Town Planning For Iraq

The future of Iraq depends on the rebuilding of the country's towns and cities. The Iraq government has appointed consultants to plan for the future of Najaf, which was extensively damaged during military operations in the city in 2004. However, the security situation means that planning is being done remotely from London.

"The arms-length approach is unorthodox for planners, who generally like to plant themselves in the centre of wherever they are working to absorb the atmosphere and 'get the feel of how people use the place'.

Instead, Mr Crookston and his London colleagues are in close e-mail contact with their Iraqi colleagues who are doing the preliminary assessment work."