50 Shades of Planning

Sam Stafford was in Manchester recently and took the opportunity to catch up with old friends of the podcast Lisa Tye , Shaun Knights and Jaimie Ferguson . Lisa is a Partner at Town Legal, Shaun is a Senior Planning Officer at Preston City Council and Jaimie is a Company Director at Lucid In a conversation recorded at Reform Radio they discussed, principally, the new NPPF, but also touched upon the current live consultations on standard planning agreements for medium-sized sites and planning powers for mayors in England. Some accompanying reading. Planning Teal Paper Another NPPF Mega-Blog Standard planning agreements for medium-sized sites Planning powers for mayors in England When Should Strategic Authority Mayors Be Able To Reverse Local Authority Planning Decisions? Wigan Council voices its opposition to five green belt sites being included in the borough's development plan Some accompanying listening. Relentless – Stereo MCs Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why. Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam via samstafford@hotmail.com or the 50 Shades WhatsApp Community .

The basis of this episode was a series of posts Sam Stafford spotted that Nick Cuff at Urban Sketch had shared on his Prop Views blog about the Parkhurst Road judgement and the implications thereof. Sam asked Nick if he would like to explore the themes that he writes about with another new friend of the podcast Jamie Ratcliff , and old friends of the podcast Gilian Macinnes and Anthony Lee . Jamie co-founded PlaceBase and is chair of the Housing Forum; Gilian advises LPAs on improving planning and place-making services and is presently Interim Assistant Director of Planning and Building Control at the Royal Borough of Greenwich; and Anthony is the Managing Partner at Quintic Advisory. In a conversation recorded online in July 2026 they talked, philosophically, about how to test viability through the planning process and the conflict inherent between a desire on the part of most landowners to maximise land value and a desire on the part of most policy makers to maximise planning gain. They talked more practically about how Parkhurst begat the London Affordable Housing and Viability Supplementary Planning Guidance, which led onto to talk of fast tracks, thresholds and emergency measures. Then towards the end they discuss what approach might work better than which we have now. Some accompanying reading. Parkhurst: The judgement nobody read but shut down the London land market for a generation Parkhurst Part 2: Before and After, Land Strikes and Practical vs Theory Parkhurst Part 3: The Age of Enforcement Viability – Elephant in the NPPF room? Small sites: Unlocking housing delivery Planning Anew The Cost of Building a House Building new homes not financially viable across half of England Some accompanying viewing. NPPF 2026: An Initial Look at the New National Planning Policy Framework Some accompanying listening. You Never Give Me Your Money (Take 36) – The Beatles Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why. Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam via samstafford@hotmail.com or the 50 Shades WhatsApp Community .

Sam Stafford was at a symposium organised by Create Streets at Hatfield House in June last year called ‘Building for generations’. All of the presentations on the day and the conversations there upon led Sam back to the fundamental question as to why places look the way they do, which, it seemed to him on the train back that evening, would make for a good episode of a town planning-based podcast so he convened some experts in the field of design and placemaking to try to answer that question. Those experts are old friends of the podcast Hana Loftus (who steers the conversation), Andrew Taylor , and Katie Wray . They are joined by new friends of the podcast Eleanor Fawcett and Peter Maxwell . Hana is a Director at HAT Projects; Andrew is Group Planning and Sustainability Director at Vistry; Katie is a Director at Deloitte; Eleanor is the Built Environment Fellow for the 1851 Royal Commission; and Peter is an Assistant Director at the Cambridge Growth Company. In a conversation recorded online in January 2026 they talk about what it is that makes the places that we like (what makes them ‘sticky’, asks Katie); they talk about culture, are places the way they are because ultimately that is the way we want them to be; they talk about the role of planning, does it make places better or worse; they talk about highways adoption standards, and they finish by talking about the changes that they would want to see to help deliver better places. Some accompanying reading. Parking – what works where Delivering quality: mobility hubs Delivering quality: local centres Building for a Healthy Life Building for generations: the Hatfield Symposium Some accompanying listening. Episode 116 - Critical Infrastructure First Aid Kit – Perfect Places Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why. Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam via samstafford@hotmail.com or the 50 Shades WhatsApp Community .

