This book was originally published in 1974. At the time of publication, studies of the politics of planning generally emphasized the difficulties planning agencies face and the way in which political patterns impede planning efforts. This view particularly characterized the analysis of city planning in the United States. London presented a different picture and this study sought to analyze the nature of the differences, their sources and their consequences. The principal focus is on political patterns and planning in London as they appeared in the post-war period up until the middle sixties. Even though the London planning authority had few political problems, it had limited success in shaping the development of London. The study traces the source of the authority's difficulties to the manner in which planners and other members if the organization conceived the problems of choice they confronted. In general, the study seeks to describe how the authority acted, why it did so, and the consequences of its actions.