ABSTRACT
This chapter examines what is thought to be the opposite of planning, and use it to reflect on where the limits of the material lie. Planning is usually represented as a very rational activity, despite what are now long-standing criticisms of rational theories. In planning, policies are interpreted by practitioners, lawyers, applicants and others, and policies are challenged, decisions appealed, exceptions made and illegal developments either prosecuted or not. Enforcement is an important but often under-funded aspect of planning activity. Some forms of information, such as gossip or opinion, are more explicitly moralistic, since people know that gossip is passed on in order to pass judgement on people's behaviour. Dereliction, drug-dealing, theft, the burning of stolen cars or at least not fully social hence the term anti-social behaviour takes on a powerful resonance in relation to problem estates. In response, the magic of planning can be applied to create a civilised well-behaved residential area.
