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International Centre for Regional Planning and Development (ICRPD), 1955-1962

 Sub-Fonds
Identifier: PJM/ICRPD

Scope and Contents

The International Centre for Regional Planning and Development (ICRPD) consists of:

  1. papers, agenda minutes and correspondence for the Provisional Committee of the ICRPD, 1955
  2. papers concerning a 'Regional plan for the Nile Delta', 1955
  3. papers concerning the International Conference on Regional Planning and Development, 1955
  4. papers concerning the International Seminar on Regional Planning and Development, 1957
  5. papers concerning the General Council of the ICRPD, 1954-1960
  6. a proposal for the development of the ICRPD, 1958
  7. papers concerning the ICRPD British Group, including a number of study days, 1956-1960

Dates

  • Creation: 1955-1962

Creator

Language of Materials

This material is in English

Physical Description

0.25 metres (2 boxes)

Conditions Governing Access

This material is subject to access restrictions under the Data Protection Act, 1998. Information concerning individuals is closed until 100 years after their date of birth.

Biographical / Historical

The International Centre for Regional Planning and Development (ICRPD) was conceived at a joint symposium held in London in 1953, organised by the School of Planning and Research for Regional Development, the School of Planning Club and Community Development Projects Ltd. At the symposium it was agreed that a centre for research and education, which would provide an information service and a meeting place, was required to enable closer contacts between the professions concerned with regional planning and development.

A preparatory Committee was elected, which went on to organise the International Conference on Regional Planning and Development held at Bedford College, London in 1955. At this conference the resolution was passed to investigate setting up such a centre. GE Janson-Smith from the United Kingdom was elected chair of the international Provisional Committee charged with the investigation.

Percy Johnson-Marshall was elected one of the British members. This Committee, through a number of meetings, developed a constitution for the proposed centre, which was finally approved in November 1957. An International Seminar, which studied the history and concepts of regional planning, was held in The Hague, by the Netherlands Universities Foundation for International Cooperation, on behalf of the ICRPD in July 1958. At this conference practical goals and membership criteria of the ICRPD were established, the focus having moved from the establishment of a physical centre to a dispersed programme of professional support and international collaboration. The ICRPD would aim to: document and diffuse information, undertake research, hold meetings, educate, create a register of experts and consultants and undertake public relations.

In 1958 the ICRPD exhibited at the World Exhibition in Brussels.

International relations began to sour when it became apparent that a lack of financial support from the United Kingdom government, amongst accusations of communist sympathies, meant that the centre of activities would likely be established in the Netherlands. At this stage the British Group of the ICRPD, chaired by Robert Joseph Gardner-Medwin became more active. It had its own General Council, on which Percy Johnson-Marshall sat, and arranged study days for its members. These included the titles 'Economic forces leading to urban concentration' and 'Urbanisation in the tropics - its causes and methods of control'.

Plans for an ICRPD Conference in Rhodes in April 1963 were strongly contested by the British Group, leading to the resignation of the president Leo Brandt.

Extent

0.25 metres

Arrangement

The arrangement of this material reflects the original order in which it was received.

Related Materials

No related material

Physical Description

0.25 metres (2 boxes)

Archivist's Note

None

Sarah Higgins 11 November 2003

Repository Details

Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository

Contact:
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
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Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379