Sam Stafford was in Birmingham recently and took the opportunity whilst there to catch up with old friend of the podcast Myles Wild Smith and new friends of the podcast Mike Knott , Bart Shirm and Beth Pywell . Myles is a Director at Lichfields, Mike is a Regional Practice Lead at Stantec, Bart is a Senior Planning Policy Officer at Sandwell and Beth is an Associate Director at Nexus. During a good ol’-fashioned, Shades-style ramblechat, recorded at Podhaus studios in Digbeth’s Custard Factory, they talk about the NPPF's non-appearance before the parliament summer recess, local plan progress and the recent Pennycook pragmatism letter, changes to the BNG regime, Bart’s recent trip to Canada, which led them back to the reform agenda here, and towards the end, application fees. Some accompanying reading. Local Plan examinations: letter to the Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate (July 2026) Biodiversity Net Gain: Amendments and transitional arrangements published A Biodiversity Net Gain Solution for a High Value Brownfield Site FUSION Montréal: Confident planners delivering resilient outcomes Why NPPFs fail #1 - planning by committee Some accompanying viewing. Plan, Prepare, Progress: A practical guide to the new local plan system What does Team Burnham mean for housebuilding Some accompanying listening. Vibes and Stuff – A Tribe Called Quest Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why. Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam via samstafford@hotmail.com or the 50 Shades WhatsApp Community .

This is another episode in the Hitting the High Notes series, which, if you have not listened to one before, is town planning's equivalent, nee rip off, of Desert Island Discs. During these episodes Sam Stafford chats to preeminent figures in the planning and property sectors about the planning permissions or projects that have helped to shape them as professionals and, so that listeners can get to know people a little better personally, for every permission, project or stage of their career, Sam also asks his guests for a piece of music that reminds them of that period. Unlike Desert Island Discs you will not hear any of that music during the episode because using commercially-licensed music without the copyright holders permission or a very expensive PRS licensing agreement could land Sam in hot water, so, when you have finished listening to this episode, please have a look at the YouTube videos and a Spotify playlist to which there are links below. This episode features a conversation that Sam recorded at PodFirst studios in Nottingham in January 2026 this with Richard Schofield . Richard began his career in planning as a policy officer in local government, becoming the Head of Planning at Bassetlaw. As listeners will hear, having got a local plan adopted and in need of a fresh challenge, Richard joined the Planning Inspectorate, becoming Chief Planning Inspector, before departing for a now extended secondment within the Chief Planner’s Department in MHCLG. Over the course of an hour or so, as well as talking through his career to date, Richard touches upon the case for national development management policies, how to adopt a local plan in thirty months, and the best way to wind up an inspector at an inquiry. Some accompanying reading. Confessions of a curious mind: An interview with Richard Schofield SDO Speedwagon Some accompanying listening Richard’s Spotify Playlist Unbearable - The Wonder Stuff Vagabonds - New Model Army You held the World in your arms – Idlewild I Believe – REM Follow Your Arrow – Kacey Musgraves Hunger in your haunt – Biffy Clyro Some accompanying viewing. Justified Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why. Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam via samstafford@hotmail.com or the 50 Shades WhatsApp Community .

