A perspective on the British planning process

This article assesses British planning practice, using that phrase in the widest possible context. Critical assessments of that practice are made in relation to four specific issues. The first is the lack of long-term social goals for which to plan, the second is the emphasis placed upon distinct professional identities, the third is the related development of technical planning, and the fourth is the weakness of the participative exercise. These issues are related to wider social and political ideas, and illustrated by examples from town and country planning, housing, and transportation.