This title was written as a concise guide for the non-specialist to the origins and evolution of British planning, its intellectual pedigree, achievements and cruxes. It is an invaluable background to the state of planning and the cases for and against it today.

List of Illustrations; 1. Introduction: planning today - what's the problem? 2. The industrial city and the rise of town and country planning 3. Theoretical perspectives 4. From town planning to 'planning': 1947 to the present 5. 'Turning points': planning and politics 6. Planning and culture: international comparisons and conclusions; Bibliography; Chronological list of Acts of Parliament and official reports; Index