A couple of months ago Sam Stafford saw that Shaun Knights at Preston City Council and national vice chair of the Young Planning Officers Society (POS) had posted on LinkedIn encouraging nominations for POS’ ‘Emerging Planner Award’ (EPA). “I’ve already seen some genuinely impressive submissions that show the amazing day‑to‑day work young planners are doing and the fresh ideas they’re bringing into LPAs”, Shaun wrote. Sam was interested in the amazing day‑to‑day work that young planners are doing and the fresh ideas they’re bringing into LPAs, and thought that 50 Shades listeners would be too. He sent Shaun a message asking if he and his Young POS colleagues would be interested in making an episode of the podcast with some of the planners that were subsequently short-listed for the award. He was, and some of them were, and so they put this together ahead of and after the POS Conference in Nottingham at which the winner of the award was announced. Young POS is a network for public sector planners with less than ten years post qualification experience and it provides opportunities for planners to support one another through the sharing of experience, learning and knowledge. Developed by Young POS and supported by the Society’s Rising Star bursaries, the EPA is an initiative created by young planners for young planners with 2026 marking its inaugural year. The award celebrates the everyday achievements of young public sector planners, whose work often lacks the visibility and recognition it deserves. It shines a light on the valuable contributions these planners make to practice, communities and place-making across England. The episode that Shaun and friends have put together is in four parts. First you will hear Shaun and Imogen Hopkin at South Staffordshire Council and national Chair of Young POS talk to shortlisted EPA nominee Annie Utting. Annie is at Be First Ltd (for the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham). Then you will hear Shaun and Imogen talk to nominee Charlotte Greenhow at South Ribble Borough Council. Then you will hear Shaun and Imogen talk to nominee Will Lawrence at Nottinghamshire County Council Then finally you will hear a conversation between Shaun, Annie, Charlotte and Will. The first two conversations were recorded online and the second two were recorded at The Createry in Nottingham. The four conversations take in, amongst other things, their respective careers to date, managing application backlogs, facilitating service improvements, why householder applications can be worse than majors, why no two council planning teams are the same, the dreaded role of duty planners, local government reorganisation, managing abuse, on one side of the coin, but the best part of their roles on the other. Some accompanying reading. Emerging Planners in Practice – Young POS on LinkedIn British Podcast Awards Some accompanying viewing. Planning on the Frontline: Navigating Abuse, Misinformation and Public Pressure Leadership Skills with Graham Stallwood Parks & Recreation Some accompanying listening. Stay Young – Oasis Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why. Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam via samstafford@hotmail.com or the 50 Shades WhatsApp Community .

The role of local councillors in the planning system has been a familiar topic of conversation on the podcast in the context of, for example, overturning officer recommendations and the case for a national scheme of delegation. There is less talk about the role of MPs in the planning system, which is something that friend of the podcast Andrew Taylor wanted to remedy. This then is the second of what he and Sam Stafford hope will be five episodes exploring the role of a member of a parliament by way of conversations that Andrew records with representatives from the now five major parties. This time, the Liberal Democrats, and a conversation recorded with Vikki Slade and Sarah Gibson at Soho Radio Studios in April 2026. Andrew, regular listeners will know, is Group Planning and Sustainability Director at Vistry. Vikki represents Mid Dorset and North Poole and is a former group leader on Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council. Indeed Vikki still represents the Broadstone ward. Some listeners might have come across Vikki during her three years at Cratus. Sarah represents Chippenham and has a background in local government and architecture. Over the course of hour an hour so they talk about Vikki and Sarah's respective routes to Westminster, the rural economy, forging strategic links on issues of pan-constituency significance, the role of a MP in day-to-day planning matters, planning committee reform and, towards the end, Biodiversity Net Gain. Some accompanying reading. Removing the grit from the system - Changes needed for a more efficient planning application process Some accompanying viewing. What does team Burnham mean for housebuilding? Some accompanying listening The Snagging List The Snagging List II Politics – Personal Trainer Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why. Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the other episodes in the All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam via samstafford@hotmail.com or the 50 Shades WhatsApp Community . Sam is grateful to Richborough , Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and to Adrian Meehan for recording and editing this episode.

