Landowner involvement in local plans: How patterns of involvement both reflect and conceal influence

Summary

This paper rethinks the meaning of ‘involvement’ in local plans and considers the significance of the type of site that a landowner owns. Case studies of urban fringe locations in southern England, where a local plan was in preparation, suggest that some landowners do not need to get involved in the formal local plan process in order to be successful or influential in the policy process. In the interests of effective implementation, local planning authorities may incorporate some owners of large sites. Other landowners, however, may have to make representations to promote their interests.

Keywords:

• landowners
• local plans
• policy‐making
• housing
• urban fringe