Can regional identities create a more sustainable alternative to the increasingly standardised environments in which we live? Is bottom-up rather than top-down planning possible? Why is the development of housing in the countryside so controversial in Britain, but accepted in Norway and Sweden? What does the Dutch way of managing landscapes demonstrate? How is the EU promoting a new relationship between cities and countryside, and moulding the identity of new D uro-regions D ? This book tackles these questions by looking at the contested identities of areas facing industrial and agricultural change in Scotland, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands. The book draws on collaboration between local governments from these four countries in analyzing the changes that are happening in places, identities, and public engagement in the planning process, such as the emergence of new regional bodies which sidestep the nation state in their dealings with the EU. also altering relations between governments and voters, as welfare state paternalism and local representative democracy is overtaken by a new, fragmented politics of identity and lifestyle. These overall themes are introduced in the first three chapters and then explored in relation to specific examples in the second part of the book. Chapters look at the European Spatial Development Perspective and new trans-national D patial Visions D; change in exemplar regions and their sub-regional identities; innovations in strategic regional planning; local involvement in rural development and Local Agenda 21; green belts and the urban fringe; and design and regeneration of small towns. The final chapter reflects on the content and process of creating narratives of place identity through planning. This book has emerged out of planning practice. It draws on insights from geography, politics and cultural studies to analyse how those involved in the planning process are addressing the practical questions posed by urban expansion and the loss of traditional place identities. planning D are being driven through the development of the European Union. The editors argue that globalisation and the politics of neo-liberalism challenge planners everywhere to rethink their assumptions and create a new approach to planning.

--The book could be used at undergraduate and postgraduate levels on urban and regional planning programmes, but could also feature in some urban geography programmes and international studies. --The book would have widespread international appeal reflecting its focus on the Commonwealth and its authorship by world renown academics, thought leaders and distinguished practitioners from 9 countries.

Programmes! Programmes! Football and Life from Wartime to Lockdown is a fascinating archaeological dig through a collection of 2,000 programmes. From the bleak wartime era when players had to shelter from air raids and depend on army leave, to tragedies and the 'Slum Game', through to the glitz of today's global stars, noodle partners and fan-owned, community-based clubs - every aspect of football's evolution, its highs and lows can be found in match-day programmes, along with a dose of bad poetry, adverts for sex magazines, boy bands who never made it and explanations of a 'magic sponge' for American fans. There are unforgettable games, World Cup winners, schoolboy internationals destined for stardom and others whose glimpse of glory proved fleeting. The stories play out against a backdrop of technological, economic and social change in Britain and beyond, rekindling the memories of generations of fans. Programmes! Programmes! is a 'must' for lovers of football nostalgia, with fascinating, funny and quirky tales galore.

--The book could be used at undergraduate and postgraduate levels on urban and regional planning programmes, but could also feature in some urban geography programmes and international studies. --The book would have widespread international appeal reflecting its focus on the Commonwealth and its authorship by world renown academics, thought leaders and distinguished practitioners from 9 countries.

From the growth of a multi-billion-dollar high-technology corridor in Malaysia to conflict over housing development in Chicago, the practice of regional and local economic development around the world is both dynamic and diverse. Regional and Local Economic Development introduces the theory behind economic development and provides examples of successful, and less successful, practice. This broad-ranging new text shows how government, private industry and individuals combine to achieve economic development. It examines the development of policies and practices in recent decades - such as eco-industrial parks, place marketing and social enterprises - and analyzes the ways in which contemporary regional economies are changing. It also summarizes the key academic debates and reviews the main concepts which inform policy-making. Truly global in scope, with case studies from over 30 countries, this book will be welcomed by students and practitioners alike.