Utopian dreams or peacetime pragmatism? : the success and constraints of post-war reconstruction in the South West
This thesis examines the post-war reconstruction process undertaken in the three South Western cities of Bristol, Exeter and Plymouth. The cities provide examples of the difference approaches taken to reconstruction and different political backgrounds, allowing for the testing of current reconstruction narratives. These narratives include the impact of different political ideologies on reconstruction plans, the influence of traders and 'big business', the 'top-down' nature of planning and the impact of the post-war economy on reconstruction. This thesis also examines the continuity between pre- and post-war planning in the three cities, and the influence of interwar plans on post-war reconstruction. The interwar period is demonstrated to have a greater influence on post-war reconstruction plans that previously credited, with interwar concerns such as traffic congestion and slum clearance informing the post-war reconstruction and housing plans. There is also a previously uncredited line of continuity between the pre- and post-war local authorities, with staff and councillors serving their cities throughout the period, further influencing plans. The wartime planning in the cities is demonstrated to have been
Maudling, C.
post-war reconstruction ; town planning ; Bristol ; Exeter ; Plymouth ; rebuilding ; Second World War ; war damage ; housing
Utopian dreams or peacetime pragmatism? : the success and constraints of post-war reconstruction in the South West. This thesis examines the post-war reconstruction process undertaken in the three South Western cities of Bristol, Exeter and Plymouth. The cities provide examples of the difference approaches taken to reconstruction and different political backgrounds, allowing for the testing of current reconstruction narratives. These narratives include the impact of different political ideologies on reconstruction plans, the influence of traders and 'big business', the 'top-down' nature of planning and the impact of the post-war economy on reconstruction. This thesis also examines the continuity between pre- and post-war planning in the three cities, and the influence of interwar plans on post-war reconstruction. The interwar period is demonstrated to have a greater influence on post-war reconstruction plans that previously credited, with interwar concerns such as traffic congestion and slum clearance informing the post-war reconstruction and housing plans. There is also a previously uncredited line of continuity between the pre- and post-war local authorities, with staff and councillors serving their cities throughout the period, further influencing plans. The wartime planning in the cities is demonstrated to have been
utopian dream peacetime pragmatism success constraint post_war reconstruction south_west examine post_war reconstruction process undertaken south_western city bristol exeter city provide_example difference approach take reconstruction different political background allow test current reconstruction narrative narrative include impact different political_ideology reconstruction plan influence trader big business top_down nature plan impact post_war economy reconstruction also_examine continuity pre__post war planning city influence interwar plan post_war reconstruction interwar_period demonstrate great_influence post_war reconstruction plan previously credit interwar concern traffic slum clearance inform post_war reconstruction housing plan also previously line continuity pre__post war local_authority staff councillor serve city throughout_period influence plan wartime planning city demonstrate