Planners Network UK (pnuk) is an organisation seeking to establish a network to support critical thinking about the current state of planning in the UK. We hope that the network can appeal to a broad range of practitioners, academics and activists interested in rearticulating the progressive purpose of planning. Most importantly we hope to establish the basis for connecting all those concerned about the current climate of debate.

We are currently working to develop a disorientation guide, similar to that produced by PN in North America, aimed at student's entering planning courses in the UK, and others beginning to engage with the planning system. We are hoping to launch the guide at the Planning Research Conference in Newcastle in 2009. We are still on the look out for offers of help with this so if you're interested contact Andy or visit the wikisite where we have created space to begin to develop the guide.

Our most recent event was held in London on April 10-11 and, in conjunction with gamesmonitor, looked to develop strategies for research and action around the 2012 Olympic redevelopments. Click here, or on the image below to read a report about the event. Or here to read our keynote speaker from the event Iain Sinclair's recent article on the Olympics. A piece by Libby Porter also appeared in Scottish Planner in June 2008, read it here.

We are hoping to use the website to develop resources to support critical thinking and practices and to stimulate debate about alternatives to the dominance of market-driven planning. As a result we have decided to develop three projects, each intended to support the other and to build up a set of resources that will be useful for both teachers, students, researchers, practitioners and activists involved in planning. Visit the publications section on the menu above to find out more.

If you are interested in getting involved with pnuk then please have a look at our get involved page on the menu above to find out what you can do.

: pnuk on the economic crisis - a discussion has begun amongst pnuk members about the implications of the current economic crisis for planning. Find resources here, or get in touch to join in.

: a group of anthropologists, including pnuk member Eeva Berglund have begun to think about planning. Read Eeva's note to pnukers about their discussions here.

: we are planning sessions at both the planning research, and hopefully the RGS-IBG conferences next year. Let us know if you are interested in participating in either.

: pnuk ran a roundtable discussion on 'the politics of academic practice in planning' at the planning research conference at Queen's University, Belfast (18-20 March, 2008). You can read contributions from Bob Colenutt and Libby Porter here.

: A special issue of the journal International Planning Studies inspired by our theme of 'what's left of planning' came out earlier this year.

: We are always looking for ideas for future pnuk events, if you have any good ones then get in touch and let us know.

: We are still working to develop our statement of principles. Read and comment on the latest draft version here.

: We are still experimenting with a pnuk wikispace that we hope will allow us to develop more open/ collaborative forms of working in the future. Visit the site to find out more.

: If you have any news or content that you would like to see on these pages please get in touch