The Planners: A New TV Series About Planners in the UK

BBC One has commissioned The Planners, a fiery, funny and touching new fly-on-the-wall documentary series that will give viewers a unique glimpse inside some of Britain's local planning authorities.

1 minute read

June 18, 2007, 2:00 PM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


From the press release:

"Each of the eight 30-minute early evening shows, commissioned by Richard Klein, BBC Commissioning Editor for Documentaries, will follow the trials and tribulations of the councils' officers in planning, building control and planning enforcement.

Every day brings new challenges from cheeky extension plans which would deprive a neighbour of their natural light which the planning officers have to make a decision on, to the illegally-built granny annexe at the end of someone's garden which the planning enforcement officers are going to have demolished.

Nothing evokes more emotion than when the environment in which you live is threatened with change, and the planning office staff appear as heroes or villains in equal measure.

From mobile phone masts to residential developments of over 60 flats, from the vexed question of satellite dishes to the thorny issue of garden sheds, each programme will feature a range of stories which will be resolved in each episode."

Thanks to Cyburbia

Friday, June 1, 2007 in BBC (Press Office)

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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