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The fact is 'master plan' is a word that is misunderstood by many in our profession and there are not many who know how to do it well. The reality is you need people but you also need a plan. Master planning is not just a profession for architects, it involves a whole host of different professionals and many stakeholders that become part of a process. As planners and designers we can provide the initial framework to start regeneration - this can be the start of something wonderful but all good master planners and urban designers know this is not the end. This may involve a series of sub-divided plots and the invitation to many developers, users and designers to take part or it may be a complete scheme developed by one person. No project or site is ever the same. This process has to involve the people - whoever they may be from the existing community to person moving into their first home or the developer who has to build and have sleepless nights wondering how to finance the whole thing. I have worked as a master planner and urban designer in many different places - never would I be as ignorant to suggest that any of our project are MASTER PLANS per se, more the start of a long process. Also the sooner architects wake up the fact that developers are not all bad. They are our clients and we need them. Many are wonderfully creative people who have visions to create better places and communities. They are people as well. Of course, they want to make money but this is what has driven the growth of cities since time begun.

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