Message from Andy Thornley (Programme Director)
Hello everyone,
Welcome the 2007 Edition of the Planning Newsletter. I am afraid there has been a delay in preparing this so it covers the last two years. Two years in which we have had, once again, very friendly, stimulating and enthusiastic groups of Masters students. Their energy and enthusiasm led to two highly successful study trips to Athens and Istanbul (see more below). The current group have just finished and are leaving us to return to their previous jobs, travel, take a rest (!), or begin exciting new work. Meanwhile we staff are waiting expectantly to see who turns up in the 2007/8 Induction session.
I, myself, am just returning from a sabbatical term in which I have been recovering some energy, doing a bit of writing and starting to gear up to two research ventures - one with international colleagues comparing urban policy and governance between London, New York, Paris and Tokyo and the other investigating the issue of the urban legacy of the Olympic Games. In my absence Nancy Holman (currently in the Social Policy Department) has been acting Director and has done a wonderful job. She will be playing an increasing role on the Programme and a message from her follows below.
It always occurs to me that all you alumni out there make up an interesting resource - doing your fascinating work across the globe. The small snippets we get in your e-mails are often quite tantalizing as it would be great to know more. If any of you want to write longer pieces about the work you are doing, what is happening in your countries or cities, or have pieces of existing work that could be used, it would be great to include them in the Newsletter. Maybe we could also list web links to interesting items you have come across. We will try and do more along these lines for the next Newsletter - in the meantime keep the e-mails flowing.
Andy
Message from Nancy Holman (Deputy Director)
It has been 60 years since the 1947 Town & Country Planning Act was passed ushering in a radical, new system of land use planning in the United Kingdom. The Act nationalised development rights controlling most development through planning permission. The Act also set out provisions for plans to be developed that would set out national, regional, and local policies regarding land use. The system, unlike others across Europe and The United States, privileged public interest over property rights and has won praise for its flexibility and adaptability. The system has also, in more recent times, embraced an ever increasing democratisation and emphasis on community involvement and participation.
However, recent criticisms of the system have been levelled at its slowness in proceeding development from idea to reality. This has been seen in the Treasury reviews of land use policy where the planning system has been highlighted as a barrier to providing ample housing in a booming market. The system has also been singled out as causing delays for projects important to national economic development (e.g. Heathrow Terminal 5) and stopping projects important for sustainability (e.g. the London Array wind farm).
So, it looks like interesting times ahead for planners. Whether we are planning in London, Tokyo, Islamabad, Toronto, or New York, planners are constantly asked to balance thousands of competing interests and ideals. Do we speed up our decision making so that more houses get built and the economy thrives? Do we need to "do" more consultation so that community voices are heard in the development process? Can we address the needs of sustainable development and produce greener communities?
This year on the RUPS programme we have debated these issues - in class, in seminars, and certainly down at the pub! The Planning Society visited Istanbul where they saw how planning was impacting on a city and nation trying to prepare itself for potential entry into the EU,
We also visited Milton Keynes to see how this low density "New Town" was coping with expansion and densification.
Planning will always be a profession that has to continually adapt itself to new policies, new information and new ways of working and this makes it an extremely exciting (if not occasionally frustrating) job. Here is hoping that this year's graduates find the challenges ahead of them rewarding!
Dr. Nancy Holman
Deputy Director, RUPS