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
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)
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 [email protected]). 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.
50 Shades of Planning
50 Shades of Planning is Sam Stafford’s attempt to explore the foibles of the English planning system and it's aim is 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.
50 Shades episode also include the 'All Around the World' series, which is being led by friend of the podcast, Paul Smith.
Paul put it to Sam that debates about the planning system in England tend, for the most part, to focus solely on the planning system in England. Planners here very seldom look to other countries for inspiration and ideas. Paul wanted to remedy that and so in this series he chats with planning professionals and academics from a number of countries to find out what works well there, what works less well, and what can be learnt.
Sam is on Bluesky and Instagram, and his blogs can be found here (from where you can also sign up for his newsletter).
The 50 Shades platforms are expressions of Sam's personal opinions, which may or may not represent the opinions of his past, present or future employers.
50 Shades of Planning is by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use the podcast or the YouTube channel for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then do please feel free to get in touch with Sam via [email protected].
Why Fifty Shades? Well, town and country planning is very much not a black and white endeavour. There are at least fifty shades in between....
