Paul Watt joined the Department of Sociology as a Visiting Professor in 2023 and will be there until 2026. He also studied in the Department (MPhil. Sociology, University of London). Paul is Emeritus Professor of Urban Studies at Birkbeck, University of London, where he worked until 2023. He previously held posts at the University of Wolverhampton, University of East London, and Buckinghamshire New University. Paul is a member of the editorial board of ‘City’.
Research interests
Paul is an urbanist whose research examines the inter-relationship between social inequalities, space and place in contemporary cities. Paul's research interests include social housing, urban regeneration, gentrification, neighbourhoods and communities, homelessness, housing activism, the 2012 London Olympic Games, and suburbanisation. His most recent book is Estate Regeneration and Its Discontents: Public Housing, Place and Inequality in London (Policy Press, 2021).
Paul is currently working on two research projects. The first - 'Living at Regenerated Neighbourhoods in London' - is funded by a British Academy, Small Research Grant. The second – ‘The History and Regeneration of an East London Housing Estate’ – focusses on the history and redevelopment of the Carpenters’ estate in the London borough of Newham.
Books
Watt, P. (2021) . Bristol: Policy Press.
Watt, P. and Smets, P. (Editors) (2017) . Bingley: Emerald.
Cohen, P. and Watt, P. (Editors) (2017) Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Watt, P. and Smets, P. (Editors) (2014) Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Butler, T. and Watt, P. (2007) London: Sage.
Journal articles
Watt, P. and Morris, A. (2024) ‘City.
Watt, P. (2023) ‘, The Sociological Review, 71(2): 351-369.
Watt, P. (2023) ‘, Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 38: 141–170.
Watt, P. (2022) , Housing Studies, 37(9): 1686-1710.
Corcillo, P. and Watt, P. (2022) ‘’, People, Place and Policy, 16(3): 236-254.
Gillespie, T., Hardy, K. and Watt, P. (2021) e’, Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 53(7): 1713-1729.
Watt, P. (2020) , People, Place and Policy, 14(2): 128-141.
Watt, P. (2020) ‘, Social Inclusion, 8(1): 20–33.
Watt, P. (2018) ‘“, L’Annee sociologique, 68: 67-100.
Watt, P. (2018) ‘, Cities, 76: 43-51.
Gillespie, T., Hardy, K. and Watt, P. (2018) ‘, Environment and Planning D: Society and Space, 36(5): 812-830.
Watt, P. (2016) ‘’, City, 20(2): 297-320.
Watt, P. and Minton, A. (2016 City, 20(2): 204-221. Reader of Architecture Reader of Architecture
Watt, P. (2013) ‘“, City,17(1): 99-118.
Kennelly, J. and Watt, P. (2013) ‘ Sociological Research Online, 18(2)
Hodkinson, S., Watt, P. and Mooney, G. (2013) ‘, Critical Social Policy, 33(1): 3-16.
Kennelly, J. and Watt, P. (2012) Visual Studies, 27(2): 151-160.
Watt, P. (2011) , Hospitality & Society, 1(2): 117-136.
Kennelly, J. and Watt, P. (2011) , Sociology, 45(5): 765-781.
Watt, P. (2010) ‘, Housing, Theory and Society, 27(2): 153-159
Watt, P. (2009) ‘, Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 41(12): 2874-2892.
Watt, P. (2009) , Urban Policy and Research, 27(3): 229-242.
Gunter, A. and Watt, P. (2009) ‘, Journal of Youth Studies, 12(5): 515-529.
Watt, P. (2008) ‘“, Critical Discourse Studies, 5(3): 345-357.
Watt, P. (2008) ‘, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 32(1): 206-211.
Watt, P. (2007) , Just Labour: A Canadian Journal of Work and Society, 10: 45-59.
Watt, P. (2006) ‘, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 30(4): 776-797.
Watt, P. (2005) ‘, Housing Studies, 20(3): 359-381.
Watt, P. (2003) ‘, Urban Studies, 40(9): 1769-1789.
Cox, R. and Watt, P. (2002) ‘, Area, 34(1): 39-47.
Watt, P. and Jacobs, K. (2000) ‘”’, Housing, Theory and Society, 17(1): 14-26.
Book chapters
Watt, P. (2023) ‘. In: T. Kaminer, L. Ma and H. Runting (Eds.), Urbanizing Suburbia: Hyper-Gentrification, the Financialization of Housing, and the Remaking of the Outer European City Berlin: Jovis verlag, pp. 190-211.
Watt, P. (2022) ‘. In: L. Cheshire (Ed.), Neighbours Around the World: An International Look at the People Next Door. Bingley: Emerald, pp. 169-188.
Allen, D. and Watt, P. (2022) ‘. In: P.J. Maginn and K.B. Anacker (Eds.), Suburbia in the 21st Century: From Dreamscape to Nightmare? Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 112-137.
Watt, P. (2018) ‘ In: N. Gray (Ed.), A Century of Housing Struggles: From the 1915 Rent Strikes to Contemporary Housing Activisms. Rowman & Littlefield, pp. 117-135.
Watt, P. (2017) ‘ In: P. Watt and P. Smets, P. (Eds.), Social Housing and Urban Renewal: A Cross-National Perspective. Bingley: Emerald, pp. 1-36.
Watt, P. and Bernstock, P. (2017) ‘ In: P. Cohen and P. Watt (Eds.), London 2012 and the Post-Olympics City: A Hollow Legacy? Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 91-138.
Watt, P., Millington, G. and Huq, R. (2014) . In: P. Watt and P. Smets (Eds.), Mobilities and Neighbourhood Belonging in Cities and Suburbs. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 121-144.
Watt, P. (2013) ‘ In: M. Kusenbach and K.E. Paulsen (Eds.), Home: International Perspectives on Culture, Identity and Belonging. Frankfurt: Peter Lang, pp. 225-247.
Watt, P. (2009) ‘. In: R. Imrie, L. Lees and M. Raco (Eds.), Regenerating London. London: Routledge, pp. 212-233.
Watt, P. (2008) ‘ in: P. Cohen and M.J. Rustin (Eds.), London’s Turning: The Making of Thames Gateway. Aldershot: Ashgate, pp.149-167.
Watt, P. (2007) ‘. In: B. Campkin and R. Cox (Eds.), Dirt: New Geographies of Cleanliness and Contamination. London: I.B. Tauris, pp. 80-91.
Selected recent media appearances
‘, Berliner Morgenpost, 29 August 2023,
‘“ Novara Media, 4 August 2023
‘, Open Democracy, 22 November 2022.
‘, The B1M, 31 August 2022.
’, Big Issue, 14 May 2022.
Camden New Journal, 4 March 2022.
, The Guardian, 7 October 2021.
‘, New Start (regeneration magazine), 30 April 2021
?’, The Guardian, 27 March, 2019.
The Times, 7 May 2018.
Real Media, 20 September 2017.
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