A Question of Balance

Article

This paper assesses the Barker Review of Land Use Planning, exploring the role of planning in urban growth. It finds a case for managed reviews to green belts. But the jury is out on reforming the 'town centre first' approach, and proposals for planning major infrastructure need further work.

The Barker Review of Land Use Planning has been widely attacked as bad for cities: loosening the green belt, damaging town centres and undermining local democracy. But others felt the Review should have gone a lot further. Who is right?

This paper assesses Barker, exploring the role of planning in urban growth. It finds a case for managed reviews to green belts. But the jury is out on reforming the 'town centre first' approach, and proposals for planning major infrastructure need further work.

The forthcoming Planning White Paper should take forward Barker's more sensible proposals. But the Government must tread carefully, improving local planners' capacity before it introduces any major reforms.

Centre for Cities has re-launched as an independent think tank. You can visit them online at http://www.centreforcities.org.

Related items

  1. Assessing the economy

    Over the past few days and weeks, there has been lots of rather histrionic commentary about the UK’s economic situation as if the budget has created an economic disaster from which we’ll never recover.
  2. Cargo ship with shipping containers docked at Felixstowe

    Towards a UK trade strategy

    The UK is facing a precarious and volatile period for global trade.

  3. Change you can board: Delivering better, greener buses

    The bus services bill is an opportunity to ensure reform really means thriving, green 21st century local bus networks in England.