Planning and Urban Change

Stephen V. (Steve) Ward is widely known internationally for his work in the field of planning history. He is a former President of the International Planning History Society 1996-2002 and remains a member of its governing Council. He is also a former editor of the refereed journal Planning Perspectives and continues as a member of its Editorial Board. He is also an Editorial Board member of the American refereed Journal of Planning History. He has published widely on historical matters relating to planning with many books, book chapters, articles and other outputs to his name.

• Planning and Urban ChangeIdeas and the Beginning of Policy, 1890-1914Widening Conceptions and Policy Shifts, 1914-1939A New Orthodoxy of Planning, 1939-1952Adjustments and New AgendasI The Changing Planning System, 1952-1974Adjustments and New AgendasII Strategic Policies, 1952-1974Remaking PlanningI The Changing System, 1974-1990Remaking PlanningII Specific Policies, 1974-1990A New Consensus? Planning since 1990Planning Impacts since 1945 and the Future

This interesting and generally well-written volume traces a history of planning activity in Britain. I particularly liked the three categories deployed to understand planning: ideas, policies and impacts. However, I was slightly disappointed the author did not have more to say about contemporary planning. This may not have been his aim and this is well covered elsewhere but as my course is about the contemporary system (other colleagues cover planning history), this textbook is of less direct use to my students.