Room 106

In this episode, we’ll be discussing: The key planning takeaways from the first big speech by the likely Prime Minister-elect Andy Burnham; The planning minister making a last-minute intervention in the examination of the City of London Corporation’s emerging local plan over its potential heritage impacts; And three councils launching a legal challenge against the reduced affordable housing requir...

In this Deep Dive edition, we’ll be casting a spotlight on: The dramatic rise in the number of councils under no overall political control – what does this mean for planning in those areas and how do you keep it moving? Why a judge blocking a council from submitting its local plan for examination has prompted fears of wider plan-making delays Key planning news, and why it is important, brought to...

The latest edition of our monthly series examining the key recent appeal and court decisions, in which we speak to technical editor David Dewar, who compiles Planning’s long-running Casebook section.  This month, we’ll be discussing: An example of a proposal for a solar farm being refused on landscape grounds, bucking the trend for many such schemes being approved on the grounds of their bene...

In this episode, we’ll be discussing: The resignation of the Prime Minister, with new MP and former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham poised to take over – how has the sector reacted and what might this mean for planning and development? Planning minister Matthew Pennycook placing nine councils in special measures for poor-quality decision-making on major planning applications – the first such...

In this Deep Dive edition, we’ll be taking a close look at two of the biggest current changes to the planning system under the Labour government: Firstly, the scaling back of planning committee decision-making – how are councils dealing with revisions that seek to allow more planning applications to be decided by officers, rather than elected members? And secondly, the new system of local plan mak...

Lord Heseltine tells the story of the birth of the European Space Agency. Why post-Apollo, when the US was spending £1.2 billion a year on space, the whole of Europe was spending just £200 million. Why the birth of ESA was driven by the self-interest of three major countries. Why the US general with a $29 billion budget for the Star Wars project wanted to invest in Heriot-Watt University in Edinbu...

In this episode, we’ll be discussing:  A council shortlisted in the government’s new towns programme announcing that it has withdrawn from the process, following a change in political control at the local elections – prompting a response from the Prime Minister; A High Court judge blocking a council from submitting its local plan for examination pending the outcome of a legal challenge; An em...

The latest edition of our monthly series examining the key recent appeal and court decisions, in which we speak to technical editor David Dewar, who compiles Planning ’s long-running Casebook section.  This month, we’ll be discussing: A minister refusing a 750-home scheme despite the site being found to be grey belt, as its location would lead to high car-dependency and would therefore be "in...

In this Deep Dive edition, we’ll be discussing: Amid fevered speculation about a possible Labour Party leadership contest, what an Andy Burnham premiership would mean for planning and development; And how a Court of Appeal ruling reminds planners to think carefully before taking enforcement action. Key planning news, and why it is important, brought to you by the team behind Planning magazine, the...

In this episode, we’ll be discussing: The planning news that emerged from the UK’s biggest property conference, including important legislation and policy updates from the planning minister and the housing secretary;  A volume housebuilder reacting with anger to an appeal decision and threatening legal action after its 867-home redevelopment plan was refused by an inspector; And a council bla...

In this Deep Dive edition, we’ll be discussing Planning ’s investigation into the Labour government’s much-trumpeted promise to recruit 1,400 extra planning officers for councils before the end of the current parliament. We’ll be examining:  What was promised;  Progress to date and how likely the pledge is to be delivered; And the impact it could have on under-resourced council planning...

In this episode, we’ll be discussing: The local elections – the areas where the Reform UK and Green advance, and changes in council control, will have the greatest impact on planning and development. The High Court sentencing a homeowner to six months in prison for ignoring a planning injunction prohibiting an unauthorised house extension. The Court of Appeal finding apparent bias by a council pla...

In this Deep Dive edition, we’ll be discussing Planning’s exclusive and first-ever examination of the profits, turnover and margins of the UK’s biggest planning consultancies, based on their financial accounts filed with Companies House. We talk about: The highest-earning firms;   The most profitable consultancies and those with the biggest losses;  Those with the highest and l...

In this episode, we’ll be discussing: The government confirming the kinds of development that will and won’t be exempt from the biodiversity net gain requirement – and announcing a further proposed opt-out. Fresh guidance for councils on how they should consult on and publicise their draft strategies under the impending new system for producing local plans. A Court of Appeal ruling that clarifies...

This is the ninth edition of our monthly series examining the key recent appeal and court decisions in which we speak to technical editor David Dewar who compiles  Planning 's   long-running Casebook section.  This month, we will be discussing: A secretary of state decision that involved the use of a very rare direction allowing ministers to block the publication of specific ev...

In this Deep Dive edition, we’ll be taking a close look at two issues relating to planning committees that we recently covered in-depth on Planning Resource. We’ll be discussing: Why councillor criticism of planning officers in committee meetings appears to be on the rise. Government proposals to delegate more planning decisions to officers to determine, rather than elected members. Key planning n...

In this episode, we’ll be discussing: A planning inspector ordering a developer to pay a Surrey council’s full costs after pulling out of a 190-home green belt appeal at “an extremely late stage”. A minister approving a land promoter’s 1,700-home scheme on unallocated farmland despite conflict with a local plan. A Court of Appeal ruling that clarifies appeals procedure in planning enforcement case...

In this Deep Dive edition, we’ll be discussing: Claims that recent rulings made by the government’s Valuation Office Agency could require as many as four out of every ten councils that charge the community infrastructure levy (CIL) to make substantial repayments to developers. Key planning news, and why it is important, brought to you by the team behind Planning magazine, the leading source of ind...

In this episode, we’ll be discussing: The seven new towns to be pursued by the government, plus the five locations from its adviser’s original list that have been dropped. The government making a series of important policy announcements in relation to planning application fee rises, a new Land Use Framework and changes to planning committees, the ministerial calling-in of applications process and...

How do we solve population pressure and climate crisis in space? How has GPS allowed us to provide 12% more food globally? How did the UK become a global leader in small satellite manufacture after the British Government said, “there’s no future for the UK satellite industry”? How did Elon Musk turn reusable rockets from science fiction to science fact in less than 20 years? What else are “Elon an...

What did the Space-Comm Expo conference and exhibition tell us about connecting space and wider business? How does this manifest as tech connectivity in telecoms and why do farmers care about that? What did we learn about the benefits of extreme cold in manufacturing laboratories and why do pharmas care about that? How vulnerable are global logistics to the spoofing of navigation signals? And...

In this Deep Dive edition, we’ll be discussing: The planning consultancies that employ the most female planners – identifying the top companies and looking at the overall picture in the sector.  Why MPs and campaigners are unhappy that the new draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) fails to address women’s safety . Key planning news, and why it is important, brought to you by th...

This is the eighth edition of our monthly series examining the key recent appeal and court decisions in which we speak to technical editor David Dewar who compiles Planning 's long-running Casebook section.  This month, we will be discussing:  The issues raised by the secretary of state approval of controversial plans to build a new Chinese Embassy in central London;  Why an inspect...

In this episode, we’ll be discussing: New regulations and guidance from the housing ministry to pave the way for impending changes to the local plan-making system, including almost 40 local authorities being ordered to commence plan-making under the new system by the end of June. Planning inspectors recommending that a council withdraws its draft local plan from examination following “significant...

In this Deep Dive edition, we’ll be discussing the sharp rise in planning objections generated by artificial intelligence (AI),  including: Our exclusive survey results on the impact it is having on planning decision-making and council resources.  The legal issues that are raised. How local authorities are responding to the problem. Key planning news, and why it is important, brought to...