The interests of working and poor people have historically been neglected in the planning of our cities. Our cities are increasingly intolerant, unsafe and unlivable places for large numbers of citizens and yet we continue to plan via the old ways – the static Development Plan – that draws exclusively from technical expertise, distanced from people's live experiences and needs, and actively excluding large number of people, places, activities and practices that are an integral part of the city. The passage seems to argue

The passage criticizes the current city planning method for being "distanced from people's live experiences and needs" and "actively excluding large number of people." It highlights that the interests of working and poor people have been "neglected." Let's analyze the options: A) against the monopoly of builders and the interests of elite groups The passage mentions neglect of working and poor people, which might indirectly relate to elite interests, but it doesn't explicitly mention builders or their monopoly. The primary focus is on the *method* of planning and its exclusionary nature, not specific groups benefiting from it. B) against the need for global and smart cities The passage does not mention "global" or "smart cities" at all. This option introduces concepts not discussed in the text. C) in favour of planning cities mainly for working class and poor people While the passage states that the interests of working and poor people have been neglected, it argues against *exclusion* and for incorporating "people's live experiences and needs." This implies inclusive planning, not necessarily planning *mainly* for one group to the exclusion of others. The argument is for their inclusion, not their sole priority. D) in favour of participation of peoples' groups in city planning. This option directly addresses the core criticism of the passage. The passage laments planning that is "distanced from people's live experiences and needs" and "actively excluding large number of people." The logical counter-argument, and what the passage implicitly advocates for, is a planning process that *includes* people's live experiences and needs, which means "participation of peoples' groups in city planning." This directly solves the problem of exclusion and distance from real-life experiences. Therefore, D is the most accurate reflection of the passage's argument.