Metropolitics

Neighbourhood Planning in London and the Uneven Social Geographies of Public Engagement

Lexi Iacono & Claire Colomb — 2026-06-23T05:00:00Z

A new mechanism of public participation in planning has remained mobilised by more affluent social groups, renewing debates around local “civic capacity” in English (urban) governance.
Are channels of public participation in urban planning always mobilised by more privileged social groups? Decades of research in Europe and North America have shown that this is often the case, despite efforts to involve broader publics (Inner and Booher 2004; Brownill and Parker 2010). A new instrument created

- From the Field / localism, United Kingdom, England, London, neighborhood, planning politics, land-use planning, social diversity, governance, local governance, local authorities, local government

The Localism Act in London: institutionalising urban divisions

Justinien Tribillon — 2014-04-16T05:00:00Z

By decentralising planning powers to local communities, the British Conservative government claims that they are strengthening local democracy and protecting it from the mistakes of big government. In a map-based analysis of the effects of the Localism Act in London, Justinien Tribillon disputes this claim and underlines the reinforcement of urban economic divisions through a new parochialism.
“Good fences make good neighbours,” goes an English proverb.
Introduced by the coalition

- Debates / participation, local government, governance, local authorities, London, United Kingdom, local democracy, neighborhood, localism, England

Will local-government reform in London involve or abandon its citizens?

Martine Drozdz & translated by Oliver Waine — 2013-07-03T12:23:55Z

While the current financial crisis has compromised local authorities' ability to deliver municipal services, the Localism Act adopted in England in 2011 seeks to relieve the problem by encouraging greater involvement from civil society. However, when combined with drastic public spending cuts, this reform above all threatens to sideline citizens in favour of the private sector.
One of the first acts of the Conservative–Lib Dem coalition that came to power in the UK in 2010 was to bring in

- Debates / participation, local government, governance, local authorities, London, United Kingdom, local democracy, urban public service, neighborhood, localism, England, urban services