Action Planning
How to use planning weekends and urban design action teams to improve your environment

Compiled by Nick Wates
Foreword by HRH The Prince of Wales.
 
Action Planning

English edition
Want to improve your village? Your town? Your city? Frustrated with conventional planning processes? Action Planning may be just what you are looking for.

All over world people have started organising special collaborative events to improve their surroundings. For a few intensive days, everybody concerned gets an opportunity to have their say and get involved; residents, businesses, professionals, politicians. It´s effective and it´s fun.

The formula which makes this possible has become known as Action Planning. It involves skilful programming and a range of new techniques for allowing people from different walks of life to work creatively together.

This book - the first on the subject - tells you how to do it. It is aimed at anyone interested in the potential of Action Planning and includes detailed checklists for organisers.
"An extremely useful and practical guide...an invaluable source of very down-to-earth advice on this approach to community development."
Town Planning Review, Liverpool University, April 1997

“A unique guide to the whole process of Action Planning, particularly suitable for those new to the concept and who have a desire to take action for themselves....
Clearly and attractively set out, the book is a joy to handle - the size, weight and layout all contribute to its being a truly handy reference guide which encourages you to use it. The text is simple, direct and unpretentious, and makes great effort not to get bogged down in intellectualising.... Its value has been proven in the field - most recently in Kazimierz, Krakow.”
Partnership Action. 11 June 1996

“Action Planning is marvellous. Its so good to see all those complexities so clearly sorted out and under one cover. Your sequence is brilliant..... A million congrats on a job beautifully done.”
David Lewis, American Institute of Architects. April 1996

“A very interesting format for getting the information across - I will be using it with my students at Manchester as part of the Architecture in the Community Unit.”
John Bishop, PLACE, Manchester. 11 October 1996

Action planning German

German edition

 

Czech edition
Action planning German

Chinese edition

“Compiled with great care and thoroughness. It lists the smallest details to which attention needs to be paid in order to make Action Planning fruitful.... The text is succinct and well-illustrated.... The handbook illustrates the excitement Action Planning events generated in the USA and UK.”
Dr Meera Bapat, Open House International, No 3 1996

“Comprehensive and accessible which is crucial for communities wishing to use these tools for themselves.”
Romy Shovelton, Wikima Consulting.12 January 1996

“Your ideas bring fresh air in the bureaucratic world of planning monotony.”
Professor Santosh Ghosh, Centre for Built Environment, Calcutta, 16 September 1996

“A really useful 'recipe' book to help make one’s own local 'menu' of a community planning 'meal' to suit one’s own taste! I keep it on my desk all the time.”
Hilary Reed, Planning Department, Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council. 8 October 1996