Planning for growth and growth controls in early modern northern Europe: Part 2: the evolution of London's practice 1580 to 1680

Abstract

Following an earlier explanation of planning practices in various cities on the Continent, with their emphasis on expansion, this second paper examines more closely England's century-long experiment with growth prohibitions for London to combat plague and urban unrest. Even with the prohibitions there was no slackening in building. Later, certain exceptions to building prohibitions in London evolved toward regulations for safety and aesthetics. By 1680, London's growth became tolerated, if not planned for, though the suburbs were still not incorporated into the City of London despite having substantially surpassed it in population. The basic arguments and professional/technical responses to all this building were much like today's, helping planners to reflect upon their own present-day efforts in these regards.