A Framework-Led Conversation

Whilst in London recently Sam Stafford took the opportunity to catch up with old friends of the podcast Simon Ricketts, Andrew Taylor and Mike Kiely. Simon is a Partner at Town Legal, Andrew is Group Planning and Sustainability Director at Vistry and Mike is a former Chief Planner, now independent planning consultant working mainly in the public sector as well as chairing the board of the Planning Officer's Society. In a conversation recorded at Brazen Studios in Southwark they kicked around a few of the issues exercising the planning profession at the minute. Their ramblechat took in evidenced unmet need; the pause to local government reorganisation; housing targets; Reform’s planning teal paper; the importance of next month’s Budget; and reports from the RTPI of an increasing use of its professional conduct complaints process as a way of people seeking to challenge LPA decisions. Some accompanying reading. 50 Shades of Planning T-Shirts! England's Greatest Place Evidenced Unmet Need A Problem With The Draft London Plan? Stacey Robbins’ LinkedIn post about settlement boundaries What does the 2026 NPPF say about construction traffic? Podcast episode 182: Meet a MP and an AM - Reform UK Evaluation of the Help to Buy scheme Land Matters: Removing Barriers to Housebuilding Professional standards and accuracy Some accompanying viewing. Nature Restoration Fund – Business Readiness Forum, September 2026 Some accompanying listening. The Summer Has Flown – Katherine Priddy Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why via [email protected] or the 50 Shades WhatsApp Community. Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam.