50 Shades of Planning

The need for people to travel and the way in which they can travel has changed dramatically in a short period of time and, early on during the Coronavirus crisis especially, there was a sense that this change had the potential to be more permanent than temporary and contribute to the ‘Building Back Better’ agenda. As lockdown starts to ease though and traffic starts to flow again, or rather to not flow again, what is the sense of that change now? Is the window for a fundamental modal shift from car to two wheels and two legs closing? Has the planning system, or at least the regulatory regime, helped or hindered that? What might the lasting impact of the pandemic be on travel patterns and how will the planning system have to respond to that? Sam Stafford puts these questions to Brian Deegan (Design Engineer at Urban Movement), Vanessa Eggleston (Partner at i-Transport) and Paul Smith (MD of Strategic Land Group and a person who rides a bike). Twitter handles: @samuel_stafford, @bricycle and @paul_slg. Vanessa is on LinkedIn. Some accompanying reading. The latest on the cycle lane at the end of Paul’s street. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/support-a56-cycle-lanes-grows-18596708 Manchester’s Cyclops Junction. https://news.tfgm.com/news/manchester-opens-uks-first-cyclops-junction The Urban Design Group’s survey on street design practice. http://www.udg.org.uk/content/street-design-uk-pilot-survey-2018 ‘The end of the rush hour?’ Vanessa’s blog. https://strategiclandgroup.co.uk/2020/06/09/the-end-of-the-rush-hour-guest-post-by-i-transport/ Robin Lovelace’s Rapid Cycleway Prioritisation Tool. https://theconversation.com/cities-must-act-to-secure-the-future-of-urban-cycling-our-research-shows-how-138156 The International Transport Forum’s Decarbonising Transport initiative. https://www.itf-oecd.org/decarbonising-transport Some accompanying listening. Crosstown Traffic by Jimi Hendrix https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-xyGFI_Nq8

The grinding gears of the planning system need to be kept moving. On that most people can agree. Applying a little bit of lubricant within the bits of the system that largely pass the public by, extending consents and flexibility on things like CIL payments, for example, are relatively simple and relatively uncontroversial. What about though those bits of the system that are exposed to the outside world? The bits that rub up against public expectations. How, for as long as social distancing lasts, and indeed beyond, can the public continue to be engaged with the planning system in a way that allows applications and local plans to not only progress, but to progress in ways that are sensible, fair, and perhaps most importantly, lawful. Sam Stafford discusses these issues with Greg Dickson, Director at Barton Willmore; Sarah James, Policy & Membership Development Manager at Civic Voice; and Kevin Whitmore, Head of North & Midlands at BECG. Twitter handles: @samuel_stafford; @GregDickson1; @jamesslf and @kevin_whitmore. Some accompanying reading. Temporary changes to the publicity requirements for certain planning applications: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/consultation-and-pre-decision-matters#covid19 Sarah's blog 'Going from the physical to the digital': https://civicvoiceblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/02/going-from-the-physical-to-the-digital/ Kevin's blog 'Reflections from a virtual world': https://becg.com/blog/reflections-from-a-virtual-world/ Publicity requirements for the London Plan (in the Business & Planning Bill): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-current-spatial-development-strategies-available-digitally-draft-guidance Publicity requirements for other local development documents (a Written Ministerial Statement by Lord Greenhalgh): https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2020-06-25/HLWS311/ Some accompanying listening. Rules Of Engagement by King Creosote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcKPu6Yo8q4

Where does the recent run of local plan failures at St Albans, Sevenoaks, Wealden and Chiltern & South Bucks leave the Duty to Cooperate (DtC)? As well as being bad law it seemed obvious to most practitioners at the time that the DtC was bad planning and a regression from the Regional Spatial Strategies that it sought to replace. What hope is there that forthcoming devolution and planning White Papers will tackle the underlying technical and political issues that undermine the DtC? If they do not, what hope is there for the Government’s aim, as set out in a March 2020 policy paper, for local plan coverage across England by 2023? In this episode Sam Stafford discusses the DtC with Catriona Riddell (Catriona Riddell & Associates), Zack Simons (Barrister at Landmark Chambers), and Peter French (Senior Policy Officer at the County Councils Network (CCN)). Twitter handles: @samuel_stafford; @CatrionaRiddel1, @zacksimons and @peterpfrench. Some associated reading: Zack's Planoraks Blog: https://www.planoraks.com/posts-1/teamwork-failing-the-duty-to-cooperate 'County Councils & Strategic Planning: A review of current & emerging practice', by Catriona Riddell Associates and the CCN: https://thinkhouse.org.uk/site/assets/files/1605/ccn.pdf 'Unleashing counties’ role in levelling up England' by Grant Thornton and the CCN: https://www.grantthornton.co.uk/insights/unleashing-counties-role-in-levelling-up-england/ Some recommended viewing: Good Neighbours: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzaPcIXEoUo

