The political nature of planning, and its impact (both positive and negative) upon communities, is now widely acknowledged. In the 1960s, planning theorists and scholars proposed a role for planning professionals in advocating for communities, particularly those groups excluded from planning debates many of whom were disproportionately affected by planning outcomes. Yet engaging communities in a meaningful way in planning remains a challenge. The book brings together the literature on advocacy planning and presents a renewed call for government at local and national levels, and many other key actors involved in planning both in the UK and elsewhere, to ensure that future planning systems and institutional arrangements facilitate and resource what we term ‘neo-advocacy’ support. ‘ Neo-advocacy’ formulations are those that are responsive towards, and resilient in their orientation to, the neoliberalised contexts within which planning operates today. We argue that the advocacy project remains necessary given the continuing under-representation of lower-income and other minority groups in planning around the globe. Indeed, in an era dominated by neoliberal policy and related institutional orientations, the need for effective challenge and strong alternatives to be prepared and voiced in planning seems to us axiomatic. Whereas claims to empowerment, inclusion and engagement in planning are widespread, we argue for a refocusing of the attention of policymakers and the planning profession towards how neo-advocacy functions can be delivered and sustained, as part of a post-collaborative shift in participation in planning among so-called ‘pluralistic’ societies.

In building this argument, the book reviews the literature on advocacy planning and community engagement in planning more widely, and interweaves empirical evidence drawn from participants involved with an advocacy body, Planning Aid England, to reconsider its basis and effectiveness. The raison d’être of Planning Aid organisations, and the issues that they draw attention to, are, we argue, centrally important to the legitimacy and effectiveness of planning. So much so, that we suggest the Planning Aid role needs to be placed on a more secure footing; either through existing organisations or via another agency. While our focus is on the UK context, and Planning Aid's remit and role in particular, our strong sense is that advocacy functions remain critically important in delivering more socially just planning globally.