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…]
Design Review Panels
Urban Design Learning has published a Code of Conduct for Design Review Panels.
It is based on 110 responses to their survey of local authorities across the country, drawing on their experience of such panels and their views on what could help build trust in them and ensure design review advice is trusted, professional and consistent.
Communities and local authorities could check if their Design Review Panel meets this Code of Conduct.
Planning in London, Issue 133, April-June 2025
Issue 133 of Planning in London, the journal of the London Planning and Development Forum, has been released, covering the period April-June 2025. London Forum has an agreed subscription arrangement whereby our members may read it.
The full edition is not available on the website.
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Home electric vehicle charging
On 21 October 2026 the GPDO (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2026 will extend Part 2, Classes D and E, to ...
Development viability issues
The Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook MP acknowledged in a speech the ...
More information for members
We have made available three additional links to information in our website Resources facility in the 'Other' section.
They are ...
Key policies in the NPPF
The following is a blog recently written by the lawyer Simon Ricketts which is intended to help developers to get a planning application approved. It is helpful for London Forum's members to understand parts of the new NPPF and for considering its ...
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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://…
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