Room 106

Ep234: Government probes council following planning corruption claims, plus what the Budget means for planners

#234

Today at 9:07 AM

In this episode, we’ll be talking about:

An MP accusing his local authority of “corruption” over planning applications submitted by its vice-chairman and the government’s ordering of a probe in response.The key takeaways for planners from the 2026 Autumn Budget.English council leaders being told that the paused local government reorganisation programme will be resuming.The Planning Inspectorate publishing guidance requiring developers lodging appeals to submit their planning obligation agreements alongside their application to the local authority, prompting concerns among some practitioners.

Key planning news, and why it’s important...

Ep233: The six key lessons from how planning inspectors are interpreting the new NPPF in appeal decisions

#233

11/05/2026

In this edition, we’ll be:

Taking a Deep Dive into the key lessons from how planning inspectors are interpreting the new National Planning Policy Framework in their appeal decisions – what are the trends that practitioners need to be aware of and what are the cases that illustrate them?

Key planning news, and why it’s important, brought to you by the team behind Planning magazine, the leading source of independent intelligence for planning professionals for more than 50 years.

Find the latest planning news at planningresource.co.uk and @p...

Ep232: The implications of another council refusing to delegate more decisions to officers, plus other key talking points

#232

10/30/2026

In this edition, we’ll be discussing:

The latest council to rebel against the government’s requirements to delegate more decisions to officers, and what the repercussions of the widening resistance are likely to be The government’s latest statement on whether development can take place outside settlement boundaries And another recalcitrant council – this one pushing back against an order to submit its draft local plan by December.

Key planning news, and why it’s important, brought to you by the team behind Planning magazine, the leading source of independent intelligence for planni...

Ep231: Your 25-minute guide to the biggest impending planning policy and legal changes, plus major news in the consultancy sector

#231

10/23/2026

In this edition, we’ll be:

Taking a Deep Dive into the government’s planning policy and legislation programme over the next six months – what are the key announcements and measures that we can expect?Discussing some big changes in the planning consultancy market, including the news that one of the country’s largest property consultancies is considering making its whole planning division redundant.

Key planning news, and why it’s important, brought to you by the team behind Planning magazine, the leading source of independent intelligence for planning professionals for more than...

Ep230: Casebook Extra – the month’s key ministerial, inspectors’ and court decisions summarised

#230

10/16/2026

The latest edition of our monthly series examining the key recent appeal and court decisions, in which we speak to technical editor David Dewar, who compiles Planning’s long-running Casebook section.

This month, we’ll be discussing:

An appeal allowing 249 homes in Oxfordshire that has prompted concerns among practitioners due to the way the inspector assessed the proposal against the new S5 policy in the updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that sets out the "presumption in favour of sustainable development" outside settlements.An appeal for a site-intensification scheme in Dorset that offered an early exam...

Ep229: All the planning news from the Tory conference plus Pennycook highlights ‘universal tilt’ in new NPPF

#229

10/15/2026

In this episode, we’ll be talking about:

All the planning news from the Conservative Party conference, including details of the Tories’ emerging vision of how they would change the planning system if they were in government.A letter to the Planning Inspectorate from the planning minister Matthew Pennycook highlighting what he calls the “universal tilt” in favour of permission in the new version of the National Planning Policy Framework.A council finding that four of its members broke its rules by leaking a confidential local plan report.

Key planning news, and why...

Ep228: All the planning news from the Labour Party conference

#228

10/08/2026

In this episode, we’ll be talking about:

All the planning news from the Labour Party conference, including planning minister Matthew Pennycook opining on whether the government will further update the National Planning Policy Framework and on local authority decision-making.A round-up of what the Green Party has been saying about housing delivery and development at its annual conference last week.

Key planning news, and why it’s important, brought to you by the team behind Planning magazine, the leading source of independent intelligence for planning professionals for more than 50 years.

Ep227: How the planning minister is stepping up the pressure on councils seeking to slow down local plan work

#227

10/02/2026

In this episode, we’ll be examining:

The latest local plan interventions by the planning minister and how councils at the receiving end are reacting.The publication of the first-ever draft environmental delivery plan under the government’s new nature recovery system. A planning inspector applying a key new policy from the revised National Planning Policy Framework in allowing a large housing scheme on unallocated farmland.

Key planning news, and why it’s important, brought to you by the team behind Planning magazine, the leading source of independent intelligence for planning profes...

