John Punter is Professor of City and Regional Planning at Cardiff University. Alan Hooper is Professor of Housing and Planning at Cardiff University. Both have published widely for Liverpool University Press, and the NHBC among others. The Contributors are also based in Cardiff University's Planning Department.

This collection, examining one particular city from a variety of conceptual and empirical viewpoints - offers an interesting and novel synthesis The authors have substantial experience of the city and are eminently qualified to contribute to such a text.

• Preface Alan Hooper Politics, visions and economic realities 1. The evolution of local government 1974-2004 Kevin Morgan /Jon Anderson 2. The European Capital vision - its origins, exemplars and competitors Phil Boland 3. De-industrialisation, decentalisation and the search for post-industrial prosperity Kevin Morgan /Gill Bristow Components of Spatial Planning 4. Planning growth and change - the development plan process and its impacts on urban growth and management Neil Harris 5. Demographic change, housing provision and the social geography of Cardiff Bob Smith / Alan Hooper 6. Replanning the City Centre: from Centre Plan 70 to St Davids Two John Punter 7. A superlative maritime city and the most exciting waterfront in Europe? The regeneration of Cardiff Bay John Punter 8. A tale of two cities: the cultural development of Cardiff John Lovering 9. Cardiff's transportation planning - the unresolved issues Chris Yewlett Environment and Sustainability 10. Environmental Limits and the Pursuit of a Sustainable City Richard Cowell 11. Ecological footprints, and the pursuit of a sustainable city Andrew Flynn /Andrea Collins 12. Cardiff's countryside and its future Richard Cowell /Kevin Bishop The Future 13. The city in the region of the regional city? Kevin Morgan 14. The future of Cardiff and the 2020 vision John Lovering /Gill Bristow 15. A spatially planned sustainable future? Harris, Punter, Smith, Cowell, Yewlett & Hooper