Sam Stafford was in London recently and whilst there caught up with friends of the podcast Hana Loftus , Mike Kiely , Nicola Gooch , Simon Ricketts and Andrew Taylor . Hana is a Director at HAT Projects; Mike is a former Chief Planner and now an independent planning consultant working mainly in the public sector; Nicola is a Partner at Birketts; Simon is a Partner at Town Legal and Andrew is Group Planning & Sustainability Director at Vistry. In a conversation recorded at Soho Radio Studios they chatted about some of the hot topics exercising the planning profession at the minute. They talked about the legal challenge by some London boroughs to the Mayor’s package of time-limited emergency measures to support housebuilding. They talked about planning committees, the national scheme of delegation, statutory chief planners, the designation of LPAs for poor performance, the Nature Restoration Fund, the need for the NPPF as soon as possible, and they talked about S73B. The hottest topic of all though, given that this episode was recorded during a red extreme heat warming, was whether the addition of awnings and air conditioning units are or should be permitted development. Some accompanying reading. Wishful Thinking Legal battle brews over London's affordable homes targe t Why NPPFs fail #1 - planning by committee Delegation default: power to the Chief Planner Good Practice Note - National Scheme of Delegation Route 62A The draft Nature Restoration Levy Regulations are here Section 73 Or Section 73B 165,000 Reasons Some accompanying listening. Hitting the High Notes - Nick Kilby Red Hot – Jurassic 5 Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why (via samstafford@hotmail.com). Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the other episodes in the All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam. Do please also feel free to get involved with the 50 Shades WhatsApp Community . Sam is grateful to Richborough , Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and to Nick Stephenson and Adrian Meehan for recording and editing this episode.

This is the fourth of a series of episodes being led by the oldest friend of the podcast, Paul Smith . Paul put it to Sam Stafford that debates about the planning system in England tend, for the most part, to focus solely on the planning system in England. We very seldom look to other countries for inspiration and ideas. Paul wanted to remedy that and so in this series he is chatting with planning professionals and academics from a number of countries to find out what works well there, what works less well, and what can we learn. In this episode Paul chats to Stuart Donovan about planning in New Zealand. Stuart is an economist and Senior Fellow with Motu Research, an independent Wellington-based economics and public policy institute. During a conversation recorded online in January 2026 Paul and Stewart talk about why Auckland became one of the least affordable housing markets in the world and how the opportunities for upzoning presented by an earthquake in Christchurch and local government reorganisation in Auckland became so successful that they were ultimately replicated nationally. Some accompanying reading. Up-zoning New Zealand: the localisation of a globally mobile policy idea Dispelling Myths – reviewing the evidence of zoning reforms in Auckland Going it alone: the impact of upzoning on housing construction in Lower Hutt https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1051137724000512 New Zealand shows how planning reform will end Britain’s housing crisis Buckaroo! The burdens that have become a big problem for house building Some accompanying viewing. Planning on the Frontline: Navigating Abuse, Misinformation and Public Pressure Some accompanying listening. Flight of the Conchords - Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why (via samstafford@hotmail.com or the 50 Shades WhatsApp Community ). Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the other episodes in the All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam. Sam is grateful to Richborough , Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and to Rachael Cooper and Adrian Meehan for recording and editing this episode.

Sam Stafford was invited to a ProCon Leicestershire event in Leicester in October 2025 and also on the panel that evening was his old friend Grant Butterworth. Grant, Head of Planning at Leicester City Council, kindly invited Sam down early for a tour of the city, and whilst so doing suggested that Peter Soulsby would make a good podcast guest. Peter has been a politician for over 50 years. He was first elected to Leicester City Council in 1973, but lost his seat in 2003. In between he served as the Leader of the Council twice, first from 1981 to 1994 and then from 1996 to 1999. He was the Member of Parliament for Leicester South from 2005 until he resigned his seat in 2011, in order to contest the new post of City Mayor, a role he has held since 2011. Long-serving listeners will know that, hitherto, it has been preeminent figures in the planning and property sectors that have talked Sam through the planning permissions or projects that helped to shape them as professionals during these Hitting the High Notes episodes. Given the relationship between planning and politics it was a good idea of Grant’s to broaden that tent and hear another perspective. Hitting The High Notes is town planning’s equivalent, nee rip of Desert Island Discs in that, so listeners can get to know people a little better personally, for every project or stage of their career Sam also asks his guests for a piece of music that reminds them of that period. Unlike Desert Island Discs you will not hear any of that music during the episode because using commercially-licensed music without the copyright holders permission or a very expensive PRS licensing agreement could land Sam in hot water, so, when listeners have finished listening to this episode, please check out the YouTube videos and a Spotify playlist below. In a conversation recorded in person in January 2026, Peter tells Sam about moving from the North East to London and then up to Leicester to study. He talks about why he gave up teaching for politics, what local government looked like half a century ago and why not all mayors are the same. They talk about building roads, housing renewal, the City Challenge programme, regeneration and knocking down roads. Some accompanying listening. Changes – David Bowie Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad - Meat Loaf The Day Before You Came - Abba Is That All There Is? - Peggy Lee I Cried For You – Katie Melua Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana – Pietro Mascagni Peter’s Spotify Playlist Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why (via samstafford@hotmail.com). Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the Hitting The High Notes and All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam. Sam is grateful to Richborough , Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and to Adrian Meehan for editing this episode.