Ep226: Casebook Extra – the month’s key ministerial, inspectors’ and court decisions summarised

#226

10/01/2026

The latest edition of our monthly series examining the key recent appeal and court decisions, in which we speak to technical editor David Dewar, who compiles Planning’s long-running Casebook section.

This month, we’ll be discussing:

An inspector citing a key new policy in the updated National Planning Policy Framework, one day after the document was published, in assessing a housing proposal in Essex.A secretary of state call-in decision on a huge scheme featuring 3,500 homes and a football stadium that is notable for economic development being a clinching factor in its...

Ep225: What the new heritage impact test in national policy means for planners and developers

#225

09/23/2026

In this Deep Dive edition, we’ll be examining:

What the new National Planning Policy Framework’s simplified heritage impact test means for planners and developers.Why new application call-in powers for mayors could have a game-changing effect on decision-making.

Key planning news, and why it’s important, brought to you by the team behind Planning magazine, the leading source of independent intelligence for planning professionals for more than 50 years.

Find the latest planning news at planningresource.co.uk and @planningMag

Room 106 was the Professional Publis...

Ep224: What the pausing of the local government reorganisation programme means for planners

#224

09/16/2026

In this episode, we’ll be taking a close look at the government’s surprise announcement of a review of its long-standing local government reorganisation programme. We’ll also be discussing:

A Reform UK council mayor declaring he is “extremely unhappy” that planning officers failed to bring a 910-home green belt plan to committee on time.The chancellor announcing that a mechanism to allow Parliament to designate and approve major energy schemes that are of “critical national importance” will be extended to all nationally significant infrastructure projects.

Key planning news, and why it’s impor...

Ep223: All the planning news from the Reform UK party conference, plus a first-take on the government’s council reorganisation review

#223

09/09/2026

In this episode, we’ll be discussing:

All the planning news from the Reform UK party conference last weekend.Two new local plan interventions by planning minister Matthew Pennycook.The housing secretary and the planning minister telling councils to “scale up” housing delivery immediately and urging them to “make full use of section 106 opportunities”.And breaking news that the government has paused its roll-out of local government reorganisation.

Key planning news, and why it’s important, brought to you by the team behind Planning magazine, the leading source of independent intelligence for planning...

Ep222: Why appeal-ready planning applications are on the rise and what it means for applicants and authorities

#222

09/03/2026

In this Deep Dive edition, we’ll be examining:

The implications of the rise of so-called “appeal-ready” planning applications – what are they, why are they more common and what does it mean for planning professionals?

Key planning news, and why it’s important, brought to you by the team behind Planning magazine, the leading source of independent intelligence for planning professionals for more than 50 years.

Find the latest planning news at planningresource.co.uk and @planningMag

Room 106 was the Professional Publishers Association’s Podcast of the Year 2023...

Ep221: Your 40-minute guide to the rewritten National Planning Policy Framework

#221

08/28/2026

In this episode, we’ll unsurprisingly be discussing last week’s publication of the final version of the new and heavily rewritten National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), including:

The transitional arrangements for local authorities;New requirements for densification of development;Significant changes to the long-established presumption in favour of sustainable development;And notable revisions to the heritage impact test and policies on green belt, decision-making, local plan-making and strategic planning.

We’ll also be rounding up the other key non-NPPF news from the past week to make sure you’re fully informed...

Ep220: Casebook Extra – the month’s key ministerial, inspectors’ and court decisions summarised

#220

08/26/2026

The latest edition of our monthly series examining the key recent appeal and court decisions, in which we speak to technical editor David Dewar, who compiles Planning’s long-running Casebook section.

This month, we’ll be discussing:

How the refusal of an 800-home mixed-use scheme highlights how specific “footnote 9” policies have to be met when an area is subject to the National Planning Policy Framework’s “tilted balance”.The importance of unmet need as a consideration in an inspector’s decision to allow a proposal for a very large employment development on a greenfield site...

Ep219: A 15-minute first-take briefing on the key changes in the newly updated NPPF

#219

08/20/2026

In this special edition, we’ll be giving our first-take briefing on the updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), including:

The easing of planning rules for development around train stations – how these measures have been relaxed in some ways, but tightened up in others.The dropping of proposals in the draft for tougher affordable housing requirements.Giving councils more leeway to set their own energy-efficiency standards.And increased protections for national parks and landscapes.

We'll also be discussing two other big planning announcements from the government this week:

Its...

