| Summary: | A number of problems related to area-based conservation have been encountered in England and the Netherlands. These are largely related to the inability of local councils to correctly define the character of the areas that they wish to conserve. This inability, which often derives from a lack of theoretical basis, has commonly led to poorly delimited conservation areas, inadequate character assessments and, consequently, poor townscape management. The urban morphologist Conzen put forward an approach that contributed to the solution of a number of geographical problems of landscape characterization and delimitation. In particular his work on townscape regions attempted to provide a theoretically based method that aimed to delimit a hierarchy of various character areas in the townscape. It is based upon an understanding of the townscape as the `objectivation of the spirit' of the successive generations that have occupied it. However, the method lacks clear-cut guidelines and has remained relatively elusive. This thesis examines the way in which Conzen's approach to the delimitation of townscape regions may contribute to current problems of conservation area delimitation and character assessment. It seeks to distil from Conzen's ideas an approach to delimitation, which is subsequently tested on two case study areas, one in England and one in the Netherlands. Following this analysis, an attempt is made to use the character areas identified as a basis for the formulation of guidelines for townscape management.
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