ABSTRACT

An examination of the domestic town planning system in any European nation will reveal a variety of different practices and procedures reflecting the distinct historical, geographical, political and economic factors that have shaped those countries. However, it is possible to identify specific features that help to distinguish or group the planning systems of European nations. This chapter examines the town planning systems of Germany, France, Spain, and the Netherlands (Table 9.1). Key characteristics will be identified and comparisons made with the British system. This is followed by an examination of the impact of the European Community on town planning within its member-states and the emerging planning systems in the former communist nations of central and eastern Europe.