Fahkhri, H (2015) Public Participation in NHS Construction Projects. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Reading, UK.
Abstract
This PhD thesis explores public participation in NHS construction projects. Despite the prominence of public participation in both built environment projects and NHS activities there has been little attention on the role of public participation specifically in NHS construction projects, and which actors are engaged in those activities. The aim of the study is therefore to understand the rationales, practices and impacts of public participation on NHS construction projects. The study has been approached through multiple, exploratory case studies that compare public participation in five NHS construction projects. The case study projects range from the construction of a small health centre, to mixed developments with health and community services and housing. The case studies are positioned within a framework based on the rationale behind, and the actual practices of, public participation. The actors’ rationale for public participation is placed along a continuum between ‘consumerist’ (public participation as a means to an end) and ‘democratic’ (public participation as an end in itself). The practice and effects of public participation are placed along a continuum which runs between ‘rhetoric’ (no transfer of public participation claims into practice) and ‘substantive’ (public participation impacts the project). The analysis argues that there is a lack of evidence to show any significant impact of public participation on these projects, or that confirms the claimed benefits associated with conducting public participation. Indeed, much public participation can be seen as oriented to legitimising already taken decisions. Also, much public participation is conducted by and through intermediary or ‘secondary actors’ such as NHS agents and consultants or specific community groups rather than ‘the NHS’ or ‘the public’. Finally, public participation is often politically motivated, with local councillors and MPs using specific issues in these construction projects as a broader political platform.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | built environment; participation; public participation; case study; construction project; consultant |
| Index terms: | agent, public participation, housing, construction project, evidence, intermediary, built environment, platform, case study |
| Subjects: | infrastructure and transport systems, participation process, business, data collection methods, digital design, production management, construction type, evaluation and assessment methods, practitioner |
| Topics: | Project Management, Urban Studies, Digital Applications, Construction Technology, Stakeholder Management, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Business Strategy |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here