Episode Details

It’s cold, wet and miserable and, alas, there is little in Michael Gove’s recent Written Ministerial Statement to warm the cockles of a planner’s heart. Hopefully then the return of the 50 Shades of Planning Festive Christmas Quiz will spread some seasonal cheer.

Even by the standards of the fast-paced, ever-changing, rock and roll world of town and country planning it has been quite a year. With the help of Richard Garlick at Planning magazine, who provided Sam Stafford with some of the most-read stories on PlanningResource.co.uk, Sam quizzes some of the 50 Shades alumni on 2022’s highlights and lowlights.

Expect fun, frivolity and an appearance from a very special guest…

Some accompanying reading

January

Minister announces new performance measures for planning inspectors to speed up appeal decisions

https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1738709/minister-announces-new-performance-measures-planning-inspectors-speed-appeal-decisions

February

Government announces first council to be designated under ‘special measures’ programme for seven years

https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1739648/government-announces-first-council-designated-special-measures-programme-seven-years

March

Councils to freeze decisions on housing applications following Natural England recreation advice

https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1749748/councils-freeze-decisions-housing-applications-following-natural-england-recreation-advice#:~:text=A%20moratorium%20on%20determining%20planning,damage%20a%20protected%20forest%20site.

April

Councils three times more likely to successfully defend design refusals following NPPF change, research finds

https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1754069/councils-three-times-likely-successfully-defend-design-refusals-following-nppf-change-research-finds

May

New leader says council to consider withdrawing local plan after branding housing target as ‘nonsense’

https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1788258/new-leader-says-council-consider-withdrawing-local-plan-branding-housing-target-nonsense

June

New NPPF to come out next month, says Gove

https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1789261/new-nppf-next-month-says-gove

July

Truss pledges new simplified planning zones to create 21st century Bournvilles

https://www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1794102/truss-pledges-new-simplified-planning-zones-create-21st-century-bournvilles

August

Government plans to take powers to shorten national infrastructure examinations

Listen Now