First published in 1896, this work is an expert account of the nineteenth-century state of the laws relevant to preservation.

In an increasingly urbanizing world, the multiple benefits of open space are becoming more important. Yet, despite this importance and many people's recognition of it, efforts to preserve land in open-space uses often fail. Tow main reasons for this are misuse or lack of understanding of the term "open space" and choice of the wrong method for keeping land open.

This book provides an in-depth investigation of the role of the private and public sectors in land markets and regional economics, and explores the reasons behind government intervention in the interests of sustainable growth. The authors explore the subject of regional development and changing land use in a variety of different countries. They examine broad themes such as urban structure, infrastructure and eco-structure, and look in detail at issues including housing, transport and technology clustering. They also demonstrate that for a proper understanding of long-term changes, the broader institutional settings and policy regimes are of critical importance, as it is within this framework that private and public actors interact. It is therefore vital to search for institutional arrangements where conflicts of interest can be dealt with in a constructive way, and where ecological values are taken into consideration. The contributions in this book highlight these difficulties and offer practical proposals to improve current practices. Regional scientists, geographers and development policymakers will welcome this rigorous exploration of the roles of the private and public sectors in the context of economic development.

Octavia Hill (1838–1912) was an English social reformer who concentrated on the welfare of city dwellers. Hill was a co-founder of the National Trust, as well as the Charity Organisation Society (now known as Family Action), which pioneered the home-visiting service that provided the basis for modern social work in the U. K. One of her main beliefs was that urban workers should have ample open spaces to enjoy and relax in, and she campaigned vehemently against destroying urban woodlands. In her 1877 essay “Open Spaces”, Hill argues for the protection of green spaces and against the destroying of existing green, open spaces in London, including Hampstead Heath and Parliament Hill Fields—spots that remain open spaces to this day thanks to her efforts. Read & Co. Great Essays is republishing this classic essay now complete with the excerpt “The Open Space Movement” by Charles Edmund Maurice.