Some thirty years ago the small Metropolitan County of Grotton found itself bathed in the bright glare of publicity as The Grotton Papers lifted the lid on the inner workings of the six planning departments of this hitherto little remarked corner of England.

The intervening years have seen Grotton's County Council aim at the admirable and mostly achievable target of becoming "average with moderate prospects of remaining average" in the Government rankings, and the struggles of the District Councils to come to terms with planning in the late twentieth – let alone twenty-first – century are once again under the spotlight.

The original authors of The Grotton Papers have come together once more to offer an experienced and surprisingly unjaundiced look at the way the British planning system works. Their comprehensive survey allows real lessons to be learnt from what Grotton has – and just as importantly hasn't – done since they were last in town.

Grotton Revisited is without doubt the finest (and indeed the only) satirical book on this vitally important subject. It is suitable for planners of all ages and abilities, and will be essential reading for anyone who has ever had contact with the planning system, or thinks they may know someone who has. First class entertainment and education for professionals and general readers alike.

Published in association with the RTPI.

Reviews

"Loved it , I almost had to be resuscitated – Grotton Revisited will immediately become the standard text on Planning Practice in every planning school in the UK and far beyond. The fact that it will cause every planning student in the land to abandon their courses, for alternative vocations in investment banking or alternative therapies, is unfortunate"– Professor Sir Peter Hall, Bartlett Professor of Planning and Regeneration, University College London, UK

"This book makes you laugh with the planning system, not at it! A timely ref the importance of planning in all our lives and the problems which always accompany attempts at perfection" – John Gummer, Conservative MP for Suffolk Coastal and former Secretary of State for the Environment, UK

"It gave me a great deal of pleasure to review my acquaintance with your area’s crumbling infrastructure, decaying terraces, and blighted Country Park" – Nick Raynsford, Labour MP for Greenwich and Woolwich and Former Minister for Planning, UK

"Grotton Revisited exposes with a biting satire and razor-sharp wit the inadequacies and inefficiencies of the planning system, and lays bare the dull, clumsy, two-dimensional box-ticking that underpins so much of the system… This is a wonderfully funny book… hopefully it will also act as a catalyst for reform" – Norman Baker, Lib Dem MP for Lewes, UK

"Like a spoof April 1 general election poster (courtesy of The Guardian in 2010) which briefly fooled too many serious people, this classic ...