Another successful Planning Matters Forum

26 February 2025

Our second Planning Matters Forum was held last week in conjunction with Charles Russell Speechlys, and No5 Barristers’​ Chambers. The Forum provided a detailed insight on Labours reforms to the planning system and how their pro-growth agenda is now intertwined with the National Planning Policy Framework.

With over 100 attendees, the audience was provided with great insight into the changes from Peter Goatley KC from No.5 Chambers, Rachael Davidson from Charles Russell Speechlys and Steve MacPherson, group development and technical director at Bloor Homes. Our MD, Paul Fong chaired the Forum whilst adding his own thoughts to the discussion.

The Government faces challenges ahead and primarily trying to meet their target of 1.5 million homes in this parliament. Their pro-growth agenda and the policy changes they have made to the planning system are ambitious and audacious and provide a straightforward approach to delivering growth which have remove significant complexities that the last Government added to the system.

Whilst the changes have been made from the top, these now need to filter down to the decision makers on the ground floor if they are to have any impact at all?

The conclusions reached by the speakers displayed elements of optimism that the changes will stimulate positive growth, but the speakers were also cautious about the remaining layers of detail that still exist that have the ability to slow planning applications down quite significantly.