Lobbies and Interests

Abstract

People and organisations outside the state interact with the planning system in a number of ways: as a ‘client’ applying for permission or authorisation or making representations on policy and decisions; by campaigning and through the lobbying tactics of pressure groups; and through the party political system. This chapter covers the last two forms of public pressure. It builds on the examination of the different state organisations in Chapters 5 and 6, which included an account of their variable openness to outside groups. The first form of public pressure, the client relationship, is discussed in the next chapter in the context of the professionalisation of planners. As before, the chapter begins with an account of how groups outside the state can be analysed.