Our Special Guest this week is Shanika Mahendran, Cabinet Member for Planning & Placemaking at Milton Keynes City Council.

Shanika is the first Asian woman and youngest ever councillor to join the Cabinet in Milton Keynes (initially as a Cabinet Member for the Economy). She previously worked in Sir Kier Starmer's politics team, improving campaigning and focussing on increasing diversity in our elected representatives.

Latest News Update on planning related matters.

An Appeal Decision at Horsham Golf Club in West Sussex for the development of a Sports and Leisure Hub including the provision of communal facilities, nursery, golf college, sports clubhouse (containing health & fitness spa, changing facilities and food & beverage) and up to 800 dwellings. The appeal was made by Generator Group against the previous decision of Horsham District Council.

A Decision of the Minister of State for Housing and Planning for a Data Centre in Iver, Buckinghamshire. This appeal was made by Greystoke Land and Altrad UK Ltd against a prior refusal by Buckinghamshire Council. The Data Centre buildings include offices, internal plant and equipment and emergency back-up generators and fuel storage. The development will also include cycle and car parking, internal roads, landscaping, security perimeter fence, ancillary infrastructure and a substation.

An Appeal Decision involving the proposed demolition and future development at The Point, an entertainment complex in Central Milton Keynes. The proposed redevelopment includes flexible Class E leisure/retail uses (upper and lower ground level), up to 487 apartments over the upper floors (up to 21 storeys with a floor to floor height of 3m plus a crown structure), re-cladding of the existing car park with leisure uses (bar, outdoor sports and cinema) at rooftop level.

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Our Special Guest this week is Lord Marvin Rees OBE. Marvin is a Labour Party politician who served as the Mayor of Bristol from 2016 to 2024 and became a life peer in February 2025. He has a background in public health, journalism, and social justice advocacy.

Latest News Update on planning related matters.

An Appeal Decision on Land West of Chapel Road in Smallfield, Surrey that was made by B Yond Homes Ltd against the previous decision of Tandridge District Council. The proposed development was for up to 270 dwellings; private parking; landscaping and public open space; SuDS; and flood alleviation measures.

An Appeal Decision on Land at Ham Road in Faversham, Kent and was made by Gladman Developments Limited against the prior decision of Swale Borough Council. The development proposed is the erection of up to 250 dwellings, including affordable housing, public open space, landscaping, sustainable urban drainage system and vehicular access point.

A Decision of the SoS for Energy Security and Net Zero for the Oaklands Farm Solar Park Project in Rosliston, South Derbyshire. The proposed 191-hectare development would have a generating capacity of over 50 megawatts, an export capacity of 162.3MW (alternating current) and an import capacity of 37.5MW (alternating current) to the National Grid.

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Our Special Guest this week is Florence Eshalomi, Labour (Co-op) MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green and is the current Chair of the MHCLG Select Committee. The Committee scrutinises the policy, administration and spending of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. It is made up of MPs from across the House of Commons.

Latest News Update on planning related matters.

An Appeal Decision for land at Old Park Lane in Farnham by Gleeson Land Limited against the decision of Waverley Borough Council. The proposal is for 83 dwellings (including 24 affordable) and public open space/country park including related play space, community orchard, wildlife pond, internal access roads, footways/footpaths and drainage basins/corridor.

An Appeal Decision at New Hall Farm, Overton in Wakefield by Boom Developments Limited against the decision of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council. The development proposed is the installation of a renewable energy generating station comprising ground-mounted photovoltaic solar arrays together with substation, transformer stations, site accesses, internal access tracks, security measures, access gates, other ancillary infrastructure and landscaping and biodiversity enhancements.

A High Court Decision between Bellway Homes Limited and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government regarding refusal of planning permission by Durham County Council in relation to land to the north of George Pit Lane, Great Lumley, County Durham. The proposed development included the erection of 148 dwellings with associated access, infrastructure and landscaping.

