Dr Mark Tewdwr-Jones is Reader in Spatial Planning and Governance at The Bartlett School of Planning, University College London. His specialist research interests are predominantly in the fields of planning, government and politics, and housing. He is the author of five books and over 70 academic papers and book chapters. He has been an advisor to Government departments and local authorities throughout the UK on town and country planning issues and is currently undertaking research for both the Welsh Assembly and the Countryside Agency in England.

• 1. Introduction. Part I: Political Ideology, Policy Relations and the Planning Process. 2. A Theoretical Context of Planning Policy. 3. The Politics of Planning Policy: The Major Era. 3. The Politics of Planning Policy: The Blair Era. 5. National, Regional and Local Planning Policy Relationships. Part Two: Planning Policy Conflicts in Government Relationships. 6. National Consistency in the Planning Policy Process. 7. Regional Certainty and Compatibility in the Planning Policy Process. 8. Local Discretion in the Planning Policy Process. 9. National Agendas and Planning Policy Variation: Wales vs. England. Part Three: Devolution, Distinctiveness and Planning Policy Development. 10. National Planning Policy and Devolution in Wales After 1999. 11. Devolution and Planning Policy Development in Scotland After 1999. 12. Planning Policy Within New Forms of Governance. 13. Conclusions.

'Very timely ... a profound review of the planning polity in the UK ... issues presented are theoretically well informed and provide a highly detailed level of information on the processes currently ongoing in the UK ... A competent and comprehensive overview of the planning polity in the UK.' - Kai Böhme, Town Planning Review, 2005'The Planning Polity is a profoundly useful reader on the UK planning polity and is thus to be recommended for scholars in that field. It provides valuable insights into the polity context of planning for UK students and will thus be of significant use to researchers with a deeper interest in the British planning system.' - Kai Böhme, Town Planning Review, 2005