Ep218: Why a judge criticised planning officers when quashing consent for Tottenham Hotspur green belt training ground

#218

08/12/2026

In this episode, we’ll be discussing:

The High Court quashing a council’s consent for a Premier League football club’s green belt training ground following a “serious” failure by planning officers to disclose background papers on the environmental impacts.A series of decisions by planning minister Matthew Pennycook, including the overturning of a council’s approval of plans for a mixed-use scheme comprising 3,500 homes and an 8,000-seat stadium due to health risks.The government relaxing height limits on solar panels that can be installed without a planning application.

Key planning new...

Ep217: Why the government is telling inspectors to relax their viability assessment of local plans, plus other key news from last week

#217

08/05/2026

The latest edition of our monthly series examining the key recent appeal and court decisions, in which we speak to technical editor David Dewar, who compiles Planning’s long-running Casebook section.

In this Deep Dive edition, we’ll be discussing:

What the return of Angela Rayner and the retention of Matthew Pennycook, as housing secretary and planning minister, respectively, means for the planning sector;And why Pennycook’s latest ministerial letter to PINS could offer a lifeline for some local plan examinations.

More information on all these cases can be f...

Ep216: Andy Burnham’s new-look housing ministry, plus the key policies in the new draft London Plan

#216

07/29/2026

The latest edition of our monthly series examining the key recent appeal and court decisions, in which we speak to technical editor David Dewar, who compiles Planning’s long-running Casebook section.

In this episode, we’ll be discussing:

A series of appointments at the housing ministry as part of the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s first cabinet reshuffle – with some familiar faces returning and continuing at the departments; The publication of the new draft London Plan - what are the key new policies?;And the latest letter from the planning minister to the Pla...

Ep215: Casebook Extra – the month’s key ministerial, inspectors’ and court decisions summarised

#215

07/24/2026

The latest edition of our monthly series examining the key recent appeal and court decisions, in which we speak to technical editor David Dewar, who compiles Planning’s long-running Casebook section.

This month, we’ll be discussing:

How inspectors are assessing data centre need and weighing up landscape impacts; A retirement scheme permitted on green belt despite not meeting the 'golden rules' in national policy;A court ruling that considered when public consultations should be reopened if a planning application is resubmitted; The planning issues that are being thrown up by the spectacular growth in padel c...

Ep214: The key planning tasks facing the new Prime Minister, plus the latest on the new NPPF and application fees

#214

07/22/2026

The award-winning Planning team extracts the latest key planning news from the blizzard of new information in Room 106, the vault where all new planning information is gathered.

In this episode, we’ll be discussing:

The arrival of a new prime minister. What are the key planning tasks in Andy Burnham’s in-tray? And what has he said about planning since he became Labour Party at the end of last week?What’s happening with the much-anticipated new version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)?The government confirming national planning fee rates that seek to meet 9...

Ep213: Why the new 250-word limit for written appeal forms has sparked consternation

#213

07/15/2026

In this Deep Dive edition, we’ll be examining:

Why many practitioners are up in arms about the new 250-word limit for written appeal forms.How a £37k compensation award for a female planning officer reminds the sector to be vigilant about unequal pay.

Key planning news, and why it is important, brought to you by the team behind Planning magazine, the leading source of independent intelligence for planning professionals for 50 years.

Find the latest planning news at planningresource.co.uk and @PlanningMag

Room 106 was the...

Ep212: The key takeaways for planners from Burnham's first big speech as a potential Prime Minister

#212

07/08/2026

In this episode, we’ll be discussing:

The key planning takeaways from the first big speech by the likely Prime Minister-elect Andy Burnham;The planning minister making a last-minute intervention in the examination of the City of London Corporation’s emerging local plan over its potential heritage impacts;And three councils launching a legal challenge against the reduced affordable housing requirement in the mayor of London’s home-delivery stimulus package.

Key planning news, and why it is important, brought to you by the team behind Planning magazine, the leading source of indepe...

Ep211: What the relentless rise of councils under no overall control means for planners

#211

07/01/2026

In this Deep Dive edition, we’ll be casting a spotlight on:

The dramatic rise in the number of councils under no overall political control – what does this mean for planning in those areas and how do you keep it moving?Why a judge blocking a council from submitting its local plan for examination has prompted fears of wider plan-making delays

Key planning news, and why it is important, brought to you by the team behind Planning magazine, the leading source of independent intelligence for planning professionals for 50 years.

