Politics, Planning and Homes in a World City

Abstract

This work draws on some thirty years’ experience working for public sector agencies on housing strategy and spatial planning in London. I must, however, first acknowledge the work of my colleagues in the Mayor’s London Plan team between 2002 and 2007, especially Debbie McMullen, John Lett, David TaylorValiant, Eleanor Young and Alex Bax. I am also appreciative of comments on drafts from, or more informal discussions with, a number of professional and academic colleagues, including Christine Whitehead, Michael Edwards, Michael Bach and Peter Eversden. The work draws on the writings of a number of scholars of London planning, including Andrew Thornley, Mike Hebbert, Peter Newman, Michael Collins, Yvonne Rydin and Sir Peter Hall. I would also wish to record my thanks to London Metropolitan University for appointing me to a post which allowed me the time and space to write this book. My special thanks go to Julia Atkins, my colleague at London Metropolitan University and collaborator for nearly thirty years as we have moved between various agencies within the London governance structure, both for her contribution to planning and housing practice and for her help on the book. My thanks to the series editors, Mark Tewdwr-Jones and Nick Gallent, for accepting into their series a book which is more of a case study than a thematic text book. I of course take responsibility both for the opinions expressed as well as any remaining errors in the book. I hope that the former Mayor, Ken Livingstone, and his deputy, Nicky Gavron, both accept this book as the politically neutral and at least semiindependent analysis intended. I learned much from working with them and appreciate the opportunity I was given to work for five years at the centre of such an important innovation in spatial planning. I also acknowledge permission by the Greater London Authority and the Government Office for London to reprint images from the London Plan and related documents. My appreciation also of the contribution made by Catherine Lynn and colleagues at Routledge to getting the work through the publication process. I should also thank my family, Jackie, Jenny and Chris, for putting up with my hogging of the computer and covering the floor with books and paper