The development of town planning education at University College London 1914–1969: the contributions of professors S. D. Adshead, L. P. Abercrombie, and W. G. Holford

Abstract

Drawing on archival records of the University of London and University College London (UCL) and contemporary literature, this article examines the development of town planning education at UCL from 1914 to 1969 under the headships of Professors Stanley Adshead, Patrick Abercrombie, and William Holford. UCL established its Certificate and Diploma courses at a time when town planning was in its infancy as an academic discipline and field of professional activity. There were no precedents to follow – it was not until 1916 that the Town Planning Institute formulated its first syllabus. Adshead's initial course structure and curriculum remained largely unchanged until the decision was taken in 1971 to phase out the part-time planning courses. Subsequent changes reflected the personal planning philosophies of his successors, the recommendations of the Schuster Committee of 1950, the post-war transformation of statutory planning in the UK, and the changing requirements of professional accreditation.

Keywords:

• planning education
• Stanley Adshead
• Patrick Abercrombie
• William Holford
• UCL

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to the following persons who have provided assistance: Sara Arnold, Ruth Dar, Tricia Lawton, Robert Winckworth, and the anonymous referees of Planning Perspectives for their helpful comments and encouragement.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on the contributor

Professor Michael P. Collins gained professional planning experience in development plans, development control, civic design, and highway planning whilst working in the Town Planning Division of the London County Council (1956–1964). Employed in the UCL Town Planning Department (1964–1998) where he was Director of Planning Studies. Seconded to the DoE to advise on the formulation of regional guidance. Participated in DoE research projects on: Lambeth Inner City Area, local economic planning, use of underground space for the storage of low-grade nuclear waste, the role of density standards in land-use planning, and BRE projects on planted shelter belts, energy saving, and micro-climatic control.

Notes

1. Ministry of Local Government and Planning, Progress Report.

2. Wright, Lord Leverhulme's Unknown Venture, 97.

3. Holford, The Planning Schools, 283.

4. UCL, Prospectus, 1914/15, 109.

5. UCL, Committee, 1914/15, 31.

6. UCL, Prospectus, 1914/15, 110.

7. Powers, “Architects I Have Known,” 103.

8. “Stanley Davenport Adshead – Obituary.”

9. Wright, Lord Leverhulme's Unknown Venture, 94–6.

10. Adshead and Abercrombie, Notes, 126–7.

11. Adshead, The Democratic View, 183.

12. Ibid., 187.

13. Ibid., 189.

14. Ibid., 190.

15. Adshead, Town Planning Education, 1932, 232.

16. Adshead, Town Planning Education, 1928, 100–5.

17. Cherry, British Town Planning, 221.

18. UCL, Annual Report, 1921/22, 48, some 8,000 persons attended the UCL Public Lectures.

19. UCL, Annual Report, 1931/32, 50.

20. Adshead, Town Planning Education, 1932, 232; UCL, Annual Report, 1932/33, 39.

21. Abercrombie, Town Planning Literature, 77–100.

22. Adshead, Town Planning Education, 1928, 137–8.

23. UCL, Prospectus, 1915/16, 111.

24. Adshead, Town Planning Education, 1928, 97.

25. UCL, Annual Report, 1935/6, 41.

26. Holford, 1949, 285.

27. Ibid.

28. Ibid.

29. UCL, Annual Report, 1938/39, 46.

30. UCL, Annual Report, 1946/47, 57.

31. Wright, Lord Leverhulmes Unknown Venture, 158.

32. Cherry and Penny, Holford, 251–2.

33. Ibid.

34. UCL, Annual Report, 1946/47, 66.

35. Holford, The Planning Schools, 286–7.

36. Holford, Civic Design, 17–31.

37. Holford, The Planning Schools, 283.

38. Schuster Committee, Report, Chap. 4.

39. Ibid., 52–4.

40. Cherry, British Town Planning, Chap. 7.

41. Holford, The Planning Schools, 285.

42. Ibid., 286.

43. UCL, Prospectus, 1950/51, 170.

44. Ibid., 286

45. Wright, Lord Leverhulme's Unkown Venture, 182.

46. Cherry and Penny, Holford, 197.

47. As from 1963 this total included the full-time MA/M.Phil. students.

48. Wright, Lord Leverhulmes Unknown Venture, 192.

49. UCL, Annual Report, 1968/69, 10.