ABSTRACT
Planning is not a new human activity; nor is the planning of human settlements which began as soon as man imposed himself upon the environment as distinct from living in and off the natural habitats. The larger settlements of the early civilisations demanded both physical and economic planning as a large number of human resources were often required to construct the ‘new’ urban environments. In other areas of the world, the growth of urban areas was incremental, but both led to major problems. For example, early Rome required the introduction of traffic restrictions to overcome the problems of an inadequate road system in a densely populated city, and a decree by Queen Elizabeth I restricted development immediately outside London. The phenomenon of the city as a catalyst for growth is not new, but the Industrial Revolution in Britain proved to be the critical factor in establishing the town as a major unit of production, rather than a place associated with commerce, defence or religion.