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Our Special Guest this week is Elsie Owusu OBE RA, Architect and Principal at Elsie Owusu Architects. Elsie is a founding member and the first chair of the Society of Black Architects. Her projects include the U.K. Supreme Court and Green Park tube station.  She has been an elected RIBA Council member since 2014, a vice-chair of the London School of Architecture, and a Royal Academician. She was recently part of the Radix Big Tent Housing Commission.

Latest News Update on planning related matters.

• A Decision of the High Court between Ross and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Renewable Energy Systems Ltd on an appeal against the Local Planning Authority’s refusal of planning permission for the proposed Longhedge Solar Farm. The solar farm was approximately 223 acres with a build area of 157 acres on a site to the north-east of the village of Hawksworth in Nottinghamshire.

• An Appeal Decision involving Berkeley Strategic Land Limited against the previous decision of Wokingham Borough Council for a proposed development of 350 dwellings and a care home with access on land adjacent to Blagrove Lane in Wokingham. The appeal is made under section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) against a refusal to grant outline planning permission.

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Our Special Guest this week is Lord Ben Gascoigne, Chair of the Built Environment Committee in the House of Lord. The Built Environment Committee was appointed to consider matters relating to the built environment, including policies relating to housing, planning, transport and infrastructure.

Latest News Updates

• An Appeal Decision relating to a hybrid planning application for the construction of new junction works with Newmarket Road and construction of associated adjacent drainage basin; and outline planning application for the construction of a relief road and up to 485 dwellings including provision of pedestrian and cycle connections, open space, landscaping and associated infrastructure. The site is on land off Newmarket Road in Bury St Edmunds and the appeal was made by Pigeon against the previous decision of West Suffolk Council.

• A Decision of the High Court between West Dulwich Service Station Limited and the London Borough of Lambeth regarding traffic management orders which establish, on an experimental basis, a low traffic neighbourhood in Dulwich which were previously approved on the 6th of August 2024. One of the orders restricts the ability for vehicular traffic to enter an area, the other restricts the ability to park within the area. The combined effect of the Orders is to prevent vehicular traffic from entering, passing through or waiting within the part of Dulwich bounded by Croxted Road to the east and Norwood Road to the west.

• Two Appeal Decisions involving the redevelopment of the Former Stag Brewery in Mortlake, London. The appeals were made under section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 against a failure to give notice within the prescribed period of a decision on an application for outline planning permission with some matters reserved and full planning permission. The appeal was made by Reselton Properties Limited against the decision of the Council of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

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Our Special Guest this week, returning for a fourth time, is Joanna Averley, Chief Planner at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. We ask Joanna about the current and pending reforms to planning law and policy.

An Appeal Decision involving Churchill Retirement Living against Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council regarding planning permission for redevelopment to form a multigenerational community comprising 177 open market, affordable and retirement living apartments, 237 square metres of Class E commercial space, communal facilities, access, car parking, landscaping and all associated works at the former Southern Gas Network Site, Christchurch. The appeal was made under section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) against a failure to give notice within the prescribed period of a decision on an application for planning permission.

A Decision of the Secretary of State for Transport on the proposed expansion of Luton Airport. The application would grant development consent for the expansion of London Luton Airport to enable an increase in overall passenger capacity to 32 million passengers per year. The application also includes the construction of a new passenger terminal, additional aircraft stands and associated redevelopment of existing facilities and infrastructure.

An Appeal Decision involving Galliford Try Investments (GTI) against the decision of Milton Keynes Council with the view to demolish a vacant 2-storey building (Class E) and the erection of a 33-storey building comprising commercial floor space (Class E) on the ground floor and mezzanine level with residential units on upper floors comprising up to 302 dwellings and associated works, at Jaipur and Orchard Lounge, 599 Grafton Gate, Milton Keynes. The appeal was made under section 78 of the Town and Country Planning (T&CP) Act 1990 (as amended) against a refusal to grant planning permission.

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Our Special Guest this week is Jason Prior, Chief Executive of Prior + Partners, whose projects include the 2012 London Olympics, Rio 2016, Google's California Campus and a new city in Saudi Arabia.

