Town and Country Planning in the UK

Town and Country Planning in the UK, Barry Cullingworth and Vincent Nadin, London and New York, Routledge (14th edn), 2006, 588 pp., £29.99 (p/b) The latest edition of Cullingworth and Nadin is as ever comprehensive in its coverage and reminds the reader that, as far as the UK planning system is concerned, change is the only certainty. Maintaining a consistency of format, reminding readers and students alike of planning's origins, the authors have continued to track and log the influences on the planning system and the consequent changes these have brought to its practice. Over the years the growing role of sustainability, the EU and citizens' rights have demonstrated that the exercise of planning is set within a wider public services agenda. It has become a standard volume to define terms and, importantly, it sets the framework of planning for each successive student generation. (It is a pity perhaps that readers of earlier editions do not return to subsequent versions as part of their own CPD.) It also continues to offer a view of planning which is consistent with the position of the authors. It is authoritative but not without a distinct style and opinions. Material is only included once the authors are sure that it is more than a passing trend. This is also a sad edition as it is the last to which Barry Cullingworth will be contributing, offering his curiosity and wide-ranging knowledge of the planning system. His legacy will live on in its systematic approach to planning and in making sense of all that is influencing it. The structure of the 14th edition is clear, demonstrating the respective contributions to the planning system of the layers of government, regions and nations and of the EU, each section providing an explanation of both the current position and the direction of travel where this is known. It contains useful diagrams such as that demonstrating the respective agency structure in each of the four administrations in the UK (figure 3.2) and the many individual boxes with details of definitions, targets, objectives and implementation agencies. It fully recognises the role of urban and rural planning in a balanced and inclusive way. Town and Country Planning has an iconic role in the planning world and as such carries influence and importance that stretches beyond its pages. This is an important responsibility as it enables planners to see planning in terms of its legacy and explains its hinterland. …