Geography: The United Kingdom

• The United Kingdom is an island country off the northwestern coast of mainland Europe.
• It comprises the island of Great Britain (England, Wales, and Scotland) and the northern portion of Ireland.
• Britain is sometimes used as a name to refer to the United Kingdom as a whole.
• London is the capital and a leading global commercial, financial, and cultural center.
• Other major UK cities include Birmingham, Liverpool, and Manchester (England); Belfast and Londonderry (Northern Ireland); Edinburgh and Glasgow (Scotland); and Swansea and Cardiff (Wales).
• The Head of Government is the Prime Minister and the head of state is the King (King Charles III).
• The UK has a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system.

Urban Planning System

• The UK has a well-developed urban planning system managed by local authorities.
• It follows "plan-led" development, with local input in planning decisions.
• National policies are outlined in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

Government and Planning Legislation

• The UK government is a parliamentary democracy with a monarch as head of state.
• The Prime Minister leads the government.
• The "Town and Country Planning Act" is the primary legislation governing urban planning, establishing the framework for the current system.

Local Planning Authorities

• Local planning authorities (LPAs) prepare and implement local plans.
• These plans determine development areas and land use within their jurisdiction.

National Planning Policy Framework

• The NPPF sets out overarching national planning policies.
• Local authorities must consider these policies when making planning decisions.

Plan-Led System

• The UK uses a "plan-led" system where development is guided by locally prepared plans.
• This system ensures community engagement and consideration of local needs.

Devolved Powers

• While the national government sets the primary planning framework, some aspects are devolved.
• These aspects of urban planning are devolved to regional and local administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Historical Context

• The Roman conquest of Britain introduced early forms of urban planning.
  • This included establishing cities like London and infrastructure such as roads and walls (1st century BC to 5th century AD).
• The Norman Conquest led to feudalism and centralized governance.
  • It did not significantly impact urban planning directly (1066).
• The Treaty of Union united England (including Wales) and Scotland under a single government (1707).
• The Act of Union added Ireland to form the United Kingdom (1801).
• Rapid industrial growth led to significant urbanization during the 18th–19th centuries.
  • Cities expanded without much regulation.
  • Rapid growth overwhelmed existing infrastructure, resulting in overcrowding, pollution, and disease.
  • Canals were built to transport raw materials and goods.
  • The steam engine led to the development of railways, which transformed transportation and further fueled urbanization.

Garden City Movement

• The Garden City movement, advocating for self-contained, greenfield communities, was founded in the UK in 1898.
• Ebenezer Howard, a social reformer, founded it.
• Howard believed that the overcrowding and pollution of industrial towns and cities were detrimental to human health and wellbeing.

Early Urbanisation Examples

• The construction of the New Town of Edinburgh in the 18th century is one of the earliest recorded examples of planned urbanisation in the UK.
• Initiated in 1766 by city councillors who wanted to alleviate overcrowding and improve living conditions in Edinburgh’s Old Town.
• Social reformers pushed for new models of urban development.
• First council housing projects were initiated to provide affordable housing for the working class.
• Introduction of the automobile began.

Emergence of "Town Planning"

• The term 'town planning' emerged.
• It was first used in legislation through the Housing and Town Planning Act 1909.