After Peter Hall, the editorship of Regional Studies was passed on to John B. Goddard and, owing to printing and distribution delays, the journal moved to another publisher. Cambridge University Press began publishing Regional Studies in 1982 and the benefits were immediately apparent: it was published on time, with an improved appearance and a commitment […]
In early 1982, the Association convened a panel of experts to examine the changing regional problem. The resulting Inquiry into Regional Problems in the United Kingdom re-imagined what regional intervention should look like in the face of government antipathy, competing inner urban problems, and an economic recovery that would favour some parts of the country […]
At the close of the 1970s, the Association’s conference entitled ‘The Death of Regional Policy’ held in Glasgow seemed prophetic. Shortly afterwards, Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative administration won the 1979 general election and regional economic planning was challenged like never before as power was drawn to the centre.
As the Association attempted to link theory and practice in regional policy and planning, a common discussion held was whether it should, or could, exert policy influence. To a degree, the extent to which the Association could seek political influence was resolved when, in 1969, it became a registered charity: under the Charities Act (1960) […]
As the Association adapted to this changing environment, it proclaimed a continued need for its work when, in 1973, Britain entered the European Economic Community (EEC). However, with the return to power of Wilson’s Labour party in 1974, a range of institutional innovations, such as the National Enterprise Board, were introduced as the national economy […]
One of the first goals of the Steering Committee was to establish a quality, peer reviewed publication to disseminate regional research. Following successful negotiations with Pergamon Press, Regional Studies was launched in May 1967 under the editorship of Peter Hall – a major landmark in the Association’s development as a learned society.
The British Group of ICRPD was dissolved, and the inaugural meeting of the Association was held on 9th April. The first conference, entitled Regional Planning in Britain, followed on 9th October, 1965 succeeded in bringing together a mix of academics from varied disciplines along with those from policy and practice.