Town and Country Planning

Abstract

THERE has been a great deal of talk of reconstruction since the German bombers have done so much damage to British towns: the five years plan for slum clearance which had been embarked upon before the War, the tentative efforts at central re–planning (of which the Bressey Report for London was an example), the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Location of Industry—these and other similar projects were given a sudden possibility of rapid realization, through the barbarous results of destruction. Instead of the cautious, considerate, hesitating way in which we have so far attempted the reform of our environment, giving way to private interest, fearing to incur expense, lacking in faith and vision, something now will have to be done, and done rapidly, the moment the War ceases and national effort turns to the needs of peace. New houses, new roads, new factories must be constructed—the dilatory method of a five–year plan which takes twenty–five to accomplish, will no longer serve: either these buildings and means of communication will be huddled up or laid down on their old sites, perpetuating the old conditions (with slight tactical improvements) and leading to the old problems of wasteful existence, or the opportunity will be seized and some good at least be created to make up for the monstrous loss through the War.

Town and Country Planning

A Study of Physical Environment; the Prelude to Post–War Reconstruction. By Gilbert McAllister and Elizabeth Glen McAllister. Pp. xxxii + 176 + 12 plates. (London: Faber and Faber, Ltd., 1941.) 12s. 6d. net.