The Reconstruction Areas Group (RAG) was part of the Town Planning Division within the London County Council Architect's Department. This was set up in 1949 to deal with bomb-damaged areas using powers created under the Town and Country Planning Act (1944) . The designation of such areas allowed London County Council to purchase property to facilitate reconstruction, subject to the approval of the Minister for Reconstruction.

In 1956 the Town Planning Division was reorganised into three divisions, North-West, North-East and South. Percy Johnson-Marshall was put in charge of the North-East division, which included Stepney/Poplar and Bunhill Fields, replacing the RAG. The Housing Division, consisting of architects and technicians, was responsible for the design and construction of a substantial number of the dwellings that were built by the Housing Department of London County Council. It also had some input into the design and layout of London County Council housing contracts undertaken by private architects.

Development in London was carried out according to the principles contained in the County of London Development Plan. Such statutory development plans are subjected to constant review based on the progress of the current plan. The Town Planning Division of the LCC Architect's Department was required to provide statements on policy and progress to facilitate revision of the County of London Development Plan. The 1943 plan was revised in 1951 and 1955.

Public Inquiries played a role in the planning process, taking place prior to national government decisions on the approval of development plan reviews, the designation of Comprehensive Development Areas and Reconstruction Areas, as well as in the event of appeals by developers against decisions made by the local planning authority. In London the Architect's Department was required to provide proofs of evidence for consideration by the reporters to the public inquiries.

Open Space Deficiency was one of the problems identified in the County Of London Plan (1943, 1951 and 1955) and the Town Planning Division of London County Council Architect's Department attempted to address this issue by allocating open spaces at agreed standards, on a neighbourhood basis, in its development schemes. In London residential areas this was 4 acres per 1000 persons.