Nick Gallent is a Senior Lecturer in Planning at the Bartlett School of Planning, University College London. His principal research interests include: UK housing policy, housing and the planning system and planning and affordable housing. Mark Shucksmith is Professor of Land Economy, University of Aberdeen and Co-Director, Arkleton Centre for Rural Development Research, University of Aberdeen. He is Programme Adviser, Joseph Rowntree Foundation "Action in Rural Areas" programme, and Programme Chair, World Rural Sociology Congress 2004 and Executive Member of IRSA. Mark Tewdwr-Jones is Reader in Spatial Planning and Governance at the Bartlett School of Planning, University College London. His main interests are in the fields of planning, government and politics.