Housebuilding around train stations will be given default “yes” Housebuilding near well-connected train stations will receive a default “yes” in future if they meet certain rules, ensuring more homes are built

MHCLG confirms "Measures will also require councils to inform government when they’re inclined to block applications of 150 homes or more so ministers can decide whether to step in and make the decision instead" www.gov.uk/government/n...

Housebuilding around train stations will be given default “yes” Housebuilding near well-connected train stations will receive a default “yes” in future if they meet certain rules, ensuring more homes are built

MHCLG press release Housebuilding around train stations will be given default “yes”. Suggest this is evolution of Brownfield Passports consulted before and "proposed through a new pro-growth and rules-based NPPF, which will be consulted on later this year" www.gov.uk/government/n...

Reforms to the statutory consultee system We are seeking views on reforming the role of statutory consultees in the planning system in England.

MHCLG has published a consultation on Reforms to the Statutory Consultee System in planning - open until 13 January 2026 www.gov.uk/government/c...

Building control: charges, notices and certificates We are seeking views on reforms to charges for local authority building control services.

MHCLG is "seeking views on reforms to charges for local authority building control services". There is a crisis in the sector at the moment so will need to consider this consultation to see how it addresses that. www.gov.uk/government/c...

Building control firm collapse set to land councils with major work Private sector building control firms will struggle to take over the vast majority of projects from collapsed firm Assent, meaning they will transfer to

More pressure on Local Authority Building Control services as private firm Assent collapses, with much of their work now defaulting to local authorities www.lgcplus.com/services/reg...

Local Plan examinations: letter to the The Minister of State, Matthew Pennycook MP (October 2025) The Planning Inspectorate’s CEO, Paul Morrison writes to The Minister of State, Matthew Pennycook MP in response to his letter of 9 October 2025.

Letter from PINS CEO to Minister re pragmatic Local Plan making & the Duty to Cooperate: "You will be aware that the Duty to Cooperate has caused difficulties in several examinations recently... the Inspector’s hands are tied" www.gov.uk/government/p...

Healthy Homes Standard A set of standards and summary of good practice guidance for use by development partners and design consultants in the design and delivery of new homes.

MHCLG published the Healthy Homes Standard. Seems like mainly guidance for public sector housebuilding rather than strict planning requirement, and references Building Regs, but how does it relate to the Future Homes Standard, and the existing/emerging London Plan? www.gov.uk/government/p...

Pro-growth package unshackling Britain to get building Pro-growth changes to the government's landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill to get Britain building faster.

More measures announced in the Planning & Infrastructure Bill "Pro-growth package unshackling Britain to get building" www.gov.uk/government/n...

Local Plan examinations: letter to the Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate (October 2025) This letter lays out the government’s expectations on the exercise of flexibility in the examination of local plans submitted within the current plan-making system.

Letter from Planning Minister, Matthew Pennycook MP, to CEO of Planning Inspectorate "It is... critical that Inspectors approach examinations of current system plans with the appropriate degree of flexibility" www.gov.uk/government/p...

Barkers of Kensington

Design Museum

Olympia

Come & work at one of the best planning authorities in the country on our emerging new Local Plan! Apply for this Principal Planning Officer (Policy) vacancy now jobs.haringey.gov.uk/jobs/princip...

New Piccadilly Line trains bring tested - spotted in Hammersmith

Interestingly the FAQs talk about "Neighbourhood Boards... with responsibility for developing their Regeneration Plan" although no mention of Neighbourhood Planning www.gov.uk/government/p...

MHCLG has published a new "Pride in Place Strategy" which is quite wide-ranging - here are the key extracts I think most relevant to Local Planning Authorities www.gov.uk/government/p...

Communities to seize control over high streets and restore pride Local communities will be handed new powers to revitalise their high streets and restore pride in their towns.

Government announces 'Pride in Place' programme including the "Power to block unwanted shops: empowering councils in England to say no to new betting shops, vapes stores and fake barbers" www.gov.uk/government/n...

Local plans: pre-examination checklists The pre-examination checklists are to help local planning authorities ensure their plan is “ready for examination” as referred to in section 20 of the 2004 Act.

Planning Inspectorate has published helpful new Local Plans Pre-Examination Checklist - hopefully this sits nicely alongside the Planning Advisory Service's helpful toolkits too - a useful checklist for earlier stages of Local Plan production too e.g. Reg 18, Reg 19 etc www.gov.uk/government/p...

Oxford Street - pedestrianised version - for the day

Housing Secretary issues 'call to arms' to 'build, baby, build' New Housing Secretary has issued a 'call to arms' to leading developers and housebuilders following a roundtable held this week.

I prefer my catchphrase of "Plan, Baby, Plan" but this'll do www.gov.uk/government/n...

I'm speaking at #LREF2025 next week at Guildhall on "The Upper Lee Valley – How turbo charged industrial development is powering places into the future” panel, exploring how this vital industrial cluster can unlock new sites for homes, jobs, and inclusive growth www.lref.co.uk/register/

I'm excited to be speaking at the Landmark Chambers Planning Conference 2025 'Shaping London's Future'. I'll be giving a view from London Borough of Haringey on the key planning reforms and capacity issues that LPAs are facing & what we're doing about it www.landmarkchambers.co.uk/events/landm...

Building Control Independent Panel - informing recommendations to government

MHCLG's Building Control Independent Panel has opened a Call for Evidence until 29 August which will be used to inform its recommendations to Government www.gov.uk/government/c...

The PAS guide to running a good Planning Committee Source of photograph: Shropshire Star, 2011 You know that things are not as good as they could be at planning committee, but you haven’t got the time to spend hours viewing other planning com…

Check out this very useful "Planning committee best practice self-assessment toolkit" published by the LGA Planning Advisory Service planningadvisor.wordpress.com/2025/07/24/t...

Building Safety Levy: Guidance This guidance explains the operation of the Building Safety Levy.

And also the Building Safety Levy 'Guidance' has been published too www.gov.uk/guidance/bui...

The Building Safety Levy (England) Regulations 2025 are here! The new Levy takes effect on 1 October 2026
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2025/9...

Pleased to be speaking at the Proptech Show 2025 about Haringey's digital planning. Looking forward to sharing insights and connecting with fellow leaders shaping the future of property technology and innovation. bit.ly/3XJxxmv #pts25 #proptechshow2025 #proptechshow #proptech #londonproptech

Consideration of embodied carbon in new buildings Research report on the practical, technical and economic impacts of measuring and reducing embodied carbon in new buildings.

MHCLG has published a research report by AECOM about measuring and reducing embodied carbon in buildings - will this help shape future national planning policy & building regulations? www.gov.uk/government/p...

The results of the GLA's Placeshaping Capacity Survey 2024 have been published. This looks at capacity & skills of Planning, Building Control, Design, Heritage, S106/CIL, Transport, Placemaking, Property, Capital Delivery, etc www.london.gov.uk/programmes-s...

Housing and growth threatened by council staff shortages | News, Press release | News | UNISON National Councils must be able to recruit more planning staff if communities are to get the homes, schools and services they need.

Housing and growth threatened by council staff shortages
www.unison.org.uk/news/press-r...