The development of town planning education at University College London 1914–1969: the contributions of professors S. D. Adshead,L. P. Abercrombie,and W. G. Holford

Drawing on archival records of the University of London and University College London (UCL) and contemporary literature, this article examines the development of town planning education at UCL from 1914 to 1969 under the headships of Professors Stanley Adshead, Patrick Abercrombie, and William Holford. UCL established its Certificate and Diploma courses at a time when town planning was in its infancy as an academic discipline and field of professional activity. There were no precedents to follow – it was not until 1916 that the Town Planning Institute formulated its first syllabus. Adshead's initial course structure and curriculum remained largely unchanged until the decision was taken in 1971 to phase out the part-time planning courses. Subsequent changes reflected the personal planning philosophies of his successors, the recommendations of the Schuster Committee of 1950, the post-war transformation of statutory planning in the UK, and the changing requirements of professional accreditation.