Chief Planner’s planning update newsletter for November 2025 published
The Chief Planner, Joanna Averley, has published the planning update newsletter for November 2025, written for chief planning officers at local planning authorities (LPAs). The newsletter outlines reforms announced by the Housing Secretary to accelerate development near well-connected train and tram stations, including minimum density standards and changes to call-in procedures, such as removing mandatory public inquiries for called-in applications. It also invites responses to MHCLG’s consultation on statutory consultee reforms—proposals include removing Sport England, the Gardens Trust and Theatres Trust from the statutory list—with feedback due by 13 January 2026. LPAs are reminded to update their plan preparation timetables and publish Infrastructure Funding Statements by 31 December 2025. The newsletter highlights the opening of applications for the Pathways to Planning graduate scheme, offering educational bursaries of £10,000 and potential salary bursaries of £40,000 for authorities with high housing delivery needs. It further announces MHCLG’s Planning Skills and Capacity Survey, with registration closing on 6 December 2025, and provides updates on the Department for Transport’s review of the Airports National Policy Statement. Additional items include changes to Natural England’s statutory advice obligations, new standing advice on air quality, Public Practice’s recruitment training for local government, and the launch of free e-learning modules on coastal planning by the Environment Agency and Town and Country Planning Association.