local perspectives on what makes these landscapes special, how they should be protected, and how communities can thrive within them. Your insights will contribute to a better understanding of how planning and governance can support both environmental conservation and local livelihoods.
Balancing Nature and Business: Advancing Sustainable Business in Cornwall’s National LandscapeStudy Areas
Penwith
Bodmin Moor
Hartland
St Agnes
This study forms part of a PhD programme investigating how scenic beauty is understood as a socially negotiated, devolved planning concept. Participation is voluntary and all data is treated in accordance with GDPR and university ethics guidelines.