Abstract

Abstract

This talk marks the centenary of the Royal Town Planning Institute. It shows that 2014 does not mark 100 years of planning practice or legislation in the UK but does mark 100 years of the professionalization of planning – with the ethical stance that this should imply. It looks at the relationships of professional planning bodies globally with professional ethics and, in particular, whether planners do or should have a particular responsibility for those less advantaged in society. It draws on history to look at the focus of planning and to suggest that planners need to learn from the past to bring some form of moral imperative to their work.

Biography

Kelvin MacDonald MCIH FRTPI FRSA Kelvin is a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Department of Land Economy. He is a Specialist Adviser to the House of Commons Communities and Local Government Select Committee and is currently adviser to its inquiry into the Operation of the National Planning Policy Framework. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Shelter and a member of the Committee of Shelter Scotland. He is a member of the DCLG ’s Planning Sounding Board and is a Built Environment Expert (BEE) with the Design Council. He is a member of the Editorial Board of Town Planning Review. He has been an Examining Inspector dealing with major infrastructure projects for the Planning Inspectorate and was previously the Chief Policy Adviser to the Royal Town Planning Institute. He is a ‘Distinguished Professional’ Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing and a Fellow of the Royal Town Planning Institute. He is named in Planning magazine’s list as one of the 100 most influential people in planning.