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. A man stands on a tram during the day holding his phone and wearing headphones

    Empowering people to hold tech accountable

    We need reform to remove structural barriers to people and civil society taking direct action against tech companies in UK courts – putting more power in the hands of people.
  2. The Home Office building in London

    Earned settlement: Decision time

    The government is imminently due to announce plans for a new model of ‘earned settlement’. These are expected to represent the most significant reforms to indefinite leave to remain in a generation.
  3. A little girl in a red school uniform looks at the camera while another student writes with a pencil next to her

    What comes next: A fairer approach to primary assessment

    England’s primary school accountability and assessment system is not working well for disadvantaged children.