A Future for Planning

This insightful book explores the importance of long-term thinking in planning, highlighting the need for a shift away from short-termism in A Future for Planning.

In A Future for Planning, the author presents a comprehensive examination of how planning practices and policies have been limited by a focus on short-term outcomes. This tendency, coupled with a lack of spatial awareness in policy-making, has hindered effective responses to significant social, economic, and environmental challenges. The book emphasizes the importance of integrating long-term thinking into planning processes, which is often overlooked in the existing literature and practice.

The text highlights that planning is not only about spatial considerations but is fundamentally about envisioning and preparing for the future. The neglect of temporal aspects in planning literature presents a significant gap, especially when addressing urgent societal issues such as climate change, an aging population, and urban health crises. This oversight is not merely theoretical; it holds substantial practical and political implications, suggesting that a shift toward longer-term thinking is essential for effective policy-making.

A Future for Planning also chronicles the historical evolution of long-term planning over the last eight decades. It provides insightful examples of both successful and unsuccessful long-term planning initiatives from various global contexts. Ultimately, the book advocates for a renewed focus on time within planning frameworks, aiming to foster sustainability and enhance the well-being of future generations through informed and responsible planning practices.