Sam Stafford, wary halfway through his career of becoming a world-weary, cynical member of the town planning establishment, seeks to recapture some of his zest by chatting in this episode to three newly and soon-to-be qualified planners about the first few years of their careers. Charles Jones works for Pegasus in Bath, Cathy O’Toole works for Pegasus in Birmingham and Tillie Baker works for Arup in Manchester. Sam's conversation with them takes in their experiences at university and the transition from there into the world of work. Cathy and Tillie were commended by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) for their Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) submissions in 2019 and this episode may be of particular interest to anybody currently pursuing the Associate and Licentiate routes to RTPI membership (https://www.rtpi.org.uk/membership/assessment-of-professional-competence/).

Sam Stafford gets some of the 50 Shades gang back together for the type of Friday afternoon, Adam Buxton-style ramblechat that would have taken place in the pub a few months ago. Will the post-pandemic world really not be the same? Old habits do die hard after all. Perhaps a ‘90% world’ in which life will be close to ‘normal’ but subtly different? Sam's conversation with Paul Smith, Vicky Payne and Tom Whitehead takes in density, green space, civic space, active travel and city governance. Paul Smith is the Managing Director of Strategic Land Group and is on Twitter at @Paul_SLG. Vicky Payne is a planner and urbanist at Urbed and is on Twitter at @Victoria_Payne. Tom Whitehead is Group Town Planning Manager at Brookhouse Group and is on Twitter, but does not want you to know that. Some reading to accompany this episode: The pandemic will reduce inequality—or make it worse. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-04-29/how-will-the-coronavirus-pandemic-affect-inequality?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_source=url_link&utm_content=economics&cmpid%253D=socialflow-twitter-economics&sref=dcitGkK3 Past pandemics changed the design of cities. Six ways COVID-19 could do the same. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-04-22/coronavirus-pandemics-architecture-urban-design The city and the virus. https://medium.com/@maxnathan/the-city-and-the-virus-db8f4a68e404 A backlash against cities would be dangerous. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/05/urban-density-not-problem/611752/ Coronavirus is not fuel or urbanist fantasies. https://www.curbed.com/2020/5/20/21263319/coronavirus-future-city-urban-covid-19 ‘We’ve seen nothing like this since the 1930s’ - how will Greater Manchester’s economy bounce back from coronavirus? https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/weve-seen-nothing-like-1930s-18170878 If you would like to help support the East Lancs Railway: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/displayCharityCampaignPage.action?charityCampaignUrl=ELRsupportfund

In a 2016 interim report on the Cambridge-Milton Keynes-Oxford corridor, or the Arc, the National Infrastructure Commission identified the area as having “the potential to be “the UK’s Silicon Valley – a world-renowned centre for science, technology and innovation”. The Arc seems to have been 'the next big thing' since then, but is that potential any closer to being tapped? Is there any evidence that it really is a “national priority” and “one of the world’s greatest economic opportunities” as Robert Jenrick described it as Treasury Minister, or, as Chuck D suggested, is it best not to believe the hype. Sam Stafford discusses the Arc proposition with Tim Burden, Director at Turley; Bridget Rosewell, economist and National Infrastructure Commissioner; and Alistair Lomax, Director at the Arc Universities Group. Twitter handles: @samuel_stafford, @timburden03, @brosewell and @alistair_lomax. Some accompanying reading. The National Infrastructure Commission's report https://www.nic.org.uk/publications/partnering-prosperity-new-deal-cambridge-milton-keynes-oxford-arc/ Tim's think piece https://www.turley.co.uk/comment/oxford-cambridge-arc-lets-just-get-it Some recommended viewing. The Arctic Monkeys at Reading in 2006 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMxJhZc2sBI

