Sam Stafford has mentioned previously that the podcast would consider the new Government’s reform agenda and this is an attempt at doing so. The specifics of the NPPF consultation will be covered in more depth in due course, but what Listeners will hear in this jam-packed extravaganza of an episode is an exploration of that reform agenda in it’s broader sense.

In anticipation of the NPPF, Sam invited some of the Shades alumni to discuss some of the policy areas of most interest to them and how the new Government could and should approach them.

The voices that Listeners will hear belong to Vicky Payne, Hana Loftus, Ben Castell, Andrew Taylor, Pooja Agrawal, Claire Petricca-Riding, David Diggle, Nicola Gooch, Shelly Rouse, Gilan Macinnes, Ian Wray, Paul Smith, Mike Kiely, Simon Ricketts and Annie Gingell.

Listeners will hear:

• Vicky, Hana, Ben, Andrew and Pooja talk about design and placemaking (05:23 );
• Claire, David and Nicola talk about planning for infrastructure and the environment (20:02 );
• Shelly, Gilan and Pooja talk about LPA capacity (26:32 );
• Ian, Paul, Mike and Nicola talk about Grey Belt (38:38 );
• Ian, Paul and Vicky talk about New Towns (50:34 );
• Paul, Shelly and Andrew talk about devolution and ‘greater than local’ planning (01:02:03 );
• Nicola, Andrew, Gilian and Simon talk about land value capture (01:15:32 ); and
• Paul, Annie, Shelly and Andrew talk housing targets (01:27:36 ).

This episode only features parts of those eight conversations. Listen to the end to find out how and where to listen to all eight conversations in full in due course.

Some accompanying reading.

#PlanningReformDay 2024 - what just happened?

https://www.planoraks.com/posts-1/planningreformday-2024-what-just-happened

Letter from Deputy Prime Minister and Defra Secretary of State to environmental NGOs on planning and infrastructure bill

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-from-deputy-prime-minister-and-defra-secretary-of-state-to-environmental-ngos-on-planning-and-infrastructure-bill

Pathways to Planning

https://www.local.gov.uk/pathways-to-planning

The Green Belt. What it is and why; what it isn't; and what it should be

http://samuelstafford.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-green-belt-what-it-is-why-it-is.html

Policy statement on new towns

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/policy-statement-on-new-towns/policy-statement-on-new-towns

Letter from the Deputy Prime Minister to local leaders: the next steps to devolution

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-from-the-deputy-prime-minister-to-local-leaders-the-next-steps-to-devolution/letter-from-the-deputy-prime-minister-to-local-leaders-the-next-steps-to-devolution

Land value capture back in focus

https://philipbarnesblog.wordpress.com/2024/07/12/land-value-capture-back-in-fashion/

Where next for the substandard method of assessing housing need?

https://www.turley.co.uk/comment/housebuilding-assessment-targets-housing-stock-approach

Some accompanying viewing.

https://www.youtube.com/@FiftyShadesofPlanning

Some accompanying listening.

Labour of Love – Hue & Cry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CYZ6q7Wr9c

50 Shades T-Shirts!

If you have listened to Episode 45 of 50 Shades of Planning you will have heard Clive Betts say that...

'In the Netherlands planning is seen as part of the solution. In the UK, too often, planning is seen as part of the problem'.

Sam said in reply that that would look good on a t-shirt and it does. Further details can be found here. You can also sign up for the 50 Shades Newsletter via the 50 Shades Blog.

Any other business.

Sam is on Bluesky (@samuelstafford.bsky.social) and Instagram (@samuel__stafford). His blog contains a link to his newsletter.