Chief Planner’s update
On 19th August 2025 Joanna Averley, the MHCLG Chief Planner issued an update to planners in local authorities on recent Government planning proposals, a faster Local Plan system, reform of the Statutory Consultee system, planning fees, a consultation on electricity network infrastructure and a survey on the use of digital Design Codes.
The Planning Advisory Service (PAS) has produced a toolkit to help councils review their planning committees.
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![Retrofit or Ruin [ image https://www.grosvenor.com ]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/retrofit.webp?fit=150%2C107&ssl=1)
Historic buildings needing upgrade
The Duke of Westminster, one of Britain’s biggest landowners, has criticised strict planning rules affecting upgrades to historic homes. He owns ...
![West London Orbital - proposed [Image: TfL]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/West-London-Orbital-TfL-1.jpg?fit=136%2C150&ssl=1)
West London Orbital
A post on the IanVisits website explains how the West London Orbital could run up to six trains an hour and ...
![Brent CLT Social housing [ image Bell Phillips Architects ]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bell-Phillips-Brent-CLT.jpg?fit=150%2C150&ssl=1)
![London Bus [Unsplash]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/jonathan-chng-uIsygO87jtM-unsplash.jpg?fit=1920%2C1280&ssl=1)
The rise and fall of bus passenger numbers in London
Bus passenger numbers in London reached a peak of 2.4 billion in 2014, but since then have fallen to 1.8 billion in 2025. This decline is now exercising the Mayor and GLA [more…]
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Are London’s High Streets and Town Centres in Crisis?
📆 Thu 26th March | 18:30 - 20:30
🚩 77 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6EL (map)
What is the nature and scale of the crisis and why are some streets and centres doing better or worse than others. What can be done about it? We’ll discuss these and related issues at this Open Meeting on 26th March – please book here. ( https://www.londonforum.org.uk/events/are-londons-high-streets-and-town-centres-in-crisis/?occurrence=2026-03-26#booking ) London’s town centres have had a challenging decade – changing planning policies, growing on-line sales, COVID, vacant shops and rising costs. They are in transition, but are they going in the right direction? How can we maintain their vitality?…
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Planning, Environment and Transport committee meeting
📅 Thu 9th April | 14:00 - 16:00
🚩 Room B1 70 Cowcross St, EC1M 6EJ (map)