Welcome to the Planning Advisory Service (PAS)

I am writing this on NPPF launch day. It's one of those moments in PAS that sets off an immediate change in our work. It's exciting because we have the privilege of supporting councils in making the necessary changes to their working practices; in doing this, we learn loads, and then we share our learnings so that everyone benefits. 

Joanna Averley has issued a letter to councils regarding £14m funds available for Green Belt Reviews and Reg 19 Local Plan Support. Expressions of interest opened on 16 December 2024 and close on 17 January 2025. 

PAS sends you all the best for the festivities, and we look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

Anna Rose
Head of PAS

• Insights, guidance and updateson the key planning system reforms and policy changes;
• Expert-led sessions focused on delivering resilient, high-impact services
• Leading practices in change management, service improvement, capacity-building, inclusiveness, and empowering staff;
  
   

Planning Advisory Service (PAS) will be hosting a series of webinars in January and February 2025. These briefings will provide structured briefings on the key changes in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published on 16 December 2024. 

There will be updates from senior officials at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Further details, including registration information, available on the PAS Events Page.

In light of the changes to the NPPF, the Deputy Prime Minister has asked that all local planning authorities produce an updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) within 12 weeks of the publication of the NPPF, i.e. by no later than 6 March 2025. The updated LDS should include clear, realistic, and specific dates for consultation and submission of the local plan. We ask that once updated, the LDS is made publicly available, and a copy is sent to the Ministry using the following email address: [email protected] and that the key information is recorded by filling out this form

PAS is helping MHCLG to get council feedback on the proposals outlined in the Planning Reform Working Paper: Planning Committees - GOV.UK. As part of this work there's still time to take part in our national survey on how Planning Committees are currently operating and help inform thinking about what a modern effective Planning Committee looks like. You may need to analyse some data as you go and have in-depth knowledge of your planning committee procedures. Fill in the survey

The Government has laid before Parliament changes to the Development Management performance regime in the document Improving planning performance: criteria for designation - GOV.UK. The main change is that the speed of decision-making performance measures will be over a 12 month period (October 23 to September 24) rather than a 24-month period. These changes are due to take effect in January. We are contacting councils who we suspect may fall below the minimum threshold, but if you feel you may need PAS support, please contact [email protected]

PAS is launching a project to discover what a modern & effective Planning Committee looks like and ultimately create some tools & resources for councils to use. To kick off the project we want to gather information and generate a national picture of how Planning Committees are currently operating. To do this we would like as many councils as possible to complete our survey.

Comments are invited on Planning Reform Working Paper: Development and Nature Recovery - GOV.UK

The paper proposes a new approach which uses funding from development to deliver environmental improvements, and moves more responsibility for these improvements onto the state rather than developers. The aim of this approach is to free up and accelerate development while ensuring better environmental outcomes.

Pathways to Planning is the graduate recruitment programme which offers councils an affordable and reliable way to attract and retain new planners and has delivered more than 80 new planners in almost 60 different local authorities. 

The programme covers all recruitment costs and offers a bursary to facilitate the graduates’ postgraduate study and MRTPI accreditation. As a result of the additional funding announced by the Government, Pathways to Planning may be able to provide a select number of councils with an additional bursary to cover part or all of the costs of a graduate planner’s salary. 

The overall goal of the Pathways to Planning programme is to enable councils who are struggling with recruitment and delivery challenges within their Planning team to access additional resource in the form of a graduate planner. The options for how to allocate any bursaries are under consideration. 

If you are interested please complete the Expression of Interest form and indicate your preference for salary support. The bursaries will be allocated through an assessment process in early 2025.

PAS and MHCLG are looking to form nine regional local authority networks to share experiences and help tailor support around design. We want a local authority urban designer or planner, with an active interest in design and a desire to learn and share experiences between LPAs to be a 'Design Advocate' in each region. We will work with selected 'Advocates' with financial support and ongoing advice to deliver a network in each region.

If you and your authority would be interested and like more information please go to the PAS website and register your interest before Friday 10 January.

Planning Futures is a cross-sector corporate membership organisation for planning professionals. It brings together public and private sector planners to share ideas and initiate new collaborations. In 2025, its Planning in Practice series will focus on how public and private sector practitioners can work together productively to implement the Government’s emerging planning agenda. For more information, please visit www.planningfutures.org. For membership enquiries please email [email protected]

The Digital Planning Directory will be launched on 22 January 2025. Co-hosted by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Digital Task Force for Planning, the Digital Planning Directory will be a ‘One-Stop-Shop’ for state-of-the-art digital planning services as a comprehensive, user-friendly free online resource for digital planning.

The launch event provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the Digital Planning Directory and its future priorities, gain insights into the broader MHCLG digital planning programme. Places are limited, so please reserve your place at the Digital Planning Directory launch now 

To compliment Planning Advisory Service’s recent Network event for Local Planning Authorities (LPAs), Defra are hosting an online event where they will be discussing Conservation Covenants, being a Responsible Body and discussing the responsible body application process from a private company and charity perspective. Defra colleagues will explain ‘what good looks like’ for organisations (including LPAs) interested in applying to become a responsible body.

Register for the Defra BNG event