Vibes and Stuff

Sam Stafford was in Birmingham recently and took the opportunity whilst there to catch up with old friend of the podcast Myles Wild Smith and new friends of the podcast Mike Knott, Bart Shirm and Beth Pywell. Myles is a Director at Lichfields, Mike is a Regional Practice Lead at Stantec, Bart is a Senior Planning Policy Officer at Sandwell and Beth is an Associate Director at Nexus. During a good ol’-fashioned, Shades-style ramblechat, recorded at Podhaus studios in Digbeth’s Custard Factory, they talk about the NPPF's non-appearance before the parliament summer recess, local plan progress and the recent Pennycook pragmatism letter, changes to the BNG regime, Bart’s recent trip to Canada, which led them back to the reform agenda here, and towards the end, application fees. Some accompanying reading. Local Plan examinations: letter to the Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate (July 2026) Biodiversity Net Gain: Amendments and transitional arrangements published A Biodiversity Net Gain Solution for a High Value Brownfield Site FUSION Montréal: Confident planners delivering resilient outcomes Why NPPFs fail #1 - planning by committee Some accompanying viewing. Plan, Prepare, Progress: A practical guide to the new local plan system What does Team Burnham mean for housebuilding Some accompanying listening. Vibes and Stuff – A Tribe Called Quest 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. 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 via [email protected] or the 50 Shades WhatsApp Community.