This study looks at the ways in which the planning problems and approaches of Scotland and Wales are sometimes similar to, and sometimes very different from, each other, and evaluates some central elements of planning and economic development (urban and rural) in the two countries.
This book provides a multi-disciplinary study of territory, identity and space in a devolved UK, through the lens of spatial planning. It draws together leading internationally renowned researchers from a variety of disciplines to address the implications of devolution upon spatial planning and the rescaling of UK politics. Each contributor offers a different perspective on the core issues in planning today in the context of New Labour’s regional project, particularly the government’s concern with business competitiveness, and key themes are illustrated with important case studies throughout.
This thirteenth edition has been completely revised to take into account all the changes that have occurred in British planning, including the policies introduced by the Labour government, devolution, innovations and the European Union.
Town and Country Planning in the UK has become the Bible of British planning. In this new edition detailed consideration is given to: * the nature of planning and its historical evolution * central and local government, the EU and other agencies * the framework of plans and other instruments * development control * land policy and planning gain * environmental and countryside planning * sustainable development, waste and pollution * heritage and transport planning * urban policies and regeneration This twelfth edition has been completely revised and expanded to cover the whole of the UK. The new edition explains more fully the planning policies and actions of the European Union and takes into account the implications of local government reorganization, the 'plan-led system' and the growing interest in promoting sustainable development.
Planning is not a technical and value free activity. Planning is an overt political system that creates both winners and losers. The Planning Polity is a book that considers the politics of development and decision-making, and political conflicts between agencies and institutions within British town and country planning. The focus of assessment is how British planning has been formulated since the early 1990s, and provides an in-depth and revealing assessment of both the Major and Blair governments' terms of office. The book will prove to be an invaluable guide to the British planning system today and the political demands on it. Students and activists within urban and regional studies, planning, political science and government, environmental studies, urban and rural geography, development, surveying and planning, will all find the book to be an essential companion to their work.
Fully revised and thoroughly updated, the Second Edition of Planning and Urban Change provides an accessible yet richly detailed account of British urban planning. Stephen Ward demonstrates how urban planning can be understood through three categories: ideas - urban planning history as the development of theoretical approaches: from radical and utopian beginnings, to the `new right′ thinking of the 1980s, and recent interest in green thought and sustainability; policies - urban planning history as an intensely political process, the text explains the complicated relation between planning theory and political practice; and impacts - urban planning history as the divergence of expectation and outcome, each chapter shows how intended impacts have been modified by economic and social forces. This Second Edition features an entirely new chapter on the key policy changes that have occurred under the Major and Blair governments, together with a critical review of current policy trends.
The UK government of Tony Blair is committed to fostering a European dimension of planning practice. Significant developments in relation to planning within Europe are occurring. The creation of the European Spatial Development Perspective, the reform of the Structural Funds, and the implementation of programmes to foster trans-national co-operation between governments, will all impact on UK government, and on planning system in particular. Even within the UK, devolution and regionalisation will bring new pressures for overall co-ordination on the issue of European spatial planning. Issues concerning the revisions of the Structural Funds in 2000 and 2006, and funding opportunities for local authorities, are closely connected with the theme of this book. More importantly, it is expected that the link between funding and spatial policy within British planning will become more clearly defined during this period. The European dimension of British planning, as a consequence, may grow significantly over the next few years. The authors tackle four key issues in their discussion of this topic: * British political attitudes to Europeanisation issues * The changing relationships between different arms of the state * The often complex interdependencies between tiers of governance * The rapidly changing definition of British urban and regional planning
Second homes are once again a source of political and social contention in rural areas. The British government's decision to reduce Council Tax discounts on second homes in England in April 2004 has caused wide debate in local communities, local authorities, and the media. The debate has not only focused on the vexed Council Tax issue, but on wider rural housing concerns. Questions have been raised as to whether second homes are a major cause of housing affordability problems in rural areas, and whether they lead to the displacement of local people in rural communities. In the face of anecdotal evidence being presented to answer these questions, Second Homes: European Perspectives and UK Policies, offers a more comprehensive analysis of the second homes question as it now exists. This up-to-date and authoritative analysis of second homes draws on the latest research and offers a critical insight into current housing problems in rural communities. Those interested in rural and housing studies will find the book valuable.
While originally created as reserves for beautiful landscapes and endangered species, protected areas in Europe were subsequently used as a means to preserve whole ecosystems, with restrictions on human activities and impacts. More recently, protected areas are also being considered as instruments for regional development, particularly in marginal regions facing severe economic and socio-cultural problems. Contrary to previous conservation-focused policies, new approaches aim to blend conservation and development functions, making protected areas real 'living landscapes' and integrating activities such as agriculture, forestry, handicrafts, tourism and education with the conservation and sustainability aspects. The past decade has seen a marked increase in these innovative and dynamic types of protected areas. However, the policies of individual European countries are very varied. This volume provides a comprehensive overview of the relationship between protected areas and regional development policies, both in theory and practice. Illustrated with a wide range of case studies from across Europe, it compares the different concepts, strategies and instruments being used. In conclusion, it suggests the most innovative and successful ways to use protected areas for regeneration and sustainable regional development.
This title was first published in 2000: Improved communication links between urban and rural areas and an increase in property prices in urban regions have made commuting an attractive option for European town and city dwellers eager to 'escape' urban living. This has lead to a proliferation of second homes in certain remote or deep rural areas, and this trend is compounding problems that are already affecting the indigenous populations in these areas - such as socio-economic decline, agricultural depression, a lack of services, and unaffordable house prices. Consequently, many politicians in European Member States are calling for the introduction of housing and planning laws to control the proliferation of second home ownership. This book addresses the origins of second home growth, the nature of ownership and demand, the economic costs and benefits and the environmental and social impacts of second homes. It also considers policy and practical responses at European, UK and local levels. The book will be invaluable reading for students and policy analysts in the fields of rural geography, planning, politics, housing studies and cultural studies.