This work examines the actual effects of urban planning in a comparative framework largely based on the UK and California. The planning process has been under attack throughout Europe and North America for a decade and more; this book takes the criticisms seriously and looks closely at what has actually happened. Its conclusions are critical and radical: that major changes are called for, such as the abolition of green belts, more permitted development, and a greater concentration on environmental impacts. Through a detailed analysis of studies of the effects of planning, the book compares...