ABSTRACT

Over the last 50 years, the English planning system has shifted its focus from post-war reconstruction and the creation of new towns, through slum clearance and comprehensive renewal, to an emphasis on a mix of regeneration and conservation within a market-led development framework. Today, it is sustainability which drives the new planning agenda. These changes have impacted upon the roles of local authority officers and members, as well as affording new opportunities for pressure groups, communities and other interested parties to engage in the planning of our urban areas.