Experience of New Towns in Iran: planning for the people or with the people?

New Towns were introduced in Iran four decades ago. The goals were to build new urban areas of quality, control urban sprawl, prevent proliferation of informal settlements and slums and provide affordable housing for people displaced by war and especially the poor. This paper discusses the reasons for the failure in achieving well-intended goals, despite large investments and extensive planning by government institutions. Policies, planning approach, legal documents, the housing market and the methods of allocation and management have been analysed to seek the answers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]