This is the fourth edition of the classic text for students of urban and regional planning. It gives a historical overview of the developments and changes in the theory and practice of planning, throughout the entire 20th century. This extensively revised edition follows the successful format of previous editions: * it introduces the establishment of planning as part of the public health reforms of the late nineteenth century and goes on to look at the insights of the great figures who influenced the early planning movement, leading up to the creation of the post-war planning machine. * national and regional planning, and planning for cities and city regions, in the UK, from 1945 to 2000, is then considered. Specific reference is made to the most important British developments in recent times, including the Single Regeneration Budget, English Partnerships, the devolution of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the establishment of the Mayor of London and the dominant urban sustainability paradigm. * planning in Western Europe, since 1945, now incorporating new material on EU-wide issues, as well as updated country specific sections. * planning in the United States, since 1945, now discussing the continuing trends of urban dispersal and social polarisation, as well as initiatives in land use planning and transportation policies. * finally the book looks at the nature of the planning process at the end of the 20th century, reflecting briefly on shifts in planning paradigms since the 1960s and going on to discuss the main issues of the 1990s, including sustainability and social exclusion and looking forward to the 21st century.