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It is fair to say the new Planning Bill is a combination of Gove and successive previous Planning Ministers’ (and there have been many) attempts at implementing the Levelling-Up agenda and perhaps rescuing the ‘Planning for the Future’ white paper. From scrapping EIA, housing need, and the duty to cooperate, to implementing changes to the development plan hierarchy, a new levy to replace CIL and S106, design coding, and infrastructure delivery strategies, it sounds like a raft of changes but what do they all mean in reality? What are the intended and perhaps unintended consequences? And how, in summary, does all this change truly help to deliver the Levelling-Up agenda? We are joined by a gaggle of passionate planners to mull it over. Featuring Iain Painting, Barton Wilmore, now Stantec;  Iain Gilbey, Pinsent Masons;  Catriona Riddell, Catriona Riddell & Associates;  Tom Martin, Quatro PR;  Mary Mescall, Barton Willmore, now Stantec

The Levelling-Up Agenda challenges many of our development sectors to consider the contribution they can make to economic growth and the search for a step change in growth and opportunity for local communities. A recent BPF report has set out the contribution the industrial and logistics sector particularly has to play but also how restricted space could impact any levelling-up ambitions. More broadly employment land and development, its allocation and even protection is an important facet of any successful economy. On this podcast we bring together representatives from the industrial and logistics sector to talk through the value these schemes can deliver in the levelling-up context, opportunities for intensification and consider the hurdles currently faced in the delivery at each level. Featuring: James Donagh, Barton Willmore, now Stantec (Chair); Clare Bottle, UK Warehousing Association; Gareth Osborn, DHL Supply Chain;  Matt Griffith, Business West/British Chamber of Commerce;  Gareth Prichard, Barton Willmore, now Stantec.

Town Planning as a profession emerged from a need to enhance health and opportunity for our growing urban populations. Enhance sanitation and living conditions and enact positive change that tackles urban inequality and provides homes for everyone. But today, our Graduate planners are wondering if Town Planners are still able to tackle this challenge effectively, in whatever role they take up? In this podcast, two of our ambitious Graduates are bringing together representatives from across the profession to consider this question along with discussing the opportunities and hurdles to delivering social justice through urban regeneration or new development delivery. Where is/has it been done well and how could it be better supported? Featuring Heather Claridge, Glasgow City Council;  Ryan Woolrych, Heriot-Watt University; Keir Hunter and Seth Tyler, Graduate Planners at Barton Willmore, now Stantec. Robin Shepherd, Director (Chair).

COP26 has sought to bring together governments from across the world to discuss and debate the global response to climate change and the tangible commitments and actions that are required. But how do the topics and decisions being made at this hugely important conference impact the built environment sector and beyond this what are we seeing as the immediate priorities for our industry in response to this humanitarian crisis? In this pod, we have sought to bring together views of both the future generations of our industry and established ESG focused professionals, to share their thoughts and discuss the responses they want to or can see happening. Featuring Emily Hamilton, Savills Investment Management; Gavin Bridge, Spatia; Nicola Hugo and Gemma Kinnear, Samuel Ryder Academy;  Lucy Wood and  Barry Williams, Barton Willmore

Over the last few months, a couple of appeal decisions have once again reignited the debate around greenbelt development and what better way to kick off the new series of our podcast, with a hot topic and well qualified expert views from a leading legal, political developer, and planner, all diving into what at the time felt like a significant decision in St Albans earlier this year. Despite all now feeling this resolution to permit, greenbelt release remains the exception as opposed to the rule, it has unquestionably once again heightened the debate. Frustrations remain strong around greenbelt’s original intentions as a policy instrument, versus the perception it now has in the general public’s minds, and therefore those of the politicians, as sacrosanct open space/rural sites of merit, and our guests point to the quick yet lazy opportunity it represents for political manifestos, resulting in it endlessly being used by short-sighted politicians hunting a vote. How can we change the conversation? Make even the smallest of changes? Featuring Zack Simons, Landmark Chambers, Paul Campbell, Richborough Estates and Land Promoters & Developers Federation, Tom Martin, Quatro, Mark Sitch, Barton Willmore, Robin Shepherd, Barton Willmore (Chair).

