It’s cold, dark and miserable and, alas, there is little in Michael Gove’s recent Written Ministerial Statement to warm the cockles of a planner’s heart. Hopefully then the return of the 50 Shades of Planning Festive Christmas Quiz will spread some seasonal cheer.

Even by the standards of the fast-paced, ever-changing, rock and roll world of town and country planning it has been quite a year. With the help of Richard Garlick at Planning magazine, who provided Sam Stafford with some of the most-read stories on PlanningResource.co.uk, Sam quizzes some of the 50 Shades alumni on 2022’s highlights and lowlights.

Expect fun, frivolity and an appearance from a very special guest…

Some accompanying reading.

January

Housebuilder Barratt acquires land promoter Gladman

https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1738870/housebuilder-barratt-acquires-land-promoter-gladman

February

Appeal Court upholds ruling that planners can ignore schemes’ downstream’ environmental effects

https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1741047/appeal-court-upholds-ruling-planners-ignore-schemes-downstream-environmental-effects

March

Essex council votes against adopting local plan

https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1750732/essex-council-votes-against-adopting-local-plan

April

City council isolates planning department for two weeks to clear applications backlog

https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1754358/city-council-isolates-planning-department-two-weeks-clear-applications-backlog

May

Housing land supply requirement scrapped for authorities with up-to-date plans

https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1755937/housing-land-supply-requirement-scrapped-authorities-up-to-date-plans

June

We will prevent PINS ‘imposing’ unrealistic housing figures on communities, says Gove

https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1789386/will-prevent-pins-imposing-unrealistic-housing-figures-communities-says-gove

July

Tory leadership hopeful pledges to scrap ‘top-down Stalinist housing targets’

https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1793500/tory-leadership-hopeful-pledges-scrap-top-down-stalinist-housing-targets

August

Truss pledges to ditch advice that blocks housing on nutrient water pollution grounds

https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1796345/truss-pledges-ditch-advice-blocks-housing-nutrient-water-pollution-grounds

September

The planning track record of new housing secretary Simon Clarke

https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1798201/planning-track-record-new-housing-secretary-simon-clarke

October

Council delays local plan work over housing need and national policy uncertainties

https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1802582/council-delays-local-plan-work-housing-need-national-policy-uncertainties#:~:text=A%20Midlands%20council%20has%20ditched,%E2%80%9Cimportant%20matters%20from%20government%E2%80%9D

November

Government to ‘refocus’ investment zone programme on universities

https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1805590/government-refocus-investment-zone-programme-universities#:~:text=The%20chancellor%20has%20said%20that,planning%20rules%20or%20housing%20delivery

December

What Gove’s changes to housing need will mean for local plan-making

https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1808430/goves-changes-housing-need-will-mean-local-plan-making