Planned Urban Development

Learning from Town Expansion Schemes in the UK and Europe

Elgar Studies in Planning Theory, Policy and Practice

Chris Couch, Emeritus Professor of Urban Planning, Liverpool John Moores University and Honorary Research Fellow, University of Liverpool, UK

Using case studies from the UK and Europe, Chris Couch examines the nature and achievements of the expanded towns programmes that emerged in the mid-20th century to accommodate population growth and overspill from densely populated urban areas. Thought-provoking insights into lessons to be learnt are provided, alongside arguments for further planned expansion of smaller towns today.

‘This book offers valuable insight into the UK and European experience of planning for growth and pressure on existing settlements. By examining the development and implementation of several UK and European urban expansion policies the reader is provided with a balanced insight into approaches to planning for urbanization. This book will be particularly valuable to academics with an interest in urban design, planning, regeneration and economic development grappling with planning for future needs and demands.’
– Katherine Pollard, Journal of Urban Affairs

‘Chris Couch provides a detailed overview of the modern history of urban extension schemes in Britain. Discussions of broader trends are combined with in-depth chapters on individual localities, including international comparative case studies in France and the Netherlands. The book contains rich empirical material throughout and is illustrated by original masterplan sketches, recent images and data visualizations. The lessons from Couch’s historical analysis will be valuable for planners managing urban expansion and sprawl in a variety of contemporary contexts across the world.’
– Matthew Cocks, Principia College, US

‘Planned Urban Development: Learning from Town Expansion Schemes in the UK and Europe is an important and timely contribution to planning literature. The analysis provided in this book confirms the centrality of the broad vision and applied practice of planning for balanced urban development. Through a series of national and international case studies, each of which is documented in great detail, Chris Couch provides a meticulously researched account of one of the most significant planning initiatives of the 20th century – the town expansion scheme.’
– Cathal O'Connell, University College Cork, Ireland

‘By threading different time periods of different town expansion plans, Chris Couch has written a must-read text for anyone who is interested in learning from how planning policies and decisions since the 1950s have impacted on housing supply and shaped our everyday life in the UK and Europe. It is a very well-researched book and serves as a mirror to remind us what to do and what not to do in our planned urban development.’
– Cecilia Wong, University of Manchester, UK