Derek Senior (4 May 1912 – 6 December 1988) was a British expert on planning principally known for being a member of the Royal Commission on Local Government in England, chaired by Lord Redcliffe-Maud.
[1] After working as a leader writer, reporter and bridge correspondent,[5] he began to specialise in planning matters, where he built up a reputation as a distinguished specialist journalist.
[8] The next year, he expanded on this theme in a high-profile article in The Political Quarterly,[9] followed by a book of conference papers called "The Regional City".
[16] In 1975 he was invited by the Herefordshire Survival Campaign to investigate local government arrangements in Hereford and Worcester, his alternative to be put to a referendum to oppose the merger of the two counties which had recently taken place.
[1] Senior continued to support regional government, speaking in favour at a meeting of Labour members of the Association of District Councils in June 1976,[18] and arguing that October that devolution to Scotland risked being defeated by an English backlash unless there was a firm commitment to devolution to the English regions.
[19] In 1980 he opposed the choice of Stansted for London's third airport over Maplin, pointing to the loss of agricultural land and the greater investment in housing, roads and infrastructure needed.