Urban renewal in Britain was thrilling in its total visions, yet partial and incomplete in its implementation.

For the first time, this deep study of a renewal city shows the complex networks of actors and agents affecting physical change, and stagnation, in post-war Britain. Taking a holistic view using the nested geographic scales of the region, the city and case study sites, this title explores the relationships between the tiers of Whitehall legislation, its interpretation by local government planning officers and the on-the-ground impact through urban architectural projects.