Professor Paul G A Hickman BSc (Hons); MPhil. cantab; PhD.

Paul is Professor of Housing and Social Policy within the Department of Psychology, Sociology & Politics (PSP) where he moved to from the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR) in 2015. He has undertaken research on a number of areas including: housing benefit; the impact of welfare reforms, including Universal Credit; 'resilience' to economic hardship; housing improvement; the private rented sector; residential mobility and immobility; community participation; 'third places'; housing management; housing and regeneration; and, French housing policy and practice.

Paul has successfully managed major research projects for a number of funders including: the Joseph Rowntree Foundation; the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government;  the Department for Work and Pensions; the Office for the First Minister and Deputy First Minister; the Northern Ireland Housing Executive; Leeds City Council; Carlisle City Council; Gateway Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder; Bridging Newcastle/Gateshead Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder; the West Yorkshire Housing Partnership; the British Council; the British Academy; and the French Government Ministries, Plan Urbanisme Construction Architecture and Délégation Interministérielle à La Ville.

Paul is currently involved in two studies;

• Paul is leading the research consortium, which comprises Sheffield Hallam University, ScHARR at the University of Sheffield and QA Research, tasked with evaluating the impact of a major family intervention programme ('Cooperative Working') in Stoke-on-Trent. This longitudinal study, which is being funded by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, is employing a range of quantitative research techniques.
• Paul is a Co-investigator in the ERSC funded Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE). As part of the work of the Centre, Paul is leading a study into the impact of welfare reforms on housing associations, whose findings will be presented in early Summer 2018.

Paul has written extensively and is the author of more than 20 academic outputs and 60 research reports. He is actively involved in the learned societies concerned with housing studies and was Chair of the Housing Studies Association for four years. Paul is the Departmental Lead for Research in PSP. He is also the Co-Director of the Sheffield Institute for Policy Studies. During his time at CRESR, he has fulfilled a range of management roles including being the Centre's Postgraduate Tutor for six years.  

Other

• Housing Regeneration;
• Housing Benefit;
• Housing Management;
• Housing Improvement;
• Tenant Participation;
• The Private Rented Sector;
• Residential Mobility and Immobility;
• French Housing Policy and Practice;
• Social Policy;
• Welfare reform;
• Community Participation;
• Social Interaction (in Third Places);
• Individual 'Resilience' to Economic Hardship.

Department of Psychology, Sociology and Politics, Department of the Natural and Built Environment

Social Sciences and Humanities

Paul contributes to teaching in the disciplines of Sociology & Politics.

• Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Institute for Policy Studies

Paul has expertise in a number of areas including:

• The impact of welfare reforms, including Universal Credit;
• Housing Benefit;
• Housing Improvement;
• Housing Regeneration;
• Housing Management;
• Tenant Participation;
• The Private Rented Sector;
• Residential Mobility and Immobility;
• French Housing Policy & Practice;
• Social policy;
• Welfare reform;
• Community Participation;
• Social Interaction (in third places);
• Individual 'Resilience' to Economic Hardship;
• Family Intervention Projects.

A list of publications is available from the institutional repository, SHURA

• Ferrari, E., Gore, T., Hickman, P. and Walshaw, A. (2008) Portobello and Belle Vue Housing Impact Study - First Annual Review Report - Executive Summary. Sheffield: Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research.
• Hickman, P., Sprigings, N., McCoulough, E. and Cole, I. (2008) The Private Rented Sector in West Yorkshire: Final Report. Sheffield: CRESR, Sheffield Hallam University. Hickman, P., Green, S., Hunter, C and Whittle, S. (2007) The Private Rented Sector in Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside. Sheffield: CRESR, Sheffield Hallam University. Hickman, P., Robinson, D., Casey, R., Green, R. and Powell, R. (2007) Understanding Housing Demand: Learning from Rising Markets in Yorkshire and the Humber. Coventry: Chartered Institute of Housing/JRF.Hickman, P., Sprigings, N., Cole, I. and Whittle, S. (2007) Gateway Private Rented Sector Study. Sheffield: CRESR, Sheffield Hallam University
• Goodchild, B. and Hickman, P. (2006) Towards a Regional Strategy for the North of England? An assessment of the Northern Way. Regional Studies, 40 (1), pp. 121 - 133.
• Hickman, P and Robinson, D. (2006) Transforming Social Housing: Taking Sto0ck of New Complexities. Housing Studies, 21 (2), pp. 157-170.
• Hickman, P. and Manning, J. (2005) Community Involvement in Neighbourhood Regeneration: Who Participates? Voluntary Action, 7 (1). pp. 43 - 59. 
• Whittle, S., Suokas, A., Slocombe, L., Naylor, L., Hickman, P. and Cole, I. (2005) Evidence-Based Practice of Good Practice Housing Management in Deprived Areas. London: Office for the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).
• 'Raser le Nord et betonner le Sud? Le plan du gouvernment du Royaume-Uni pour le développement durable' (Bulldozing the North and concreting over the South? The United Kingdom government's Sustainbale Communities Plan). Géocarrefour: Revue de Géographie de Lyon, 79 (2), pp. 143-152.
• Goodchild, B., Hickman, P. and Robinson, D. (2002) Neighbourhood Decline and Regeneration in the North of England: Assessing the Response of Social Housing Agencies. Town Planning Review, 73 (4), pp. 373-394.
• Hall, S. and Hickman, P. (2002) Neighbourhood Renewal and Urban Policy: A Comparison of New Approaches in England and France. Regional Studies, 36 (6), pp. 691-707.

Paul has supervised seven students to the successful completion of their doctoral studies and is currently supervising five students.

Built environment, Economics, Regeneration, Social affairs, Society, Research