In Britain, where urbanization has penetrated deep into the countryside and where the agricultural work force has become less than 3% of the total, how to plan and manage rural areas is of deep concern to the whole nation. This article follows the chronological change in rural planning issues and how statutory planning has responded. With this background, current issues in highly urbanized countryside are examined by focusing on three areas: environmental deterioration and land use conflict in

more »

... he urban fringe, conflict between modern farming and conservation, and the deprivation of remoter rural communities. It has become increasingly clear that the traditional statutory 'planning' approach cannot cope with them properly, and the author looks into the underlying reasons. This is followed by reference to a new 'management' approach and its practical outcome, known as 'Groundwork', which introduces an idea of partnership with the charitable and professional Groundwork Trust acting as a new change agent. It is regarded as an unconventional approach initiated in the contemporary conditions and possibilities.