Stevenage Ltd: Aspects of the Planning and Politics of Stevenage New Town 1945-78

This book examines the politics of planning a new town, focusing on two expansion schemes and the public protest they engendered. It argues that urban managerialism determined urban policy, with the interests of industry alone determining housing and employment. It casts doubt on the notion that protest groups were for democracy and against bureaucracy and concludes that public participation and protest were irrelevant to the decision-making processes.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 440 pages
Publication date: 24 August 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

A comprehensive examination of specific facets of the politics involved in planning a new town, this book, originally published in 1980, delves into events spanning from the inception of Stevenage in 1946 to 1978. Serving as a case study, the focus is primarily on two expansion schemes aimed at expanding the designated area of the town. Additionally, the book explores the public protest that these schemes elicited. Emphasis is placed on the structure and actions of three key groups: the urban managers, represented by the Stevenage Development Corporation; Stevenage industrialists; and local organizations actively engaged in protest. The theoretical framework revolves around the concept of "urban managerialism," which delves into the constraints imposed on the structure and actions of the Stevenage urban managers over the past thirty years. By illustrating how these matters function in practice, the book sheds light on issues of theory previously discussed only in abstract terms by other sociologists of planning, such as Pickvance and Castells.

The author contends that the experience of Stevenage exemplifies a scenario where urban policy, particularly in housing and employment, is solely driven by the interests of industry, while simultaneously highlighting the interconnectedness between Stevenage industry and the town's Development Corporation. Thorough analysis is conducted to examine the membership, strategies, and objectives of the various protest groups involved throughout the years. The author casts significant doubt on the notion that these groups were solely advocating for democracy and opposing bureaucracy. Ultimately, the book reaches a controversial conclusion, suggesting that public participation and protest played a minimal role in the decision-making processes associated with Stevenage's development.

Weight: 810g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032229010