Planning Futures

Simon Ricketts - Chair, Town Legal; Gareth Bacon MP (Conservative Party);  Sian Berry (Green Party); James Murray MP (Labour Party); Joyce Onstad (Liberal Democrat Party); Dr Peter Gammons (UKIP); Mandu Reid (Women's Equality Party).

This year’s London Mayoral Election takes place at a time of disruption.

The Covid19 crisis has transformed the usual patterns of life and work, and many commentators anticipate a lasting impact on workplaces and commuting patterns.

Having left the European Union, it will be some time before the consequences of Brexit become known.

The context in which this Election takes place is therefore markedly different to that of the 2016 Mayoral Election.  The assumptions underlying previous transport, housing and planning policies may no longer hold.

As the candidates put forward policies in the face of an uncertain future, Planning Futures is hosting a Mayoral Hustings dedicated to the built environment.

We are delighted to announce that we will be joined by representatives from each of the leading campaigns for a policy focused discussion.

We are also pleased to confirm that Simon Ricketts, of Town Legal, will chair this event.

To join this event, please register here

This event is brought to you in conjunction with Town Legal LLP.

Hannah David (Chair) - Planning Futures; Roger Hepher (Director, hgh Consulting); Richard Harwood OBE QC (Joint Head, 39 Essex Chambers); David Smith (Professional Lead – Planning Appeals, PINS).

The English Planning System is often criticised for its uncertainty, and the prospect of a planning application being refused is always a possibility – even when the applicant is confident that the scheme is policy compliant.

When an application is refused, an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate is one option that may be considered. However, as this can be a costly and time-consuming process, it should not be seen as the automatic course of action.

On average, only one in three appeals to the Planning Inspectorate are successful. Applicants therefore need to consider the strength of their prospective appeal, and how likely it is to succeed.

This event will bring together three leading industry experts on the planning appeals process.

It will consider:

• The circumstances within which an appeal should be considered
• The grounds for, and nature of, a strong planning appeal
• Alternative and complimentary strategies to making an appeal

This event is suitable for planning professionals and developers who wish to improve their understanding of the planning appeals process, and for all built environment stakeholders who wish to understand the proper role that planning appeals play in delivering development.

Please e mail  for details.

Hannah David (Chair) - Planning Futures; Alexander Jan (Chair, Bee Midtown); Steve Quartermain (Former Chief Planner for England); (tbc)

By the time this event takes place, a full year will have passed since the first national lockdown, which initiated a sudden experiment in home working, and a suspension of normal patterns of commuting, work and home life.

From the outset, a range of commentators have speculated about the long-term impacts of theCovid-19 crisis on the way that we live and work – and, indeed, where we live and work.

There have been suggestions that the crisis will accelerate the decline of the high Street, create a permanent shift towards home working and a corresponding reduction in demand for city centre office space. Some have predicted a mass exodus of the urban population, as they seek more space in the suburbs and countryside.

Yet, the future is by no means certain and research into the spatial ramifications of the Covid-19 crisis is in its infancy. It may take some years before the long-term consequence of the pandemic become known to us.

Nevertheless, those of us at work within the planning sector must still look forward, and plan for the years ahead.

This event brings together three experts with experience in urban economics, urban policy and planning to discuss what may lie ahead for our cities. In a context of uncertainty, they will consider the possible drivers of change and the potential policy interventions that may become necessary over the months and years ahead.

Please e mail  for details.

Hannah David (Chair) - Planning Futures; Mike Amesbury MP - Shadow Housing and Planning Minister 

As the Government has signaled its intention to introduce a new planning system for England, this event will provide an opportunity for mutual engagement between HM Opposition and the built environment sector.

The session will commence with a ten-minute opening statement from the Shadow Minister, setting out the Labour Party’s position on the proposed changes to the planning system, and outlining the party’s vision for planning in the UK over the longer-term.

The session will then allow for group discussion between the shadow minister and other participants.

Please e mail  for details.

Hannah David (Chair) - Planning Futures; Constance Bell (Barrister, Kings Chambers); Adam Gostling (Director, hgh Consulting); Sara Whelan (Decorum Borough Council)

Development on the Green Belt is a topic of perennial controversy, and is often strongly opposed by local residents and campaign groups.

The Government makes clear in policy that Green Belt land should be protected in order “to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open”.

However, development on the Green Belt is not always prohibited and there are a number of exceptions, set out in the NPPF, in which development on the Green Belt may be deemed appropriate.

One such exception is the “partial or complete redevelopment of previously developed land” (PDL). If an application for Green Belt development does not meet any of the exceptions set out in the NPPF, an application may still be allowed if the applicant can demonstrate very special circumstances.

This event will explore the various grounds for Green Belt planning applications – with a strong emphasis on applications citing PDL and very special circumstance.

It brings together three leading experts and will consider:

• How to develop a robust, policy compliant PDL application;
• Some common, and some not-so-common, examples of “very special circumstances”;
• How to make a robust application on the basis of “very special circumstances.”
• This event is suitable for planning professionals who wish to improve their knowledge of Green Belt planning issues, and all built environment stakeholders with an interest in development on the Green Belt.

Please e mail  for details.

Rebecca Pow MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The Environment Bill, which is due to become law before this event takes place, will change the relationship between the built and natural environments.

This event will explore how the new Environment Act will drive Government policy over the coming years, and will look in particular at the mandate for “net gain in biodiversity through the planning system,” a requirement that development should increase biodiversity by 10%.

We will be joined for this session by Rebecca Pow MP, the minister responsible for the Bill, who will set out the Government’s post legislative vision and the measures contained in the new act are put into policy and practice.

Following a brief presentation, the Minister will take questions from the chair and from the floor.

Please e mail  for details.