Humans are pack animals and urban centres are a hub for interaction, so with a ‘post-COVID’ world looking uncertain, and tiered lockdowns further threatening the vibrancy of our urban centres, our response in terms of high street regeneration is becoming more and more critical.  If the fundamental requirements of our urban centres are to host and sustain these delicate ecosystems of interaction, is their inherent social value uppermost in our thoughts? If it is, where do we now see the opportunities for maximising it through every move we make, as we look to ‘Build Back Better/Greener’ and revive these spaces for the long term? How do we ensure that the delicate balance of society and its role in placemaking is installed for the benefit of our town centres? We bring together panellists Dr William Bird, Intelligent Health; Paul Hanegraaf, Milligan and Shain Shapiro, Sound Diplomacy, Planning Associate and High Streets Task Force Expert, Nicole Roe and Partner Stephen Tucker (chair) to discuss. 

The Government has firmly positioned the development industry as the saviour of this potential economic crisis. But in so doing, do they, perhaps unwittingly further reinforce the negative connotations of the industry as fat cat money makers? We know that development is about so much more than simply stimulating or delivering economic opportunity, so how can we change perceptions and the conversation? How can we tackle our UK wide reputation better to ensure these are reflected in the public’s view, politics, the mass press, etc? We bring together Daisy Powell-Chandler, The Reputation Coach; Tony Cosgrove, Masgroves; Matt Bell, Grosvenor; and our very own Business Development Director, Jenni Montgomery and Partner, Robin Shepherd (chair) to discuss.

In this, our third and final pod focusing on the Planning White Paper’s proposals, we tackle the brain-challenging issue of viability. A replacement to both CIL and S106 is trailed and scant detail provided, but our panelists had strong views on the proposals and need for a rethink. Risk and profitability, transparency and certainty, mitigation and taxation must all be considered, never mind the fact that these proposals seem to fly in the face of the Governments core ambitions for enhanced quality and encouragement of SME’s into the sector. Featuring Tom Hegan, Turner Morum; Colette McCormack, Winckworth Sherwood; Peter Jordan, Persimmon Homes, and our Senior Partner, Iain Painting.

With consultation on Scottish Planning Reform (SPR) ending this week, we brought together voices from across the facets of Scottish property industry, not to analyse the reform proposals themselves, but consider the wider challenges they signal for the industry and specifically relations between the public and private sector. Is the ‘presumption’ removal proposal a signal of wider challenges for the sector? How can we de-politicise the process? Why not a nationally set housing target or bolder NPF conversations and ambitions from Government? Influencers and practitioners Irene Beautyman, RTPI Conveynor, Craig Whelton, Burges Salmon and Gary Smith, Hallam Land join Stephen Tucker (compare) and Colin Lavety from our Scotland team to debate the hot topic that is the Scottish planning system.

The Planning White Paper sets out ambitions for enhanced quality in the development industry, and the ambition that high-quality design can persuade people development is a good thing. The main tool proposed for achieving this is Design Coding, utilised on a more systematic level. But what have we learnt from Design Coding to date to inform this broadening of application? We brought together a researcher - Hannah Hickman, UWE Bristol; master developer - Nigel Reids, Lands Improvement Holdings, urban design officer in a local authority - Mark Harris, South Hams District Council and masterplanner - our very own Vaughn Anderson, to debate the what can and should not be within a code, potential challenges today and the process needed for creation. 

Housing and unmet need has once again hit the headlines and lit political touch papers this month, following the government’s White Paper (Planning for the Future) proposals for centrally established housing targets. For our new term, we convened a statistician - Dan Usher, Barton Willmore, political and planning lobbyists - Catriona Riddell, Catriona Riddell Associates and Jonathan Werran, Localis, a legal wrangler - Zack Simons, Landmark Chambers and importantly a practitioner Iain Painting, Barton Willmore, to discuss the challenge and realistic routes for addressing it on this podcast. We discussed the need and challenge of this need number, it’s central role in this new system, and the politics that influence it. Listen in to hear our conclusions on the role this number plays and how it may be better utilised as a stick and carrot in planning and importantly economic recovery.

Following the publication of our recent report exploring the future of DCO's with Womble Bond Dickinson, Copper Consulting and Hannah Hickman of UWE, this podcast drives a lively debate. Joined by Andrew Taylor of Countryside Properties, Simon Ricketts of Town Legal, Ben Copithorne of Camargue, as well as authors Hannah and Ben Lewis our Infrastructure and Energy Director, the discussion focuses on what the problem is that we’re trying to fix and how we might balance an approach which sets top down need driving whilst still enabling bottom up localism. There's a huge amount of much encouraged butting in on this one as its such a hot and divided topic. Listen in and see where you land - could DCO's be used for new settlements?