Demolition and Redevelopment or Retrofit
Research was commissioned by MHCLG between September and November 2024 to understand how planning policy and guidance supports decision-making on the demolition or retrofit of buildings.
The report by Verian on that research is here. There is strong support for clearer national guidance, standardised carbon assessment methods, fiscal measures such as VAT harmonisation to incentivise retrofit, and mandating consideration of retrofit in planning applications.
Stakeholders highlighted challenges including Local Authority resource constraints and skills gaps in retrofit delivery.
The Government has not indicated yet the next steps.
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Planning Committee reform and boosting home building
There is a consultation to 23rd April 2026 on draft regulations and guidance for planning committee reforms from the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 which covers delegation of planning decisions and the size of planning committees, published with the Government’s response to the associated 2025 technical consultation.
The lawyer Nicola Gooch of Birketts explains the consultation in a blog here.
Nicola covers also the other Government’s publication on 25th March 2026 of the final set of emergency measures to boost London house building [more…]
Planning in London, Issue 136, Jan-Mar 2026
Issue 136 of Planning in London, the journal of the London Planning and Development Forum, has been published, covering the period Jan-Mar 2026. London Forum has a subscription arrangement whereby our members may read it.
A useful AI-generated summary can be downloaded (included in website searches).
Table of contents:
- Planning Enables; It Doesn’t Deliver — the editors’ critique of housing delivery failure.
- New Kinds of Suburbia — Mallett on suburban densification and design-led approaches.
- Key Opinion Pieces — [more…]
National Planning Policy Framework consultation response
We’ve responded to the December 2025 NPPF consultation, which closed on 12th March 2026. This substantial piece of work, contributed to by many subject matter experts, is posted in the ‘what we’ve said‘ archive as usual, and directly linked below for your convenience. It is now fully indexed for searching too.
We are critical of some of the new decision making policies.
Chief Planning Officer’s newsletter
A recent newsletter by Chief Planner, Joanna Averley, in MHCLG to local authorities’ planning officers is here.
It includes:-
- New Plan-Making System
- Funding to support Local Plan implementation
- Compulsory purchase update
- Using AI to summarise consultation responses, see this video
- Adapting Historic Buildings for Energy and Carbon Efficiency
- Developers to comply with tree felling regulations
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.
![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…]
Measures to improve delivery of affordable housing in London
London Forum has responded to two consultations to boost house building, as follows.
A Government consultation on Emergency Measures for a temporary relief from the CIL and changes to Mayoral planning powers.
A GLA draft London Plan Guidance proposing time-limited changes to cycle parking, changes to housing design guidance and a time-limited planning route for the delivery of affordable housing.
London Forum believes neither [more…]
Managing consultation responses
LB Hounslow and Chesterfield BC tested new digital tools for managing consultation responses.
- Outcome: Hounslow reduced the time and cost of processing responses and improved consistency across consultations which freed up officer time for engagement and plan making.
- Scale and approach: Pilot project delivered by planning teams from both councils working jointly with an external supplier and supported by service designers.
- Technology used: The councils worked with Urban Intelligence to develop and test new response management features within the existing PlaceMaker platform.
Details are here.
Didn’t find what you’re looking for? Try a new search:
Biodiversity Net Gain applies to NSIP schemes
Since May 2026, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) has applied in England to nationally significant infrastructure projects, as well as housing ...
Chief Planner’s newsletter June 2026
Joanna Averley's latest newsletter to local authorities’ planning officers covers:-
Policy and Guidance Updates- New Plan-Making System Update
- Compulsory ...
The thicket of detailed standards thwarting housebuilding in London is not the answer
Ben Derbyshire asks whether it is time to rethink the section 106 system and regulatory framework for housebuilding in ...
![BID's in London [image: LSE]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/BIDs.png?fit=1024%2C738&ssl=1)
What are BIDs doing for Town Centres in Central and Outer London?
Earlier this year, London Forum organised a very interesting open meeting with members about the state of London’s High Streets and the night-time economy. One of the presenters was [more…]
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