W(h)ither town and country planning

Town planning in the United Kingdom may become more geared to communities, as society becomes more consumer oriented, and there is a need for town and country planners to maintain strict ethical standards. Ethical issues facing the profession include the concept of planning gain, where developers obtain permission to build projects in exchange for a contribution to the community. Professions are generally under attack, and there is an emphasis on cost control and value for money, with business attitudes coming to the fore. But professions are needed as much as business and industry, if a society is to be described as civilised.