Fi...

Ep210: Casebook Extra – the month’s key ministerial, inspectors’ and court decisions summarised

#210

06/26/2026

The latest edition of our monthly series examining the key recent appeal and court decisions, in which we speak to technical editor David Dewar, who compiles Planning’s long-running Casebook section.

This month, we’ll be discussing:

An example of a proposal for a solar farm being refused on landscape grounds, bucking the trend for many such schemes being approved on the grounds of their benefits; Paragraph 14 of the National Planning Policy Framework being triggered and used successfully to fend off a housing proposal;A legal challenge to consent for the redevelopment of the...

Ep209: Starmer resigns with Burnham poised to replace him; plus nine councils placed in planning ‘special measures’

#209

06/24/2026

In this episode, we’ll be discussing:

The resignation of the Prime Minister, with new MP and former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham poised to take over – how has the sector reacted and what might this mean for planning and development?Planning minister Matthew Pennycook placing nine councils in special measures for poor-quality decision-making on major planning applications – the first such designations made under the Labour administration;And a “shocked” civic society accusing a city council of making AI-generated errors in a planning application heritage statement.

Key planning news, and why it is impo...

Ep208: The implications of the scaling back of planning committee decision-making

#208

06/17/2026

In this Deep Dive edition, we’ll be taking a close look at two of the biggest current changes to the planning system under the Labour government:

Firstly, the scaling back of planning committee decision-making – how are councils dealing with revisions that seek to allow more planning applications to be decided by officers, rather than elected members? And secondly, the new system of local plan making – how some authorities are intending to hit this year’s deadline for submitting plans under the current system, but why others have decided not to do so.

Key...

Lord Heseltine: "You’re just playing in toy town”

06/15/2026

Lord Heseltine tells the story of the birth of the European Space Agency. Why post-Apollo, when the US was spending £1.2 billion a year on space, the whole of Europe was spending just £200 million. Why the birth of ESA was driven by the self-interest of three major countries. Why the US general with a $29 billion budget for the Star Wars project wanted to invest in Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. Why, the idea that Britain could compete alone with the technologies that were accumulated and available to the American capitalist system was “simply laughable”. Why “being European is not selling out British...

Ep207: Why a council wants to withdraw from the new towns programme and how the PM has pushed back against it

#207

06/10/2026

In this episode, we’ll be discussing:

A council shortlisted in the government’s new towns programme announcing that it has withdrawn from the process, following a change in political control at the local elections – prompting a response from the Prime Minister;A High Court judge blocking a council from submitting its local plan for examination pending the outcome of a legal challenge;An employment tribunal awarding a planning officer £37k for being paid less than her male predecessor; And the latest on the government’s proposed changes to planning committee decision-making.

Key plann...

Ep206: Casebook Extra – the month’s key ministerial, inspectors’ and court decisions summarised

#206

06/05/2026

The latest edition of our monthly series examining the key recent appeal and court decisions, in which we speak to technical editor David Dewar, who compiles Planning’s long-running Casebook section.

This month, we’ll be discussing:

A minister refusing a 750-home scheme despite the site being found to be grey belt, as its location would lead to high car-dependency and would therefore be "inappropriate" green belt development; The energy secretary's approval of a development consent order for what would be one of the UK's largest solar farms, prompting legal action from a Refo...

Ep205: How Andy Burnham becoming Prime Minister would impact planning

#205

06/03/2026

In this Deep Dive edition, we’ll be discussing:

Amid fevered speculation about a possible Labour Party leadership contest, what an Andy Burnham premiership would mean for planning and development;And how a Court of Appeal ruling reminds planners to think carefully before taking enforcement action.

Key planning news, and why it is important, brought to you by the team behind Planning magazine, the leading source of independent intelligence for planning professionals for 50 years.

Find the latest planning news at planningresource.co.uk and @PlanningMag

Roo...

Ep204: The planning highlights from the UKREiiF property conference

#204

05/28/2026

In this episode, we’ll be discussing:

The planning news that emerged from the UK’s biggest property conference, including important legislation and policy updates from the planning minister and the housing secretary; A volume housebuilder reacting with anger to an appeal decision and threatening legal action after its 867-home redevelopment plan was refused by an inspector;And a council blaming the government’s “muddy-thinking meddling” and “contradictory commands” for its decision to scrap its emerging local plan.

Key planning news, and why it is important, brought to you by the team behind Pla...

