Is it right that old times be forgotten, asks Robert Burns in the opening line of Auld Lang Syne. Instinctively one might want to say yes to that insofar as 2020 is concerned. Much has been lost, but it’s also right to say that much has been gained too. We are at home more, a trend that might have happened at a much slower pace if at all in some places, and we are perhaps working more patiently and emphatically with each other, which is a trend that probably would not have happened at all. It has made us appreciate more the old times before 2020. The simple joy of just being with people, which we have learnt not to take for granted again. We can also take heart from the simple fact that, having faced down the challenges that this year has presented, we can be a little less fearful of whatever else is around the corner.
You will have spotted, all being well, the ‘Part 2’ in the title of this episode and so have already listened to Part 1, but if not, and it is by no means mandatory to have done so, this is the second of two episodes that feature reflections on an extraordinary year from past contributors to the 50 Shades of Planning Podcast. Sam Stafford's only editorial stipulation was that recordings were about five minutes in length. Whatever people wanted to talk about was completely up to them.
You will hear in this episode erudite and insightful observations from:
- Lisa McFarlane;
- David Rudlin;
- Greg Dickson;
- Andrew Taylor;
- Stanzie Bell;
- Claire Petricca-Riding;
- Vanessa Eggleston; and
- Mark Parkinson.
Lisa (@lmcfarlane01) is a Director and RIBA Specialist Conservation Architect at Seven Architecture and featured on Episode 31.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-mcfarlane-ba-hons-barch-msc-che-riba-sca-ihbc-3ab5412
David (@Davidurbedcoop1) is a Director at URBED and featured on Episode 12.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/djrudlin
Greg (@GregDickson1) is a Director at Barton Willmore and a regular contributor to the podcast.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-dickson-4762263a
Andrew (@AndrewJTaylor3) is Group Planning Director at Countryside and featured on Episode 17.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-taylor-frtpi-42555131
Stanzie is a Barrister at Kings Chambers (@KCPlanningTeam) and featured on Episode 32.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/constanze-stanzie-bell
Claire (@PetriccaRiding) is a Partner and National Head of Planning and Environmental Law at Irwin Mitchell and featured on Episode 25.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairepetriccariding
Vanessa is a Partner at i-Transport and featured on Episode 23.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-eggleston-6132131b0
Mark (@MarkA_Parkinson) is Chief Executive Officer at Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership and featured on Episode 9.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-parkinson-972816b3
Some accompanying reading.
The blog Sam wrote whilst on furlough leave in April.
http://samuelstafford.blogspot.com/2020/04/memories-of-200809-career-advice-for-my.html
50 Shades of Planning
Sam Stafford started posting on the 50 Shades of Planning blog in 2012 and in 2019 turned it into a podcast. 50 Shades of Planning is about 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 is 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. If you would like to feature on 'Hitting The High Notes', or know somebody that would make a great guest, please email [email protected].
If you have listened to Episode 45 of the 50 Shades of Planning Podcast 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: http://samuelstafford.blogspot.com/2021/07/50-shades-of-planning-t-shirts.html
Sam is on Bluesky (@samuelstafford.bsky.social) and Instagram (@samuel__stafford), and his blogs can be found here: http://samuelstafford.blogspot.com.
As with the 50 Shades Blog, the 50 Shades Podcast is a platform for Sam's personal opinions, which may or may not represent the opinions of his past, present or future employers.
50 Shades of Planning is 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...
