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
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
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.
50 Shades of Planning
50 Shades of Planning was Sam Stafford’s attempt between April 2019 and October 2024 to explore the foibles of the English planning system and it's aim was to cover the breadth of the sector both in terms of topics of conversation and in terms of guests with different experiences and perspectives.
50 Shades episodes include 'Hitting The High Notes', which are a series of conversations with leading planning and property figures. The conversations take in the six milestone planning permissions or projects within a contributor’s career and for every project guests are invited to choose a piece of music that they were listening to at that time. Think Desert Island Discs, but for planners.
Sam is on Bluesky (@samuelstafford.bsky.social) and Instagram (@samuel__stafford), and his blogs can be found here: http://samuelstafford.blogspot.com (from where you can also sign up for his newsletter).
The 50 Shades platforms were expressions of Sam's personal opinions, which may or may not represent the opinions of his past, present or future employers.
The 50 Shades of Planning Podcast and YouTube channels were produced in partnership with Cratus Group.
Why Fifty Shades? Well, planning is not a black and white endeavour. There are at least fifty shades in between....
