ABSTRACT
The goals of regularity and symmetry forced the planners to overcome physical barriers: Georgian townscapes swept over the topography, ignoring valleys, old loch beds and river channels. Craig's plan for Edinburgh succeeded because it was ideally suited to the site. The principal street, George Street, crowned the ridge, and dignity was added by a noble square at each end. The Council kept control of the appearance of the New Town by a series of building regulations which progressively fettered the inclinations of the various architects, clients and builders. As the New Town progressed westwards the council insisted on the adoption of uniform elevations. Robert Adam was employed to carry on Craig's work, and his palace blocks in Charlotte Square are masterpieces of urban design. The era of Georgian town planning was opened in Glasgow by the tobacco barons who built their elegant residences around George Square between 1750 and 1775.