Is there any substance to Robert Jenrick’s criticism of Sadiq Khan’s London Plan or is it just the victim of some Punch and Judy-style, blue on red oneupmanship? Sam Stafford discusses this question, and, if devolution and planning white papers are to encourage more mayoral Spatial Development Strategies, the lessons from London for elsewhere, with Alice Lester (Operational Director - Regeneration, Growth & Employment, Brent Council), Rob Krzyszowski (Head of Planning Policy, Transport & Infrastructure, Haringey Council) and Andrew Taylor (Head of Planning, Countryside Properties). Twitter Handles: @samuel_stafford, @AliceatBrent, @robzowski and @AndrewJTaylor3. Some accompanying reading. The Secretary of State and the Mayor's recent correspondence: https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning/london-plan/new-london-plan/secretary-states-response Some recommended listening. Alice's appearance on a proper podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000fgp5 Some recommended viewing. A classic episode of Bottom: https://youtu.be/wUlgdjZuSZ4

'I began to see what a sacred cow the Green Belt has become' said Minister for Housing & Local Government Richard Crossman in 1964. The Green Belt is a political behemoth that has long loomed over the planning system. In this episode Sam Stafford asks Paul Miner, Strategic Planning & Devolution at CPRE, and Kathryn Ventham, Planning Partner at Barton Willmore, whether housing need is becoming a sufficiently irresistible force to shift hitherto immovable Green Belt boundaries? Twitter handles: @samuel_stafford. @PaulMiner3 and @kateventham. Some accompanying reading and viewing: John Grindrod’s ‘Outskirts’ https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jun/14/outskirts-by-john-grindrod-review Ipsos Mori polling for the CPRE on public attitudes towards the Green Belt https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/attitudes-towards-green-belt-land Ipsos Mori polling for Housing The Powerhouse on attitudes towards housing development in Greater Manchester http://www.housingthepowerhouse.com/downloads/Housing%20the%20Powerhouse%20-%20Ipsos%20MORI%20Opinion%20Poll%20Press%20Release.pdf 'The Green Noose: An analysis of Green Belts and proposals for reform' by the Adam Smith Institute https://www.adamsmith.org/news/press-release-free-up-3-7-percent-of-londons-green-belt-to-build-one-million-new-homes-says-new-report ‘Planned up and be counted ‘ local plan making under NPPF 2012’ by Lichfields https://lichfields.uk/content/insights/planned-up-and-be-counted ‘This Blessed Plot – This Other Eden’ - A film for the Council for the Preservation of Rural England https://www.britishpathe.com/video/rural-england-aka-this-blessed-plot-this-other ‘The myth of the countryside idyll’ by Steve Middlehurst https://stevemiddlehurstidentityandplace.wordpress.com/2016/10/10/a5-research-the-myth-of-the-countryside-idyll/ Keith Joseph’s 1964 South East Study http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/19/newsid_2570000/2570681.stm A Policy Briefing Paper by the Landscape Institute https://www.landscapeinstitute.org/policy/green-belt-policy/ The London Society’s Position Paper https://www.londonsociety.org.uk/post/londons-green-belt ‘The Proud City’ – A film outlining plans for the post war reconstruction of London, featuring Patrick Abercrombie and JH Forshaw. https://archive.org/details/ProudCity

Robert Jenrick set out on 12 March 2020 proposals “to bring Britain’s planning system into the 21st century as part of plans to get the country building”. Within a week it was announced that schools were closing and local authority staff, including planning officers, have been dealing with a public health emergency. Sam Stafford is joined in this episode by Jonathan Easton, Barrister at Kings Chambers; Anna Rose, Head of the Planning Advisory Service at the Local Government Association; and Stefan Webb, Place Director at FutureGov to discuss the impact of Coronavirus on the planning system. Twitter handles: @samuel_stafford, @jonnye47, @EPlanna and @Stef_W. Some links: Planning Inspectorate Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-planning-inspectorate-guidance ADSO and LLG letter to MHCLG on decision-making and democracy: https://www.adso.co.uk/letter-to-sos-covid-19-implications-for-local-authority-governance/ Greater Flexibility For Planning Permissions: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/5997/1729942.pdf The Landmark Chambers paper: https://cached.offlinehbpl.hbpl.co.uk/NewsAttachments/RLP/LandmarkSOSletter.pdf Simon Ricketts’ Blog: https://simonicity.com/2020/03/21/what-to-do/ The Planning Advisory Service’s resource: https://local.gov.uk/pas/pas-topics/coronavirus The RTPI survey to inform discussions with Governments across the UK and Ireland: https://r1.dotmailer-surveys.com/b43esd27-db4kml95

