Regional Spatial Strategies (RSSs) bridged the gap between those planning issues determined by local policy or concern, and those subject to policy goals defined at a national level - such as those for housing or renewable energy. The committee did not pass judgment on the merits of regional spatial strategies, but is concerned about the hiatus created by their intended abolition. This is giving rise to an inertia that is likely to hinder development - making it much harder to deliver necessary but controversial or emotive 'larger than local' facilities and to ensure that our national need for new housing is met. There also needs to be a strengthened local authority 'duty to co-operate' and a better understanding of where Local Enterprise Partnerships will fit into these new planning arrangements. The Government's recognition that we need to build more houses, and its commitment to deliver 150,000 affordable homes over the next four years (although this is not an exceptional number by historic standards) is welcomed. However, the likelihood of achieving this increase through the New Homes Bonus is questioned. There is no evidence this mechanism will increase housing supply by 8 - 13% in the way that ministers predict. Indeed, it became clear during this inquiry that estimates for new house building contained in local authorities' plans have already fallen by 200,000 following the decision to abolish RSSs. The committee concludes that this Government may face a stark choice between whether to build fewer homes than its predecessors, or abandon its commitment to promote localism in decisions of this kind. The committee therefore calls for the New Homes Bonus to be linked explicitly to the delivery of homes provided for in local plans following robust assessments of housing need

Town and country planning has never been more important to the UK, nor more prominent in national debate. Planning generates great controversy: whether it’s spending £80m and four years’ inquiry into Heathrow’s Terminal 5, or the 200 proposed wind turbines in the Shetland Isles. On a smaller scale telecoms masts, take-aways, house extensions, and even fences are often the cause of local conflict. Town and Country Planning in the UK has been extensively revised by a new author group. This 15th Edition incorporates the major changes to planning introduced by the coalition government elected in 2010, particularly through the National Planning Policy Framework and associated practice guidance and the Localism Act. It provides a critical discussion of the systems of planning, the procedures for managing development and land use change, and the mechanisms for implementing policy and proposals. It reviews current policy for sustainable development and the associated economic, social and environmental themes relevant to planning in both urban and rural contexts. Contemporary arrangements are explained with reference to their historical development, the influence of the European Union, the roles of central and local government, and developing social and economic demands for land use change. Detailed consideration is given to • the nature of planning and its historical evolution • the role of the EU, central, regional and local government • mechanisms for developing policy, and managing these changes • policies for guiding and delivering housing and economic development • sustainable development principles for planning, including pollution control • the importance of design in planning • conserving the heritage • community engagement in planning The many recent changes to the system are explained in detail – the new national planning policy framework; the impact of the loss of the regional tier in planning and of the insertion of neighbourhood level planning; the transition from development control to development management; the continued and growing importance of environmental matters in planning; community engagement; partnership working; changes to planning gain and the introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy; and new initiatives across a number of other themes. Notes on further reading are provided and at the end of the book there is an extensive bibliography, maintaining its reputation as the ‘bible’ of British planning.

Urban Complexity and Spatial Strategies develops important new relational and institutionalist approaches to policy analysis and planning, of relevance to all those with an interest in cities and urban areas. Well-illustrated chapters weave together conceptual development, experience and implications for future practice and address the challenge of urban and metropolitan planning and development. Useful for students, social scientists and policy makers, Urban Complexity and Spatial Strategies offers concepts and detailed cases of interest to those involved in policy development and management, as well as providing a foundation of ideas and experiences, an account of the place-focused practices of governance and an approach to the analysis of governance dynamics. For those in the planning field itself, this book re-interprets the role of planning frameworks in linking spatial patterns to social dynamics with twenty-first century relevance.

The governance structures in urban and regional development have undergone processes of transformation since the medieval period, resulting in them becoming increasingly decentralised, diversified, and centred about "middle-class values". An essential part was played by the initial concepts of land ownership and planned land use. These were then complemented by additional items from land taxation to the concepts that began to evolve during the 20th century, including diverse elements such as land economics and social responsibility. This volume concentrates on a diverse range of topics centering on the relationships between governance and the organization of entities within both urban and rural areas. The essays indicate that the development of systems of governance runs parallel to and reflects the indelible print humankind has made upon all forms of landscape. Over time various forms of governance evolved, but in the course of the last century they also became more accountable. Together this resulted in a continual process of evolving boundaries and territories, of political changes, and of the subsequent divisions between urban and rural areas as well as urban subdivisions. In addition to this complex mixture of land and spatial planning issues, we are faced today with rapidly changing demographic profiles across all of Europe – and not the least with the emerging awareness of how social responsibilities impact this issue. Even though this volume cannot provide all the answers to the many complex problems, together the essays present a stimulating, interdisciplinary approach that challenges conventional thoughts in European land and spatial planning.