A Decision of the High Court involving the National Farmers Union, Herefordshire Council, The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and River Action UK relating to challenging the lawfulness of policy W3 of the Herefordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan (“MWLP”). Policy W3 refers to Agricultural waste management, including for livestock units.

A Decision of the Court of Appeal relating to the objection of a proposed construction of a 15-meter-high mobile phone mast by Cignal Infrastructure Limited on behalf of the mobile network operator Three, on a site located within Cheltenham’s Central Conservation area.

An Appeal Decision regarding a proposed development of up to 190 homes by Persimmon Homes Severn Valley on Land at Rectory Farm North, Chescombe Road, Yatton. The 190 homes are comprised of flats, semi-detatched, detatched and terraced housing with 50% of them being affordable.

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This episode is dedicated to the memory and friend of the show, Jonathan Easton KC, who sadly passed away from bowel cancer on the morning of the 2nd of March 2025. Jonathan's family have nominated both St John's Hospice and Bowel Cancer UK as charities to donate to in his memory. If you can spare anything at all to donate to these two wonderful organisations, we would be forever grateful.

St John's Hospice, North Lancashire & South Lakes

Bowel Cancer UK

Our Special Guest this week is Victoria Hills MRTPI FICE and is the Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Victoria is joining us to talk about the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

An appeal decision from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning on behalf of the Secretary of State regarding a solar project on land located in Melton Borough Council.

An appeal decision regarding planning permission for 95 dwellings with associated access, parking and landscape; and outline application for 5 self-build plots, with access discharged, on land at 722 Kenilworth Road and land adjacent to Harper Fields Care Home in Balsall Common.

An appeal decision from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning on behalf of the Secretary of State regarding a New Motorway Service area between junctions 7 and 8 of the M56 in Tatton, Cheshire.

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Our Special Guest this week is Níall McLaughlin RA. Níall is Professor of Architectural Practice at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London.

Latest News Update on planning related matters.

A High Court Judgement where Amalgamated Smart Metering Ltd filed a claim form seeking permission to apply for judicial review of the decision of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council dated 22 February 2024 to grant outline planning permission for residential development comprising up to 120 units including details of means of access at a former bus depot at Midland Road, Masbrough, Rotherham. The application for planning permission had been made by Prospect Estates Ltd.

An Appeal Decision regarding planning permission for a temporary 49.35MW battery energy storage facility, with security fencing, access and associated works on land off Chapel Lane, Great Barr, Walsall in accordance with the terms of the application, Ref 23/1286 dated 4 October 2023. One of the first decisions to consider the issue of ‘grey belt’ land in favour of the Appellant.

An Appeal Decision regarding a development proposed for a sand and gravel quarry with progressive restoration using site derived and imported inert material to agricultural parkland, public access and nature enhancement. This decision supersedes that issued on 5 May 2023. That decision on the appeal was quashed by order of the High Court.

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Our Special Guest this week is Lord Ben Houchen, Mayor of the Tees Valley to discuss the English Devolution White Paper published by MHCLG before Christmas. The proposal gives Mayors new responsibilities for strategic planning and much more.

Latest News Update on planning related matters.

Decision of the Court of Appeal dated 11 December 2024 which deals in great detail with the service provisions relating to Section 288 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 relating to the statutory right of appeal after an Inspectors decision by way of Section 78 and a detailed examination of the requirements in law relating to both lodging the proceedings in court and service under that statutory provision. This is a seminal decision for anyone who is or might be involved in planning appeals litigation.

Decision of an Inspector dated 9 January 2025 which deals with the service of an enforcement notice by Royal Borough of Greenwich relating to a 15 storey and 23 storey residential blocks requiring the demolition of the building in which the Inspector upheld the notice but crucially allowed the retention of the buildings by materially amending the requirements of the notice.

Decision of an Inspector dated 7 January 2025 which deals with a significant solar farm proposal for 47.28 MWp in Mid Suffolk District Council in which the Inspector granted planning permission by concluding that the proposal was supported by the planning balance and that the proposal accorded with the development plan as a whole and the appeal should be allowed.

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