Evaluation methodology of urban and regional plans: A review

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Lichfield N. (1970) Evaluation methodology of urban and regional plans: A Review, Reg. Studies 4, 151–165. Of recent years there has been advancement in the urban and regional planning process in terms of the conscious searching out of alternative policies, projects and plans with a view to selection amongst them of the preferred solution. The search may be confined to the design process of the professional planners culminating in one preferred solution to the political decision makers; or it may lead to the presentation of alternatives to the decision makers, with or without a recommendation as to choice. In both cases there is need for formal testing of the alternatives with a view to indicating the preferred choice. There has also been advancement in such testing methodologies. But a distinction is here made between tests in general and the particular test of a plan or project as a whole with a view to choice of that which is best in terms of community welfare. Such a test is here called Plan Evaluation. After describing the generalities of tests the article makes a comparative review of some twenty plan evaluation methodologies which have been used in practice or advocated in the literature. It does so by reference to ten criteria to which comprehensive evaluation methodologies should conform if they are to suit the purpose, concerning itself with the potential of the methodology rather than the actual example of its use. It concludes in favour of the Planning Balance Sheet, that is cost-benefit analysis as applied to urban and regional planning, as having the greater potential.

This publication has 13 references indexed in Scilit: