Planning at the interface of localism and mayoral priorities: London’s ungovernable boroughs

In this article we address scalar issues of power in planning. In the context of the reengineering of governance, including the promotion of localism in England, we focus on local actors’ beliefs in the extent of their power (de facto and de jure) over development decisions pertaining to their jurisdiction, on how misreadings arise and the consequences thereof. Our intervention highlights the extent and cost of ambiguity in England’s discretionary planning system and asks whether and how this should be moderated.