![Nationally Significant Infrastructure People/Process [ Graphic: HMG ]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Nationally-Significant-Infrastructure.jpg?resize=320%2C202&ssl=1)
Reducing infrastructure delays
The Government has issued a news story here on “backing the builders not the blockers”, explaining it will work with the judiciary to cut the amount of time it takes for a judicial review to move through the court system for nationally critical infrastructure projects.
HM Treasury and MHCLG are concerned the delays stunt economic growth by holding back development due to lack of utilities.
Planning and Infrastructure Bill
The progress of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill has been slow and just before the Report Stage of the Bill in the House of Lords, the Government put forward amendments to the Bill. One could prevent councils refusing planning permission and another would limit when Natural England should be involved in planning decisions. Richard Harwood KC has commented on some of the proposed amendments.
Planning in London, Issue 135, Oct-Dec 2025
Issue 135 of Planning in London, the journal of the London Planning and Development Forum, has been released, covering the period October-December 2025. London Forum has an agreed subscription arrangement whereby our members may read it, but links are not available on this website.
Our AI-generated summary can be downloaded.
The full edition is not available on the website.
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 decisions on nearly 100% of applications.
Second, rates of approval varied much more widely, from an outlier [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.
Planning in London, Issue 134, July-Sept 2025
Issue 134 of Planning in London, the journal of the London Planning and Development Forum, has been released, covering the period July-September 2025. London Forum has an agreed subscription arrangement whereby our members may read it.
The full edition is not available on the website.
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 support it, and
- An opportunity to share your views on Natural England’s Ancient Woodland Standing Advice
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 quality, there is much to like here, although care will be needed:
- This makes it all [more…]
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Planning Resources Are Stretched Thin
According to research by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) nine in ten local authority planning departments in England and Wales ...
Presentation slides: Will the London Plan deliver the housing and places London needs?
The slides from last week's London Forum/GLA event on the draft London Plan have been added to its event page.
...
Information for members
Within the 'Resources' page of the website, 'External Resources' provides links to news on London and on the ...
Architects should rejoice that Britain’s latest new towns aren’t new towns at all
By Ben Derbyshire, chair at HTA Design, former RIBA president, and President of the London Forum.
I don’t generally play for laughs, but [more…]
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Planning, Environment and Transport committee meeting
📅 Thu 8th October | 14:00 - 16:00
🚩 Room B1 70 Cowcross St, EC1M 6EJ (map)
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Annual General Meeting 2026
📆 Wed 28th October | 18:30 - 20:30
🚩 77 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6EL (map)
Wednesday 28 October 6.30pm at The Gallery, 77 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6EL Notice is hereby given to member societies of the 2026 AGM of the London Forum of Amenity and Civic Societies. Doors open for networking, drinks and nibbles from 6.00pm. Please book your place(s) using the booking facility ( https://www.londonforum.org.uk/events/agm-2026#booking ). Agenda Welcome and Introduction Approval of the Minutes of the AGM of 16 October 2025, available here ( https://www.londonforum.org.uk/agm-papers/ ) Chair’s Report – Chair Michael Jubb Financial Report – Treasurer Ali Dezyanian Approval of the Annual Report and Accounts for 2025-2026, available here ( https://…