2020 looks set to be another significant year for planning policy. Already it has seen the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission’s final report, ‘Living with beauty’, a report from Policy Exchange called ‘Rethinking the planning system for the 21st century’, and the Government’s First Homes consultation. Sam Stafford and his guests Tom Whitehead, Vicky Payne and David Diggle discuss their significance to the forthcoming Budget and White Paper, and this Government’s agenda more broadly. More information on the topics discussed in this episode can be found here: Living with beauty https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/building-better-building-beautiful-commission Rethinking the planning system for the 21st century’ https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/rethinking-the-planning-system-for-the-21st-century/ First Homes https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/first-homes

Sam Stafford chats with John Myers (YIMBY Alliance), Barbara Weiss (Barbara Weiss Architects) and Matt Thomson (CPRE) about how to build more and better homes and more and better places. Adding storeys, mansion blocks and other forms of gentle densification are agreeable in principle, but how can they be encouraged in practice? Do we build up in the meantime? Not everybody likes tall buildings. Do we build out in the meantime? Lots of people like the Green Belt... John Myers (@YimbyAlliance) worked as a lawyer, an analyst and in technology before cofounding London Yimby in 2016. https://yimbyalliance.org/about-us/ Matt Thomson (@MattThomson42) is Head of Planning at CPRE. Matt is a professional town planner with over 15 years’ experience in local government and was formerly head of policy and practice at the RTPI. https://www.cpre.org.uk/about-us/who-we-are/meet-our-spokespeople/ Barbara Weiss founded Barbara Weiss Architects in 1987. Barbara has been involved in the Skyline Campaign that 'aims to stop the devastation of London by badly designed tall buildings in the wrong location'. http://www.barbaraweissarchitects.com/the-practice/people/barbara-weiss Some reading associated with this episode: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/building-better-building-beautiful-commission https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2020/jan/new-housing-design-england-overwhelmingly-mediocre-or-poor https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/comment/dont-forget-a-lot-of-housing-design-is-getting-better/5103978.article https://www.londonyimby.org/research Some listening associated with this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICG0MuzEYzw

Sam Stafford chats with David Rudlin, Principal and Director of URBED, about his book Climax City, co-authored with Shruti Humani, which is a critical exploration of the growth of cities and masterplanning. The conversation takes in David's first role at Manchester City Council where he worked on the early stages of Hulme's redevelopment, as well as the 2014 Wolfson Economics Prize, which David and URBED won for their work on delivering a garden city. David's contact details: http://urbed.coop/team/david-rudlin Climax City: https://www.architecture.com/riba-books/books/urban-design-planning-housing-and-infrastructure/planning/product/climax-city-masterplanning-and-the-complexity-of-urban-growth.html

Is planning in England, as asserted by the Raynsford Review, really less effective than at any time in the post-war era? Chris Shepley, a former Chief Planning Inspector and member of the Raynsford Review panel, said that the report was produced at a time when planning is probably at its lowest ebb since 1947. Really? Does the breadth and influence of the profession now not make it more impactful than ever? As a consequence of that is it not more important than ever that planners have influence at every tier of public policy-making? These questions are the basis of a conversation that Sam Stafford has in this episode with Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and latterly Chief Executive of the Old Oak & Park Royal Development Corporation; Peter Rees CBE, Professor of Places & City Planning at UCL and former Chief City Planner at the City of London; and Nicki Linihan of NJL Solutions and latterly interim Director of Planning at the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation and former Head of Planning and Transport at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. The Raynsford Review can be read here: https://www.tcpa.org.uk/raynsford-review The RTPI’s research into the role of Chief Planning Officers can be read here: https://www.rtpi.org.uk/knowledge/research/projects/chief-planning-officers/

