A study of national physical planning policy

Abstract

The central thesis of this study is that the effectiveness of British town planning might be improved by a fuller recognition of the macro spatial dimension through an indicative national physical plan, explicitly as an instrument for securing socio-economic objectives. Despite the requirement of the Minister of Town and Country Planning Act 1943 for a national policy for the use and development of land; despite the complementary nature of policy-/plan-making; despite the need for context for sub-national planning; and despite the importance of overall planning of physical structure and resources in the national interest, Britain has no comprehensive strategic framework. After introducing its aims (Chapter 1), the study consists of two parts. In Part I, the concept of national physical planning and its impact on Britain is examined. We begin with a widely synoptic view of its place and function (Chapter 2), we focus on salient features of the British statutory town planning system (Chapter 3), and we look more closely at regional/national aspects (Chapter 4), suggesting the utility of an enhanced role for physical planning at macro scale. The main thrust of the thesis is in Part II which concentrates on the potential of an indicative national physical plan for Britain. We consider the strategic need for more coherent end positive guidance by the Government towards national physical structuring and resource allocation (Chapter 5). Justification for our concept is sought in theoretical models (Chapter 6). its operational framework and working tools are examined (Chapter 7), and we analyse the social/economic/physical basis of macro town planning to identify major issues requiring policy/plan responses in the physical em (Chapter 8). Then, using the experience of varied case studies (Chapter 9), we outline proposals for an indicative national physical plan (Chapter 10), and summarise prospects (Chapter 11).