The Royal Town Planning Institute's New Vision for Planning (2001) and national planning legislation in 2004 prompted new directions in conceptualizing spatial planning and implementing spatial practices in the UK, according to Davoudi (environment policy and planning, Newcastle U.) and Strange (spatial planning, Leeds Metropolitan U.). Following a historical overview and analytic framework of planning as identity building that reflects the shift from traditional regulatory land use planning to postmodernism's focus on diversity of lifestyles, they present six case studies of strategic spatial planning at large urban, regional, and national levels. The volume includes color spatial planning maps, transport frameworks, and a table of socio-economic profiles of local planning authorities. Published in conjunction with the RTPI. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)