First published in 1983, this book attempts to unify two bodies of theory which had become severely disjointed. Theories of the planning process had become detached from those of the urban and regional processes which are the subject of planning intervention. The author argues that major weaknesses of planning intervention in cities and regions have resulted from this split, and shows how it is possible to develop an integrated theory of the relationship between planning and spatial development. The mechanism which helps to unify the two fields is the division of labour. This poses problems for the planning system as its spatial requirements change but it depends upon the state planning framework in order to overcome those obstacles — hindering its capacity for spatial reorganisation. This book offers a thorough analysis of these obstacles and requirements by references to contemporaneous theoretical advances in the study of the development process, the state (especially at sub-national level), and the labour market. It is argued that the way capital makes use of urban and regional space can be explained by using the theoretical framework which is developed and, on this basis, point to certain innovative ways in which the processes underlying urban and regional de-industrialisation may be countered.

This title was first published in 1986 during a recession much like that faced in recent years, which placed immense pressure on the British planning system and led to social unrest in the inner cities and in many disadvantaged areas. Within this context, Peter Ambrose outlines the features of land development and explores the circumstances of post-war planning. The central section of the book deals with the key forces at work in land development – finance, the construction industry and the local and central state – and explains how they interact. Using a number of case-studies, including the greenfield urban fringe and London’s docklands, as well as examples drawn from other countries, Ambrose provides an essential background to the British planning system and the problems still faced by it today.

This edited collection, first published in 1989, provides a detailed analysis of rural land-use policies on a country-specific basis. Case studies include analyses of planning and legislation in Britain, The Netherlands, Japan, the U.S.A. and Australia. Alongside a comprehensive overview of the concept and application of rural land use from Paul Cloke, environment issues, resource management and the role of central governments are topics under discussion throughout. At an international level, this title will of particular interest to students of rural geography and environmental planning.

This edited collection, first published in 1988, was the first title to bring international perspectives into the field of rural planning. Using a comparative approach and a broad range of case studies, including Britain, Scandinavia, the U.S.S.R. and New Zealand, the authors review the major problems faced within rural areas, and policy responses to these problems. Each study deals with the political and institutional frameworks involved in the management of rural areas and the means by which policies have been implemented. With an introduction from Paul Cloke that places rural policies and plans within the context of the state, this reissue will be of great value to any students with an interest in the planning and organisation of rural communities across the world.

Since the 1970s, the field of political geography has undergone a significant transformation, where new methodologies have been implemented to investigate the exercise of the power of the state within the urban environment. First published in 1985, the essays in this collection addressed the growing need to assess the academic revisions that had been taking place and provide a reference point for future developments in the discipline. Still of great relevance, the essays consider the most prominent themes in areas of key importance to political geography, including theory and methodology, minority groups, local government and the geography of elections. This volume will be of significant value for students of political geography, urban demography and town planning.

Planning Theory has a history of common debates about ideas and practices and is rooted in a critical concern for the 'improvement' of human and environmental well-being, particularly as pursued through interventions which seek to shape environmental conditions and place qualities.. The first volume in this three volume series, Foundations of the Planning Enterprise, includes articles and papers which offer a unique general introduction to planning theory. The authors review the subject's development, its recurrent themes, its contemporary preoccupation as rational scientific management and its relations to other fields. The editors supplement the collection with an introductory overview as well as detailed introductions to each part. This will be an essential purchase for planning libraries around the world.

This edited collection, first published in 1987, provides a comparative analysis of different approaches to urban modelling, and lays the foundations for the possibility of integration and a more unified field. The first part contextualises the development of the field of urban systems modelling, focusing on the variety of approaches and possible implications of this on the future of research and methodology. Next, the editors consider economic and ‘non-economic’ approaches, followed by an analysis of spatial-interaction-based approaches. Providing an overview to the field and research literature, the overarching argument is that there should be an integrated methodological approach to urban system modelling.