This episode features the recording of an event hosted by Lorenzo Pandolfi and Simone Pagani in February 2026. Lorenzo and Simone invited Chris Katkowski and Russell Harris to tell the story of the Shard inquiry. Chris and Russell, two of the most prominent KCs in the country, share their recollections of one of the most consequential planning inquires of modern times. They talk about the characters involved, what it is like to be a part of an event of that scale, and lessons that they took, and that we all can learn, from the experience. Some accompanying reading. My Favourite Building: Sam Stafford – The Piece Hall How to Thrive in the Planning Jungle: 100 Tips for Consultants, Real Estate Developers and Architects Some accompanying listening. Underworld - Mmm... Skyscraper I Love You Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam Stafford's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why (via samstafford@hotmail.com). Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the Hitting The High Notes and All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam. Sam is grateful to Richborough , Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and to Adrian Meehan for editing this episode.

"The second (epochal change) is the technology revolution led by developments in artificial intelligence, which will change everything. I mean everything. There is no point in debating whether this technological revolution is a good or bad thing. Just know it is a ‘thing’. In fact, it is ‘the thing’. It will displace jobs, though creating new ones, but no one yet knows the full consequence. Companies and countries will rise or fall on the back of it. It will revolutionise the private sector and should in time revolutionise public services and government. Yet people in most countries, including Britain, have no idea what is about to hit them." So wrote Tony Blair in his recent essay ‘The Labour Party Is Playing With Fire Over Its Future and the Future of the Country.’ What is about to hit us? What are the implications of AI in the planning context? What does it mean for what we do now and what we might do in the future? What are the legal implications? The data implications? The implications for public engagement? These are themes that were explored in a conversation recorded online back in February of this year between old friends of the podcast Hashi Mohamed , Kathryn Ventham and Sue Chadwick , and new friend of the podcast Harry Quartermain . Hashi, who steered the conversation, is an author and a barrister at Landmark Chambers; Kathryn is a Senior Director at Twenty5 Planning; and Sue is a strategic advisor at Pinsent Masons. Harry is Head of Insight & Research at LandTech and an Associate Lecturer at the University of the Built Environment. Due to some technical issues on the day another new friend of the podcast, Graham Stallwood , was unable to join the recording, but Graham, Interim Chief Executive at the Planning Inspectorate, listened to it and provided an addendum that Sam Stafford drops in at the end of the episode. Some accompanying reading. Podcast episode 170: The Tip of the AIceberg Are we consulting with people? The Labour Party Is Playing With Fire Over Its Future and the Future of the Country Digital planning in England Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Judicial Guidance (October 2025) Use of artificial intelligence in casework evidence How AI is slowing down the planning system and what we can do about it English councils to trial Google AI tool to speed up planning decisions Some accompanying viewing. A new planning system and future-ready planners Some accompanying listening. Is AI Too Powerful to Control Responsibly? Jim James - State Of The Art (A.E.I.O.U.) Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why (via samstafford@hotmail.com). Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the Hitting The High Notes and All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam. Sam is grateful to Richborough , Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and to Adrian Meehan for recording and editing this episode.

