50 Shades of Planning

Pre-Apps & PPAs


Listen Later

As far back as Sam Stafford can remember Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs) have been the answer to questions about both how to get more resources into LPAs and how to improve application timescales. As Sam says in introducing this episode, he has been working for over twenty years, those questions remain unanswered, and PPAs remain a code yet to be cracked.

Why, for example, according to Planning Magazine, were PPAs used for 30.3% of decisions in Solihull last year, but only in 1.3% of decisions in South Cambridgeshire?

Why also, for example, do some authorities charge nothing for pre-application advice for residential developments of over 250 homes, some authorities charge thousands of pounds, and some authorities charge tens of thousands of pounds?

The Planning Advisory Service (PAS) has sought to crack the code. It has worked with the University of Gloucestershire, Hyas Associates and the Countryside and Community Research Institute to deliver a DLUHC-funded programme on best practice in pre-application advice and PPAs. 

Sam mentioned this research in Episode 109 because of Jeremy Hunt’s reference in the Autumn Statement to a new “premium” planning service that will be introduced next year to include a guarantee of accelerated decision dates. Details are awaited, but Planning Magazine reports that, according to insiders, this new “premium” service is likely to involve a more formal version of PPAs.

No better time then for Sam to share a conversation about the PAS research and best practice that he recorded online back in July of this year with friend of podcast Shelly Rouse, Matt Bowers and Max Whitehead. Shelly is a principal consultant at PAS, Matt is an Associate Director at Hyas Associates and Max is a Planning Director at Bloor Homes.

They talk about the high hopes that applicants always have for pre-app, but why some LPAs see it as a ‘nice to have’ rather than a ‘have to do’; they talk about the utopian vision of having all statutory consultees around a development team table at the same time; and they talk about the barriers to doing pre-app and PPAs well and the keys to success.

Sam would like to extend a particular vote of thanks to editing wizard Ashley Bellinger for skilfully dealing with some gremlins in Shelly's original recording.

Some accompanying reading.

The PAS research and guidance

https://www.local.gov.uk/pas/development-mgmt/pre-application-advice-and-planning-performance-agreements-ppas

Housebuilding market study

https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/housebuilding-market-study

Strategic Planning in England

https://uwe.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4UEEyOZZBP6qEZ0

Some accompanying listening.

Performance by Happy Mondays

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtpD5mOgyKo

Some accompanying viewing.

The opening scene in Goodfellas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UAPOI5fuAM

50 Shades T-Shirts!

If you have listened to Episode 45 of the 50 Shades of Planning 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

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

50 Shades of PlanningBy Samuel Stafford


More shows like 50 Shades of Planning

View all
Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast by Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

344 Listeners

The Property Podcast by Rob Bence and Rob Dix from The Property Hub

The Property Podcast

59 Listeners

The Political Party by Avalon

The Political Party

71 Listeners

Tech for Good Live by Tech for Good Live | Podcast.co

Tech for Good Live

0 Listeners

The Manchester Digital Podcast by Manchester Digital | Podcast.co

The Manchester Digital Podcast

0 Listeners

Create Reach Inspire by James Mulvany

Create Reach Inspire

2 Listeners

Full Disclosure with James O'Brien by Global

Full Disclosure with James O'Brien

288 Listeners

iFL Radio by iFL Radio

iFL Radio

14 Listeners

Making Up The Numbers by The Mammoths Agency | Podcast.co

Making Up The Numbers

17 Listeners

Represent! Voices 100 Years On by People's History Museum | Podcast.co

Represent! Voices 100 Years On

0 Listeners

Jim and James Do a Podcast by Jim & James | Podcast.co

Jim and James Do a Podcast

0 Listeners

The High Performance Podcast by High Performance

The High Performance Podcast

622 Listeners

Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe by Keep It Light Media / Spotify Studios

Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe

989 Listeners

Planning Law (With Chickens) by Town Legal LLP

Planning Law (With Chickens)

0 Listeners

Joe Marler's Things People Do by Crowd Network

Joe Marler's Things People Do

133 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics

3,180 Listeners

The News Agents by Global

The News Agents

1,009 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics: Leading by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics: Leading

859 Listeners

Political Currency by Persephonica

Political Currency

117 Listeners

Room 106 by Planning magazine

Room 106

0 Listeners

Not Another One by Steve Richards, Miranda Green, Tim Montgomerie and Iain Martin

Not Another One

26 Listeners

In The Wings by Laura S | Podcast.co

In The Wings

0 Listeners

Planning After Dark by Planning After Dark

Planning After Dark

0 Listeners