As housing supply in England reaches crisis point, Duncan Bowie provides a critical review of housing policy under successive UK governments. From Blair’s New Labour and Cameron’s Coalition government to the 2016 Housing and Planning Act, Bowie demonstrates how successive governments have failed to provide adequate, affordable housing, leading to a chronic lack of provision. Exploring the inter-relationship between housing, planning and land policies, Bowie puts forward a reform programme based on an alternative set of policy priorities and delivery mechanisms, arguing the case for an integrated approach on land, taxation, planning and public investment to provide radical solutions to a growing crisis.

Town and Country Planning in the UK provides one of the most authoritative and comprehensive accounts of British planning history, institutions, legislation, policies, processes and practices. This 16th edition has been substantially revised and re-organised to provide an up-to-date overview of the planning systems in the four nations of the UK, supported by analyses, interpretations, illustrations and examples from planning practice. The new edition features: details of the legislative and policy changes since 2015 and discussion of their implications, including the early stages of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act, 2023 discussion of environmental policies and programmes and the impact of Brexit on environmental regulatory landscape in Britain changes to climate change and resilience policies, notably the government’s ‘Net Zero’ agenda and their implications for planning updates to the substantive issues in plan-making, especially the responses to the shortage of affordable housing and the development of major infrastructure changes to the processes involved in plan-making and development management an expanded and revised chapter on design to include the growing significance of public health in the built environment major revisions to the chapter on rural planning revisions of the text on planning theory especially in relation to management of conflicts over the use and development of land extended discussion of politics, professionalism and participation in planning The 16th edition of Town and Country Planning in the UK is an ideal starting point for those who are studying or working in the planning field, and for other professionals who need to locate their work in the planning context.

The Localism Bill will devolve powers to councils and neighbourhoods and aims to give local communities more control over housing and planning decisions. It includes measures to reform the planning system, the provision of housing and a range of local authority governance issues. The Bill will abolish Regional Spatial Strategies (which set a regional-level planning framework for England) and will establish neighbourhood plans and neighbourhood development orders, by which it is intended that communities will be able to influence council policies and development in their neighbourhoods. The Government intends to introduce a 'presumption in favour of sustainable development' as set out in the Conservative Party's 2010 Green Paper 'Open Source Planning' and then in the Coalition Agreement. The presumption does not feature in the Localism Bill, although it will be included in a new National Planning Policy Framework. Evidence taken by the Committee highlighted a number of potential risks with the proposed reforms. These included: fairness in influencing neighbourhood development; monitoring the cumulative impacts of locally determined planning decisions; and the application of sustainability and climate change duties to neighbourhood planning. The Committee feels that the Localism Bill must provide a statutory duty to apply the principles of sustainability in the planning system and other functions of local government and provide a commitment to define the term 'sustainable development' in the planning context. This would include in the Bill the five internationally recognised principles of sustainable development as set out in the 2005 Sustainable Development Strategy. This should then be developed for the National Planning Policy Framework

In this report the Transport Committee calls on the Government to publish a White Paper on its transport strategy, explaining in particular how spending on transport will deliver economic growth and development. Such a strategy must set objectives for all transport spending and explain the criteria Ministers will use to decide between different claims on limited financial resources. The report welcomes the commitment to undertake transport investment that will deliver sustainable growth and enterprise, including 'green' industries, balanced across all sectors and in a manner that will reduce regional disparities. Ministers must however ensure that this vision for transport investment is backed up by a pro-active and fully integrated economic development strategy. This is so far absent. The current Government has swept away the regional tier of planning and many institutions that played a key role in the development of strategic priorities for transport spending in support of economic development. This has created a vacuum that has left regions without the institutions and arrangements they need to plan and prioritise sub-national transport schemes and other significant transport infrastructure. The Coalition also needs a much stronger strategy for developing the UK's major ports and airports. The Government must also do more to correct regional disparities in transport investment. The Department for Transport's 'New Approach To Appraisal' process, which plays such a major role in deciding which transport schemes get Government funding, is highly controversial. Small schemes, including sustainable transport projects, may be cut disproportionately under new transport funding arrangements.

Allmendinger presents a thorough analysis of the planning system throughout the years of the Labour government, and what this means for the future of UK planning policy.

All over the world societies are facing a number of major problems. New developments, challenges and opportunities cause these issues and yet cases tell us that traditional spatial planning responses and tools are often insufficient to tackle these problems and challenges. Situated Practices of Strategic Planning draws together examples from across the globe – from France to Australia; from Nigeria to the United States, as it observes international comparisons of the strategic planning process. Many approaches and policies used today fail to capture the dynamics of urban/regional transformation and are more concerned with maintaining an existing social order than challenging and transforming it. Stewarded by a team of highly regarded and experienced researchers, this book gives a synthetic view of the process of change and frames future directions of development. It is unique for its combination of analysis of international case studies and reflection on critical nodes and features in strategic planning. This volume will be of interest to students who study regional planning, academics, professional planners, and policy makers.