The role of local councillors in the planning system has been a familiar topic of conversation on the podcast in the context of, for example, overturning officer recommendations and the case for a national scheme of delegation. There is less talk about the role of MPs in the planning system, which is something that friend of the podcast Andrew Taylor wanted to remedy. This then is the first of what he and Sam Stafford hope will be five episodes exploring the role of a member of a parliament by way of conversations that Andrew records with representatives from the now five major parties. First, Labour, and a conversation recorded with Elsie Blundell and Mike Reader at Soho Radio Studios in March 2026. Andrew, regular listeners will know, is Group Planning and Sustainability Director at Vistry, Elsie represents Heywood and Middleton North and Mike represents Northampton South. Andrew explores with Elsie and Mike their journeys to Westminster and their role now in the space between national objectives and what is going on in their respective patches. They talk local government reorganisation, they talk infrastructure delivery and regulation, and they talk about skills. Some accompanying reading. Public Practice’s Associate Programme Some accompanying viewing. Planning Teams for the Future: What they are and how we get there Some accompanying listening. Politics – Personal Trainer Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why (via samstafford@hotmail.com). Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the Hitting The High Notes and All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam. Sam is grateful to Richborough , Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and to Adrian Meehan for recording and editing this episode.

Sam Stafford was in Manchester recently and took the opportunity to catch up with friends of the podcast Charlotte Leach , Katie Wray , Claire Petricca-Riding and Paul Smith . Their conversation, recorded at Reform Radio, was a good old fashioned 50 Shades-style ramblechat. They started with the local elections and then from Reform got on to planning reform and back again and before they knew it an hour had passed by. Some accompanying reading. Housing and Planning Minister speech to UKREiiF 2026 Farcical scenes during planning meetings put Bristol’s economic future at risk I Promised You A Miracle Why NPPFs fail #1 - planning by committee Some accompanying viewing. This Country Detectorists Some accompanying listening. Boards of Canada - Constants are Changing Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why (via samstafford@hotmail.com). Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the Hitting The High Notes and All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam. Sam is grateful to Richborough , Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and to Mike Dunbar and Adrian Meehan for recording and editing this episode.

The 2026 local elections will likely turn out to be significant for a number of reasons. Westminster psychodrama aside though, one area of immediate interest, for example, is what the increased number of councils under no overall control will mean for local plan-making. That is a topic to which Sam Stafford hopes the podcast will return in due course. Of similar immediate interest is the possible impact upon local government reorganisation (LGR), the whys and wherefores or the pros and cons of which might have been thought to be settled up until recent events. For now though it is to be assumed that, despite perhaps some spanners being thrown into some works, LGR remains the direction of travel for the foreseeable future at least. What has to be happening right now to make it a success? What lessons can be learnt from the most recent round of unitisation? How will reorganisation affect decision-making in the authorities about to be abolished? And how does planning get a place at the top table in the authorities that will replace them? These are the themes that were explored in a conversation recorded online in March 2026 between old friends of the podcast Catriona Riddell (who chaired the discussion), Jonathan Werran , Claire Tester and Jane Meek , and new friend of the podcast James Hood . Catriona is a Director at Catriona Riddell & Associates; Jonathan is the Chief Executive of Localis; Claire is Head of Strategic Planning at the South Downs National Park Authority; Jane founded Frontier Planning; and James is a Director at the Local Councils Network. Some accompanying reading. Local government reorganisation: Policy and programme updates Ride the Wave - Balancing investment risk and opportunity to guide urban renewal Everything in its right place - Establishing strong organisations and practices for successful devolution Connected Devolution - Digital systems for successful reorganisation Managing the impact and maximising the potential for planning and place-making services Cheers to William Marsden: The Mancunian who Invented the Weekend! Some accompanying viewing. Labour of Love II - Devolution, strategic planning and local government reorganisation Some accompanying listening. Going for Growth: Can We Make Britain Wealthy Again? (Matt Clifford) Orange Juice – Rit It Up Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why (via samstafford@hotmail.com). Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the Hitting The High Notes and All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam. Sam is grateful to Richborough , Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and Adrian Meehan for recording and editing this episode.

