This is a book about a city and regional plan for the Londonderry area that was published in 1968. The plan itself was not without its critics, as is any plan, but in time it was generally accepted by the local population and has largely been implemented, although some important aspects await the resolution of the current peace process and the continuation of investment in the city centre. The plan was the work of a few dedicated people from the James Munce Partnership, a Belfast firm of architects and engineers. Four members of the planning team have passed on; other members are still inNorthern Ireland, some are retired, some are working in local government bodies concerned with public housing and planning, and others in teaching.As the only associate partner in the firmwith city planning credentials I was given the task of co-ordinating the effort, although I was not privy to all the political dealings of the senior partners. Under the circumstances I had reason to be grateful that I was not, since it enabled me and the rest of the planning team to deal with the work at hand unhampered by pernicious and subversive political forces.

This story about the making of the plan is not an academic treatise on the art of plan making, rather it is an attempt to explain some of the major strategies involved based on personal recollection of the events as they occurred. More important it is a story of the dedication of people who believed, rightly or wrongly, that their planning efforts could make a difference and that they could provide better living conditions and choices for the people of the area. We were young and ambitious planners during that wonderful period when some of the more sterile solutions of modern physical planning were being questioned and when communities were beginning to demand an involvement in planning decisions affecting their lives.

Since these are personal recollections and involve value judgements concerning people and political and religious views in Northern Ireland at the time, I believe it is important for the reader to know something of the background of the storyteller.