Episode 166 of the podcast is available now via this link or from the usual podcast platforms. I was in Birmingham recently and took the opportunity to catch up with friends of the podcast Mike Best, Kathryn Ventham and Michelle Simpson-Gallego at PodHaus studios in Digbeth. We talked about why the recent consultation on areas for producing Spatial Development Strategies seemed to generate more interest in the West Midlands than other parts of the country (an issue for which this episode has named); we talked about the politics of Grey Belt; we talked about some live development management issues, including LPAs basing decisions on unpublished evidence; and we touched on PINS’ recent performance.
Episode 165 of 50 Shades of Planning is available now via this link or from the usual podcast platforms. You might have spotted, planning fans (and a shout-out to eagle-eyed friend of the podcast Nicola Gooch for putting it on my radar), that DEFRA last week launched a consultation on significant changes to it’s guidance on how Habitat Regulations Assessments should be carried out. The consultation comes at an interesting time. As Nicola has noted in a recent blog, it is, firstly, barely a month since DEFRA announced that Natural England and the Environment Agency have been given a new mandate to “prioritise outcomes over process” and “speed up decision-making while maintaining high environmental standards”. Secondly, we are in the midst of Part 3 of the Planning & Infrastructure Act being rolled out. Thirdly, it comes shortly after MHCLG’s announcement of an intention to transition from Environmental Impact Assessments to Environmental Outcomes Reports within the next year. As it...