Sam Stafford was in Birmingham recently and took the opportunity to catch up with friends of the podcast Mike Best , Kathryn Ventham and Michelle Simpson-Gallego at PodHaus studios in Digbeth. They talked about why the recent consultation on areas for producing Spatial Development Strategies seemed to generate more interest in the West Midlands than other parts of the country (an issue for which this episode has named); they talked about the politics of Grey Belt; they talked about some live development management issues, including LPAs basing decisions on unpublished evidence; and they touched on PINS’ recent performance. Some accompanying reading. Areas for producing spatial development strategies Will the real West Midlands please stand up? Elections 2026 How Long Are Local Plan Examinations Taking? Planning After Dark LIVE at UKREiiF with Cratus Group Toxic Communications and Relational Planning SM sites for SME builders Some accompanying viewing. What the local election results mean for housebuilding Some accompanying listening. City Minutes: The Croydon planning experiment The Nightingales - Gales Doc Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why (via samstafford@hotmail.com). Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the Hitting The High Notes and All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam. Sam is grateful to Richborough , Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and to Carl Thomas-Edwards and Adrian Meehan for recording and editing this episode.

DEFRA recently launched a consultation on significant changes to it’s guidance on how Habitat Regulations Assessments should be carried out, which comes at an interesting time. It is, firstly, not long since DEFRA announced that Natural England and the Environment Agency have been given a new mandate to “prioritise outcomes over process” and “speed up decision-making while maintaining high environmental standards”. Secondly, Part 3 of the Planning & Infrastructure Act is in the process of being rolled out. Thirdly, it comes shortly after MHCLG’s announcement of an intention to transition from Environmental Impact Assessments to Environmental Outcomes Reports within the next year. As it so happens, five people with expertise in this area kindly accepted an invitation from Sam Stafford to convene online just last month to discuss these very themes. Those five people are old friends of the podcast Nina Pindham and Julian Arthur and new friends of the podcast Charlie Banner , Sally Hayns and Sam Dumitriu . Listeners will hear them talk about bat tunnels and fish discos; Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) and the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF); capacity, competence and confidence; and the precautionary principle. Regular listeners will know that Sam would usually wait until the end of the episode to flag the links to background reading that he includes in the description, but he thought that it might be helpful to highlight a couple at the start. EDPs, the NRF and the precautionary principle are terms that most planners are probably familiar with. There is though also mention of ‘People over Wind’, an EU Court of Justice ruling of relevance to the Habitats Directive, and to the Fingleton Review, which was a report on speeding up nuclear delivery by an independent Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce led by John Fingleton. If, like Sam, listeners are less familiar with those terms then links about them might be of interest before pressing play. Some accompanying reading. Meanwhile, at DEFRA: Changes to Habitats Regulations Assessments Guidance proposed ‘People Over Wind’ ruling blows a hole in the habitats regulations Overhaul of nuclear system to speed up building and cut costs What's really wrong with the Habitats Regulations? Build the Rail! Save the Snails! Picking Up The Bill: What Are We Now Thinking About Part 3? Public Sector RTPI Survey Private Sector RTPI Survey Some accompanying listening. Habitat – Mos Def Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why (via samstafford@hotmail.com). Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the Hitting The High Notes and All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam. Sam is grateful to Richborough , Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and to Adrian Meehan for recording and editing this episode.

