ABSTRACT
The three main circumstances which provide the context for the unfolding relationships between the three main agents of developers, planning authorities and community groups in Central Berkshire are: the role and scope of local government, the land use planning system, and the nature of development pressure in Central Berkshire. After April 1974, the elected representatives of the people of Berkshire had to operate a new local government system. Seen in terms of the aims and principles of the Redcliffe-Maud Commission the final result of local government reorganization was disappointing. The ability of central government to control local government came through the funding of local authority expenditure. A reading of the government circulars shows a steady increase in the way builder-developers’ demands have been incorporated into the language and practice of land use planning. The work of local planning authorities depends on the nature of local development pressure.
