Territory, Identity and Space Spatial Governance in a Fragmented Nation

Planning is essential to delivering environmental sustainability, social inclusion, improved and integrated public transport, economic development and urban regeneration and must be analyzed in respect of other aspects of New Labour's regional project, not least the government's concern with business competitiveness. At another level, the current reforms which privilege regional scale policy interventions will inevitably require changes in the divisions of powers and responsibilities at local and national levels. In other words, devolution involves a major "rescaling" of both spatial planning and development, which is unfolding rapidly and unevenly across Britain.

This book addresses these issues, drawing on the experience of its contributors and case studies of devolved regions.

This book provides a multi-disciplinary study of territory, identity and space in a devolved UK, through the lens of spatial planning. It draws together leading internationally renowned researchers from a variety of disciplines to address the implications of devolution upon spatial planning and the rescaling of UK politics. Each contributor offers a different perspective on the core issues in planning today in the context of New Labour’s regional project, particularly the government’s concern with business competitiveness, and key themes are illustrated with important case studies throughout.

Mark Tewdwr-Jones is Professor of Spatial Planning and Governance and Director of Research at University College London’s Bartlett School of Planning. His research interests are related to planning, politics, community planning, and urban and regional development. He is currently involved in a number of research projects, including work across the European Union relating to European spatial planning, the scope and relevance of local planning, and the relationship between architecture, cities, and identity.

Philip Allmendinger is Professor of Planning and Director of the Centre of Planning Studies at the University of Reading. He is a chartered planner and surveyor with interests in theory, politics, regional planning and development. He is currently undertaking a number of research projects including work on resourcing planning and an ESRC funded project on integrated spatial planning, multi-level governance and state rescaling.