Chief Planning Officer’s newsletter
A recent newsletter by Chief Planner, Joanna Averley, in MHCLG to local authorities’ planning officer is here.
It covers:-
- Design and Placemaking PPG out now for consultation
- Resetting the S106 system and roadmap for S106 delivery in England.
- Apply now for the 2026 Housing Design Awards.
- New guidance and tools by PAS to improve Infrastructure Delivery Plans.
- Working with National Highways to deliver a vision-led approach to Local Plans.
The consultation on the PPG runs until 10th March, the same date as the consultation on the draft new NPPF.
Placemaking Guidance
The Government has opened to 10th March a consultation on a Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) supporting policies in Chapter 14 of the draft NPPF being consulted upon.
The draft PPG outlines and illustrates priorities for well-designed places and intends to make design guidance clearer, more accessible, and easier to apply in practice.
The National design guide, Design process and tools planning practice guidance and National Model Design Code are consolidated into the draft Design and Placemaking PPG.
The consultation document must be read before [more…]
Grants for social housing
MHCLG has announced new funding and financial flexibilities for Councils, housing associations, and other providers to accelerate social and affordable housebuilding. It comes ahead of a £39 billion bidding window for local authorities opening in March.
Landlords will also have to meet robust standards to provide homes that are free of disrepair and damp, warm and energy efficient through a new Decent Homes Standard (DHS). There will be new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards that could save social tenants hundreds of pounds every year on their energy bills.
![School [Freepik]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/School.jpg?resize=1000%2C624&ssl=1)
School funding crisis
A London Councils’ report forecasts a decline of 3.8% in Year 7 places and 2.5% in reception places between 2025/6 and 2029/30. Inner London faces the sharpest drop, as demand for Year 7 places is expected to fall by 7.6% and reception places by 6.4% over the next four years: 50,000 fewer school places.
Because school funding is allocated on a per-pupil basis that would lead to around £15m in funding cuts for primary schools and £30m for secondary schools in London.
To maintain a broad and balanced curriculum, [more…]
Commonhold and Leasehold Reform
This is a reminder of the opportunity until 31st March to respond to a call for evidence of the experience of those living in leasehold and commonhold properties who pay private estate charges. See the update of 5th February.
London Forum members are urged to let their own members know of this chance to influence legislation in the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Bill by submitting experience and commenting on whether or not the proposed legislation will be effective.
The survey is here.
Mayor’s licensing powers
The Government is proposing to give the Mayor of London new powers in licensing. This proposal aims to boost London’s nightlife, hospitality, culture and tourism, whilst keeping the city safe and inclusive.
Details are on the GLA website here. There is a consultation for which responses can be submitted until 27th March.
These proposed powers would be relevant to London Forum’s open meeting Are London’s High Streets and Town Centres in Crisis? on 6.30pm 26 March 2026.
![Thermal leakage [Grosvenor]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Grosvenor-heat-leakage-e1770820351445.jpg?resize=452%2C491&ssl=1)
Barriers to historic building retrofit
A New Grosvenor report warns that England’s three million listed buildings and conservation area homes are being trapped in cold, costly decline by an outdated planning system
Local authorities spend the equivalent of 4,000 working days a year approving low-risk energy efficiency works that are almost always consented anyway
Retrofitting listed properties and buildings in conservation areas in England and Wales could deliver around 30% of the annual emissions reductions needed to meet the UK’s Sixth Carbon Budget.
Our new Resources page has some useful retrofit [more…]
Policy for Section 106 delivery
The Government has published a policy paper on providing a time-limited, simple, more transparent and more resilient S106 system.
It is intended to give greater clarity on standards S106 units must meet in a way that works for Registered Providers (RP), as thousands of constructed or consented affordable homes are currently uncontracted and unsold.
There are conditions and guidance in the paper for LPAs to renegotiate S106 agreements and allow the tenure of homes to be varied in order to secure a buyer.
Further updates are expected in Spring 2026. New [more…]
Local Plan funding
The government has announced more funding to support local authorities with Local Plan-making.
The Local Plan changes were explained in an earlier London Forum update here.
There was guidance for LPAs and a statement by Mathew Pennycook MP.
Legacy System Plan Funding – For local authorities progressing a Local Plan who intend to submit it for examination by 31st December 2026 and are meeting the Government’s defined criteria.
New System Plan Funding – For local authorities which commit to bringing a new Local Plan forward early in the new plan-making [more…]
Commonhold and Leasehold Reform
Comments are wanted on likely effectiveness of reforms in the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Bill and any changes needed.
London Forum’s members should inform their own members so people living in Commonhold and Leasehold can contribute to the HCLG Committee on point 4. below by 31 March 2026.
Didn’t find what you’re looking for? Try a new search:
![Manual for streets 2010 [CiHT]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/manua-for-streets-2-1-scaled-e1776252588896.jpg?fit=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Manual for Streets update
Environmental Outcomes Reports
Chief Planning Officer’s newsletter
![Statutory consultees jigsaw - inspired by image by Markus Winkler [Unsplash] and made with AI](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Statutory_consultees.jpg?fit=1536%2C1024&ssl=1)
Statutory Consultees
Statutory consultees play an important role in the planning application process by providing expert advice on significant environmental, transport, safety, and heritage issues. There are currently 13 organisations that local planning authorities [more…]
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