You might think it is obvious – you increase housing land supply, you improve affordability. That is a premise of much forward planning and of Planning for the Future. Is that correct and straightforward, or not?

Here, in detailed examination of the issues, in a deliberately ‘long-listen’ we are joined by Dr Nikodem Szumilo, Associate Professor at the Bartlett School of Construction and Project Management at UCL, and by Richard Blyth, Chief Policy Officer at the RTPI. Together with Satnam Choongh, planning and environmental barrister at No5 Chambers, Richard Kimblin QC introduces us to the detail and develops the issues. And you would like to read further then go to:  Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space 51, Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space no. 1 (2019): 25-50. Bernard Fingleton, Franz Fuerst, Nikodem Szumilo

The Planning Podcast turns to design, coding and making beautiful places for communities. With Professor Robert Adam, in conversation with Leanne Buckley-Thompson, planning and environmental barrister at No5 Chambers. Leanne gets us focussed on what is happening and proposed, Professor Adam maps out what we can achieve with more certainty of design and what the consequences tend to be for communities, and risks for site promoters. It is a terrific topic which is at the heart of what we all do, whatever your role in place making.

With the ever-up-to-date-team of Leanne Buckley Thompson, Howard Leithead and Oliver Lawence they have packaged up a short and quick fire review of what has made them sit up and take notice in the planning world in the last couple of weeks.

First up for the Autumn is the Environment Bill and more particularly, environmental targets – what are they replacing, what is industry, affected sectors and the Government’s thinking on how those targets should best be set; how and when are they enforced; and what has running a marathon got to do with it? With Nina Pindham, planning and environmental barrister at No5 Chambers, Council member and Trustee of the United Kingdom Environmental Law Association, we get right up to date.

The second of a two part episode.
From one of the leading barristers in this field Richard Kimblin QC, Planning Appeals is a practitioner-focused text dedicated to the law and practice of planning appeals in England and Wales. With particular emphasis on hearings and inquiries, this practical ‘how to’ title offers a step-by-step guide to commencing and framing a case, and explains how to support it effectively with appropriate evidence. To mark publication, the Planning Podcast has turned to the topic of Planning Appeals via two conversations: the first with Bridget Rosewell OBE, author of the Independent Review of Planning Appeal Inquiries; the second with James Corbet Burcher. Together they contribute many insights into the key elements of the modern planning appeal

From one of the leading barristers in this field Richard Kimblin QC, Planning Appeals is a practitioner-focused text dedicated to the law and practice of planning appeals in England and Wales. With particular emphasis on hearings and inquiries, this practical ‘how to’ title offers a step-by-step guide to commencing and framing a case, and explains how to support it effectively with appropriate evidence.To mark publication, the Planning Podcast has turned to the topic of Planning Appeals via two conversations: the first with Bridget Rosewell OBE, author of the Independent Review of Planning Appeal Inquiries; the second with James Corbet Burcher. Together they contribute many insights into the key elements of the modern planning appeal

In this edition we turn to cities. With Ben Rogers, Director of the Centre for London, we explore major issues arising from the pandemic: the immediate downturn; suppressed demand; the role of innovators and the young. We turn to planning reform, zoning, design codes and participation by communities. We look at planning levers beyond regulation - how tax, including local taxes could be a tool to promote or disincentivise different uses and developments.

Oliver Lawrence joins Richard Kimblin QC to talk through experience of virtual hearings, examinations and trials as we look at the upsides, the downsides and how you might want to influence the way in which your case is heard.

The Business and Planning Act 2020: how amendment to the Town and Country Planning 1990 Act may change the mix of appeal procedures; what might be the consequent changes in the rules?; what the real practical effects are likely to be: will they make appeals less able to get the heart of the issues, or will they make appeals more effective and more focussed?; Howard Leithead, planning and environmental barrister at No5 Barristers' Chambers, takes us through the changes, the impacts and the practical points arising.

The Planning Podcast turns to infrastructure. Richard Kimblin QC interviews Angus Walker, Chair of the Board of the National Infrastructure Planning Association: progress with the consenting of infrastructure projects during the emergency whether consenting procedures might actually be better after the emergency infrastructure and economic recovery. And ‘Drax’ - a case with a mix of Net Zero, a DCO and a late letter to the Secretary of State - Hugh Richards, planning and environmental barrister at No5 Chambers takes us through the facts, the issues and the practical points arising. And there is Hugh Richards' follow-up note here: (https://www.no5.com/media/publications/the-client-earthdrax-case/)