Ep203: How far the government has got in recruiting its 1,400 promised new planners

#204

05/21/2026

In this Deep Dive edition, we’ll be discussing Planning’s investigation into the Labour government’s much-trumpeted promise to recruit 1,400 extra planning officers for councils before the end of the current parliament. We’ll be examining:

What was promised; Progress to date and how likely the pledge is to be delivered;And the impact it could have on under-resourced council planning teams.

Key planning news, and why it is important, brought to you by the team behind Planning magazine, the leading source of independent intelligence for planning professionals for 50 years.

F...

Ep202: What the local election results mean for planning and development

#202

05/13/2026

In this episode, we’ll be discussing:

The local elections – the areas where the Reform UK and Green advance, and changes in council control, will have the greatest impact on planning and development.The High Court sentencing a homeowner to six months in prison for ignoring a planning injunction prohibiting an unauthorised house extension.The Court of Appeal finding apparent bias by a council planning director in revoking a lawful development certificate, in a case described by the judge as “most unusual”.

Key planning news, and why it is important, brought to you b...

Ep201: The profits, turnover and margins of the UK's biggest planning consultancies

#201

05/07/2026

In this Deep Dive edition, we’ll be discussing Planning’s exclusive and first-ever examination of the profits, turnover and margins of the UK’s biggest planning consultancies, based on their financial accounts filed with Companies House. We talk about:

The highest-earning firms; The most profitable consultancies and those with the biggest losses; Those with the highest and lowest operating profit margins;And we’ll be getting thoughts from consultants who feature in the survey on all of these matters.

Key planning news, and why it is important, brought to you by the team...

Ep200: The types of development that will and won't be exempt from biodiversity net gain requirements

#200

04/30/2026

In this episode, we’ll be discussing:

The government confirming the kinds of development that will and won’t be exempt from the biodiversity net gain requirement – and announcing a further proposed opt-out.Fresh guidance for councils on how they should consult on and publicise their draft strategies under the impending new system for producing local plans.A Court of Appeal ruling that clarifies the scope of local authorities’ powers to refuse to determine planning applications for a site if an enforcement notice is already in force for the land.

Key planning...

Ep199: Casebook Extra – the month’s key ministerial, inspectors’ and court decisions summarised

#199

04/28/2026

This is the ninth edition of our monthly series examining the key recent appeal and court decisions in which we speak to technical editor David Dewar who compiles Planning's long-running Casebook section.

This month, we will be discussing:

A secretary of state decision that involved the use of a very rare direction allowing ministers to block the publication of specific evidence in a planning inquiry; How a housing scheme achieved consent in the setting of a World Heritage Site; A High Court ruling on the use of section 73 applications to modify affordable housing contributions;The diffic...

Ep198: Why councillor criticism of planning officers in committee meetings appears to be on the rise

#198

04/22/2026

In this Deep Dive edition, we’ll be taking a close look at two issues relating to planning committees that we recently covered in-depth on Planning Resource. We’ll be discussing:

Why councillor criticism of planning officers in committee meetings appears to be on the rise.Government proposals to delegate more planning decisions to officers to determine, rather than elected members.

Key planning news, and why it is important, brought to you by the team behind Planning magazine, the leading source of independent intelligence for planning professionals for 50 years.

Fi...

Ep197: Inspector tells developer to pay council’s costs for pulling out of green belt housing appeal at ‘extremely late stage’

#197

04/16/2026

In this episode, we’ll be discussing:

A planning inspector ordering a developer to pay a Surrey council’s full costs after pulling out of a 190-home green belt appeal at “an extremely late stage”.A minister approving a land promoter’s 1,700-home scheme on unallocated farmland despite conflict with a local plan.A Court of Appeal ruling that clarifies appeals procedure in planning enforcement cases.New regulations that revise rules around neighbourhood plans, including a new requirement for such plans not to prevent housebuilding in the wider local plan area.

Key planni...

Ep196: The great CIL repayment - how much could be refunded to developers?

#196

04/09/2026

In this Deep Dive edition, we’ll be discussing:

Claims that recent rulings made by the government’s Valuation Office Agency could require as many as four out of every ten councils that charge the community infrastructure levy (CIL) to make substantial repayments to developers.

Key planning news, and why it is important, brought to you by the team behind Planning magazine, the leading source of independent intelligence for planning professionals for 50 years.

Find the latest planning news at planningresource.co.uk and @PlanningMag

Room 106 was t...