This accessible textbook offers the first critical introduction to the UK's urban and rural planning policy. Andrew Gilg explains and evaluates policy development at each of the key stages:

* Objectives: what is the aim of planning in the UK?

* Methods: how appropriate is UK planning legislation?

* Procedures: how effective are the planning organizations and processes?

* Impacts: to what extent have planning policies addressed planning problems?

Teaching devices and case studies are used throughout to illustrate the planning process. The text concludes with a discussion of the measurement of the success or failure of planning practices.

Planning in Britain will be essential reading for all planning students, as well as geographers and land economists studying land use planning.