Construction Adviser appointed
A new interim Chief Construction Adviser, Thouria Istephan, was appointed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 30th September 2025.
MHCLG states that “Thouria will play a central role helping to shape the future of the built environment sector, ensuring that safety, delivery and accountability are central to decision-making, with residents’ voices at heart.”
Details are here.
Hogarth roundabout tall building
The ‘Chiswick Calendar’ website reports that residents are taking their objections to a proposed high development alongside Hogarth roundabout at 1 Burlington Lane to the Mayor. They claim it would harm Chiswick House and Grounds, Hogarth’s House, several conservation areas, local views and the Kew WHS Royal Botanical Gardens. Hounslow Council’s Planning Committee gave the development the go-ahead despite only 6% affordable housing.
Blockers and Approvers: Rates of Delegation and Approval for Planning Applications
The Government recently published Planning Statistics for the year to March 2025. For the 32 London boroughs, the statistics showed some interesting features.
First, they showed that all but three boroughs – Camden, Ealing and Harrow delegated decisions to officers on 90% or more of the applications they received; and that 19 of them delegated decisions on more than 98% of applications. Two boroughs – Enfield and Redbridge – delegated [more…]
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.
Chief Planner’s update
On 8th July 2025 Joanna Averley, the MHCLG Chief Planner (pictured) issued an update to local authorities on
- Planning and Infrastructure Bill progress;
- AI technology to assist LPA planners;
- A faster and more efficient planning appeals process
- Biodiversity Net Gain consultations by DEFRA
- A new national standard for sustainable urban drainage
- A tool which will enable plan-makers and decision-takers to locate development in the most sustainable locations and plan for the transport infrastructure required to [more…]
Planning appeals accelerated
More planning appeals that are decided via written representations will be processed faster under a new, simplified set of Government regulations. Only evidence put before the local planning authority during the application process will be accepted. Details of the changes and the effect on appellants, LPAs and interested parties are here.
The lawyer Simon Ricketts has commented on the revised procedure:
“If this results in a crisper appeal process, without any loss of [more…]
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Haringey Social Work
Blockers and Approvers: Rates of Delegation and Approval for Planning Applications
The Government recently published Planning Statistics for the year to March 2025. For the 32 London boroughs, the statistics showed some interesting features.
First, they showed that all but three [more…]
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Annual General Meeting 2025
📆 Thu 16th October | 18:30 - 20:30
🚩 77 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6EL (map)
Doors open at 6.00PM with drinks and nibbles available ahead of the formal meeting start at 6.30PM. This will be a meeting in two parts, first the formal business of the AGM, agenda below, followed by two presentations, from our Patron Professor Tony Travers and Leanne Tritton, Chair of the London Society. The presentations will be followed by questions and discussion. Please book your place(s) using the booking facility ( https://www.londonforum.org.uk/events/agm-2025/?occurrence=2025-10-16#booking ). Please note that according to the constitution ( https://www.londonforum.org.uk/constitution/ ), only…