Full of festive cheer (and sherry), Sam Stafford quizzes Greg Dickson, Paul Smith, David Diggle, Andrew Jalali, Vicky Payne and Tom Whitehead on some of the stories that have caught the eye in 2019. Expect an attempt at humour at the start, an appearance from a very special guest at the end and some bad cracker jokes in between... For those interested in the topics that are discussed there is some reading here: January Mr Brokenshire’s big intervention stick. http://samuelstafford.blogspot.com/2018/08/mr-brokenshires-big-intervention-stick.html February Portsmouth council plans to reclaim land from sea for homes. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-47142979 March The latest act in the GMSF play. http://samuelstafford.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-latest-installment-in-long-running.html MHCLG’s resourcing and skills survey. https://local.gov.uk/pas/pas-topics/monitoring/survey-planning-departments-2019 April In memory of the Englishman who kept a shark on his roof. https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-the-uk/in-memory-of-the-englishman-who-kept-a-shark-on-his-roof/amp May The National Audit Office’s investigation into the government’s land disposal strategy and programmes. https://www.nao.org.uk/report/investigation-into-the-governments-land-disposal-strategy/ June Juries for plan-making. https://landforthemany.uk/ July Record temperatures across Europe. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-49108847 August The Towns Fund. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/conservatives-general-election-marginals-public-funding-money-a9201141.html September Robert Jenrick likes tree-lined streets. https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/housing-secretary-launches-national-design-guide-to-end-ugly-development/10044606.article October The CPRE likes Green Belt. https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/comment/paradise-lost-cpre-and-the-state-of-the-green-belt/5102352.article November Government confirms fracking moratorium and drops proposed permitted development rights. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/843801/Government_Response_to_the_shale_PDR_Consultation.pdf December How does your garden grow? https://lichfields.uk/media/5638/how-does-your-garden-grow_a-stock-take-on-planning-for-the-governments-garden-communities-programme.pdf

10 January 2020, as planners working in the West Midlands will know, is the date by which the 37,900 home shortfall identified in the Birmingham Development Plan needs to have been accommodated by the other local planning authorities in the Greater Birmingham Housing Market Area. In this episode Sam Stafford chats with Mike Best (Senior Director at Turley (@bestlaidplan)), Mark Parkinson (Economic Development & Planning Policy Manager at Staffordshire County Council (@MarkA_Parkinson)), and Craig Jordan (Head of Economic Growth & Development at Lichfield District Council) about the progress that has been made towards meeting this deadline. The shortfall issue, as Sam and his guests explore during the discussion, brings into sharp focus the difficulties that policy planners have planning for greater-than-local issues without a statutory basis to do so. Sam and Mike's previous blogs on the shortfall can be found here: http://samuelstafford.blogspot.com/2018/08/devolution-birmingham-shortfall-4.html https://mikesbestlaidplans.wordpress.com/2017/04/21/nobody-said-it-was-easy/

Sam Stafford chats with The Right Honourable The Lord Kerslake, who, as former Chief Executive of Sheffield and Hounslow councils; Chief Executive of the HCA; and Permanent Secretary of DCLG, has had a unique insight into workings of the English planning system. Sam and Bob discuss balancing the books at Sheffield City Council and the need to accelerate devolution and develop a spatial plan for England in order to rebalance regional inequalities, which are two of the recommendations of Bob's work with the UK2070 Commission (http://uk2070.org.uk).

If you’re involved they’re terrible, but if you’re just observing they’re terrific. In this episode Sam Stafford and his guests Katie Dean and Mike O’Brien discuss the cauldrons of human emotion that are planning committees. Some accompanying reading. A House of Commons Library Briefing https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/SN01030 A Lichfields research paper https://lichfields.uk/content/insights/refused-for-good-reason PAS guidance on probity in planning for councillors and officers https://www.local.gov.uk/Pas-probity-planning Some accompanying listening. An objector singing at Reading’s planning committee (13 mins) https://channel.royalcast.com/readingboroughcouncil/#!/readingboroughcouncil/20160907_1

Sam Stafford chats with Euan Mills of the Connected Places Catapult (https://futurecities.catapult.org.uk/) about how digital innovation, urban data, and user-centred design can improve the UK planning system.

Sam Stafford and his guests Vicky Payne and Paul Smith explore a possible link between the cinematic portrayal of property developers as wrong 'uns and this survey from Grosvenor that looks at levels of public distrust in placemaking and large-scale development. Thanks to Vicky for the title of this episode.

Sam Stafford chats with Sean Anstee CBE about the interaction of politics and planning from the point of view of a ward councillor, Council Leader and member of a Combined Authority. Talk also turned to Sean's campaign to be mayor of Greater Manchester during the 2017 election and the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework...

Sam Stafford and his guests Vicky Payne and Paul Smith discuss the forthcoming 'Accelerated Planning' Green Paper and swap holiday stories.

Sam Stafford and his guests David Diggle, Tom Whitehead and Andrew Jalali discuss whether modern design is s***, whether the planning profession has an image problem, and the role of planning in tackling climate change.

Sam Stafford and his guests Paul Smith, Greg Dickson and Vicky Payne consider recent reviews on the efficacy of the sector, as well as news stories that have been given national prominence, and ask ‘is planning working?’