Does planning possess the power to address the issues people care about? Kate Henderson, with the UK's Town and Country Planning Association, discusses the results of a year-long study into how planning can help tackle poverty and exclusion.
"A year-long research project studied four communities and found strong evidence that planning could play a much more positive role by better integrating with sectors such as regeneration and health and reconnecting with issues that matter to local people," writes Henderson. But structural and professional obstacles have blunted the social impact of planning in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.
"There is an absence of a clear urban policy for England which deals with the multiple problems faced by many communities," she notes. "Part of the solution must be including planning within social policy more widely and understanding how planning can be tailored for communities struggling with issues such as social exclusion."
FULL STORY: How town planning can help to eradicate poverty

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

Trump Approves Futuristic Automated Texas-Mexico Cargo Corridor
The project could remove tens of thousands of commercial trucks from roadways.

Austin's First Single Stair Apartment Building is Officially Underway
Eliminating the requirement for two staircases in multi-story residential buildings lets developers use smaller lots and more flexible designs to create denser housing.

Atlanta Bus System Redesign Will Nearly Triple Access
MARTA's Next Gen Bus Network will retool over 100 bus routes, expand frequent service.
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This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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