See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.
net/publication/301926298
The community planning handbook: how people can shape their cities, towns
and villages in any part of the world
Article in Australian Planner · May 2016
DOI: 10.1080/07293682.2016.1176582
CITATIONS READS
3 2,501
1 author:
Laurel Johnson
Institute for Social Science Research
21 PUBLICATIONS 188 CITATIONS
SEE PROFILE
All content following this page was uploaded by Laurel Johnson on 22 August 2018.
The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.
L Johnson. Book Review. Wates, N. (2014) The Community Planning Handbook: how people can
shape their cities, towns and villages in any part of the world, 2nd edition. Earthscan. Routledge.
London.
It has been over 15 years since Wates (author) and Brook (the book’s graphic designer) collaborated
to publish the first edition of The Community Planning Handbook: how people can shape their cities,
towns and villages in any part of the world. Like the first, the second edition is a detailed guide for
practitioners. During the fifteen years between editions, community planning has become accepted
practice in the United Kingdom (UK). “The biggest change since the first edition has been that
community planning has moved from the preserve of a few enthusiasts to something that a great
many people come into contact with at some stage in their lives” (p.5). This edition covers the
material in the first with the addition of methods that utilise new technologies. There is also a short
case studies section. In Australia the book will appeal to practitioners who already engage effectively
with communities and/or are committed to doing so and planners, developers and communities
pursuing community planning activity.
Similar to the first edition, this book is a “how-to-do-it style” manual (p.2). It is a rich resource for
practitioners engaging with communities in planning, land use or project development. Brook’s
design input enhances the book’s useability. Photos, diagrams, sample agendas and consultation
outputs appear on most pages. This creates a colourful and effective guide.
The 300 pages is presented in five sections- principles, methods, scenarios, programs and case
studies. The book leads with seminal principles and a simple framework for ‘why and how’ to apply
participatory planning practice. The methods section details over 60 methods for engaging
communities in planning. While there is a repeat of many methods from the first edition, ‘the
internet’, ‘e-voting’, ‘online consultation’ and others are added to reflect the use of web
technologies in community planning.
Community planning methods vary for different scenarios. The book draws on a range of examples,
though many have a Global North context. The presentation of twenty-four project, planning and
development scenarios demonstrates the application of many methods from the previous section.
The short programs section presents three examples. Two of these are outside of the UK in Taiwan
and the US. The case studies section also has three examples. These are all from the UK. A mixed use
development, a community enterprise and a youth space project illustrate the diversity of
community planning activity. The appendices are ‘useful formats’, a checklist, glossary, contacts (UK)
and recommended publications and websites.
If there is a weakness, it is that the handbook assumes that community planning and authentic
participation in planning is accepted and usual practice. The recommended publications section
includes much of the critical literature, though the book itself does not engage with the debates in
the field. This may be appropriate for practitioners in the UK but Australian planning practitioners
are yet to consistently adopt community planning. More is needed to persuade planners of the value
of community planning. Through its user friendly presentation and rich range of methods, the book
goes some way to advancing that objective.
View publication stats
