Hitting The High Notes is town planning’s equivalent of Desert Island Discs. In these episodes Sam Stafford chats to preeminent figures in the planning and property sectors about the six planning permissions or projects that helped to shape them as professionals. And, so that we can get to know people a little better personally, for every permission or project Sam asks his guests for a piece of music that reminds them of that period of their career.

Unlike Desert Island Discs you will not hear any of that music during the episode because using commercially-licensed music without the copyright holders permission or a very expensive PRS licensing agreement could land Sam in hot water, so, when you have finished listening to this episode, you will have to make do with YouTube videos and a Spotify playlist, links to which you will find below.

Sam's guest for this episode of Hitting The High Notes is Peter Dixon. Peter's studies at Cambridge started with archaeology and anthropology, but finished with land economy. Having started his career as a surveyor with JR Eve, Peter co-founded planning consultancy Hepher Dixon, which was subsequently acquired by Savills, before retraining as a barrister. Their conversation takes in the changing role of the planning consultant, the circular nature of planning policy, Noel Coward, motorway service areas and a football stadium.

Peter's song selections.

Walking on Sunshine by Katrina & The Waves

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPUmE-tne5U

Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6O1AYUrVQs

Louisa by Noel Coward

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jJpZE1PSlI

Grouch of the Day by Squeeze

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP3paAlx54k

Kaddish, Deuz Melodies Hebraiques No 1 by Maurice Ravel (from Camille Thomas’ ‘Voice of Hope)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEZ9wwVbZMQ

Between the Devil and the deep Blue Sea by George Harrison

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMJEtLjnO7E

Peter's Spotify playlist

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3g5MWyrbKY41lyhfxKcfb1?si=PPqbzrwoTg2oxYxi-POGGw

50 Shades T-Shirts!

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