All Articles

Jemma Shorrock argues that achieving the government's ambitious housing targets requires a stronger partnership between public and private sectors and increased capacity within local authorities. She highlights the critical shortage of planning officers and the need for renewed investment in the front line to prevent housing applications from stalling.

Mark Topping of Lanpro Services explores the successes and challenges of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) regulations, which became mandatory for major developments in February 2024. He discusses its impact on the development sector, the use of the Defra biodiversity metric, and how BNG can align with new Green Belt release policies to foster greener, healthier developments.

Planning is about the future, yet consultations often fail to engage young people who have the greatest stake in it. This article explores how ambitious plans for cities like Cambridge can shift the balance toward younger voices through innovative consultation methods.