Should rural Britain be preserved from urban development, or should people be allowed to live and shop where they want? In the face of continued urban expansion the countryside has become a major issue, its future development uncertain. This book addresses these concerns and provides an in-depth study of the rural debate. Beginning with the key concepts and issues, the author sets out the context in which planning operates and how society has constructed its own images of the countryside. Using three theoretical perspectives the book decsribes the evolution of the current planning system and...