The state response — the development of the British planning system

Orthodox interpretations of the origins of British town planning can be divided into two categories, idealist and evolutionist. Idealists see the power of the idea of planning as advanced by brilliant individual planners as being sufficient explanation for the development of planning, per se. The story of the development of planning therefore flits from Howard to Geddes, Unwin, Abercrombie, etc. While such figures undoubtedly made major contributions, a focus on their roles becomes idealist when their ideas are disconnected from the the political situation in which they were formulated.