Sam Stafford was in London recently and took the opportunity to catch up with old friends of the podcast Mike Kiely , Annie Gingell , Andrew Taylor and Iain Thomson , and new friend of the podcast Claire Tester . In a conversation recorded at Soho Radio they chatted about a few of the hot topics in the fast-paced, ever-changing, rock and roll world of town and country planning right now. They talked about the recent NPPF consultation; taking some of the 'grit' out of the system; they talked about planning committees in relation to the impact of local elections, new notification processes, a national scheme of delegation and strategic committees; and towards the end there is a bit of local plan and neighbourhood plan chat. Some accompanying reading. Book review for, “In Search of Excellence”, written by Tom Peters and Robert H. Waterman Jr. Fees for planning applications Planning committee reform: statutory consultation on draft Regulations and guidance What the CIA can teach us about the need to reform planning committees What the 'pre-election period' means in practice New local plan-making system roadmap More Radical Change: the Basic Conditions for Neighbourhood Plans Simonicity - "Ten Years Time" Public Sector RTPI Survey Private Sector RTPI Survey Some accompanying listening. Colorama - Some Things Just Take Time Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why (via samstafford@hotmail.com). Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the Hitting The High Notes and All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam. Sam is grateful to Richborough , Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and to Stanley Bain and Adrian Meehan for recording and editing this episode.

New Towns are back in the news because the Government has announced the first formal step in creating the next generation of them with the launch of a public consultation on the draft New Towns Programme and its environmental implications. The consultation builds on the findings of the New Towns Taskforce report in September 2025 and invites views on how the New Towns Programme will operate, how new towns will be delivered and planned, and the proposed approach to design, placemaking and planning policy. It seeks views on the Government’s offer to locations and a Strategic Environment Assessment report which focuses on local environmental constraints, the cumulative effects of new towns development, and practical methods of mitigation and monitoring. Now then seemed like a good time for Sam Stafford to share a recording made online in November 2025 by new friends of the Rebecca Warren , Fionnuala Lennon , Jonathan Schifferes and Lucy Bush , and old friend of the podcast Hana Loftus . The recording was actually made in two now combined parts, both steered by Rebecca. In the first third of this episode you will hear Rebecca, Fionnuala and Jonathan talk about some of the practicalities associated with new town development, and in the following two thirds you will hear Rebecca, Fionnuala, Lucy and Hana talk about placemaking. Some accompanying reading. Seven new towns proposed to kickstart housebuilding push New Towns Draft Programme New Towns Draft Programme Consultation New Towns Taskforce: Report to government On New Towns New Lessons for New Towns A fourth generation of New Towns – focusing on delivery Radical Citizenship: a model for new towns and beyond New towns in England: what next for the winners and runners up? Public Sector RTPI Survey Private Sector RTPI Survey Some accompanying listening. Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan - A New Town With An Old Sense Of Community Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why (via samstafford@hotmail.com). Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the Hitting The High Notes and All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam. Sam is grateful to Richborough , Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and to Rachael Cooper and Adrian Meehan for recording and editing this episode.

This is the third of a series of episodes being led by the oldest friend of the podcast, Paul Smith . Paul put it to Sam Stafford that debates about the planning system in England tend, for the most part, to focus solely on the planning system in England. We very seldom look to other countries for inspiration and ideas. Paul wanted to remedy that and so in this series he is chatting with planning professionals and academics from a number of countries to find out what works well there, what works less well, and what can we learn. In this episode Paul chats to Jannes Willems and Lilian van Karnenbeek about planning in the Netherlands. In a conversation recorded online in October 2025 they talked about a new Dutch Environment & Planning Act; subsidiarity between the three levels of Dutch planning; active and passive land use policy; public engagement in the Dutch system; cycling obviously; and the role of land reclamation in making planning so central to Dutch culture. Some accompanying reading. Insights on the Dutch Environment & Planning Act Icons of Dutch Spatial Planning Brilliant Orange 50 Shades T-Shirts Save The Date: Live Event 1 June 2026 Public Sector RTPI Survey Private Sector RTPI Survey Identifying the delays and barriers experienced in the planning applications process Planning in the Pub Some accompanying listening The Fall – Kurious Oranj Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why (via samstafford@hotmail.com). Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the Hitting The High Notes and All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam. Sam is grateful to Richborough , Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and to Rachael Cooper and Adrian Meehan for recording and editing this episode. Sam is on Bluesky and Instagram . His blog contains a link to his newsletter.