Commentary: What is this thing called spatial planning? An analysis of the British government's view

Abstract

Unlike most other disciplines concerned with the built environment, town planning has been given various titles and re-brandings in its history, of which the most recent example is the term 'spatial' planning. Focusing on the British government's view of spatial planning, as spelt out in the 2004 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act and its accompanying planning policy statements, this Commentary describes what spatial planning is said to be and then analyses whether, as its proponents claim, it is a different kind of planning from town or land use (etc.) planning. The Commentary argues that, with the possible exception of the aspiration to integrate and plan the spatial dimension of all government policy, there is no significant difference between spatial planning and town/land use (etc.) planning, and, hence, that this latest term is nothing more than a re-branding of an old activity, albeit one that has itself changed and evolved significantly over the last half century.