The Masterplan

50 Shades of Planning

If you have listened to episodes 125 and 128 you will know Sam Stafford sought to cover, pre-publication, what could and should be in the new version of NPPF. With the consultation deadline now starting to loom large, this episode seeks to cover what is actually in it.

Sam was in London earlier this week and caught up with friends of the podcast Andrew Taylor, Hashi Mohamed, Vicky Payne and Simon Ricketts at Soho Radio Studios.

They will need no introduction to regular listeners, but for new listeners, Andrew is Group Planning Director at Vistry, Hashi is a Barrister at Landmark Chambers; Vicky is an Associate at Jas Bhalla Works and an Independent Consultant; and Simon is a Partner at Town Legal.

As you will hear over the next 45 minutes or so they crammed in as much as possible. They talked about the proposed new stock-based standard method and transitional arrangements for local plans, they talked about Grey Belt, 50% affordable housing and benchmark land values; and they touched on beauty, design codes, vision-led transport planning, the flood risk sequential test, neighbourhood plans, safeguarded land, and application fees.

Some accompanying reading.

Lichfields’ NPPF resource

https://lichfields.uk/proposed-reforms-to-the-nppf-and-other-changes-to-the-planning-system?email

Simon’s blog

https://simonicity.com/2024/08/02/50-shades-of-grey-belt/

Zack Simons' blog

https://www.planoraks.com/posts-1/planningreformday-2024-what-just-happened

Vicky on Design

https://www.theplanner.co.uk/2024/08/01/more-substance-style-new-nppfs-design-outlook

Philip Barnes on BLV

https://philipbarnesblog.wordpress.com/2024/08/28/green-belt-vs-grey-belt-vs-benchmark-land-values-vs-50-affordable-housing/

Create Streets - Stepping off the Road to Nowhere

https://www.createstreets.com/projects/stepping-off-the-road-to-nowhere/

Some accompanying listening.

The Masterplan - Oasis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPPi2D6GK7A

50 Shades T-Shirts!

If you have listened to Episode 45 of the 50 Shades of Planning you will have heard Clive Betts say that...

'In the Netherlands planning is seen as part of the solution. In the UK, too often, planning is seen as part of the problem'.

Sam said in reply that that would look good on a t-shirt and it does. Further details can be found here: http://samuelstafford.blogspot.com/2021/07/50-shades-of-planning-t-shirts.html

Any other business.

Sam is on Bluesky (@samuelstafford.bsky.social) and Instagram (@samuel__stafford). He shares bits and pieces of planning-related interest on Instagram (@50shadesofplanning) and LinkedIn so please follow those accounts as well.