The Chief Planner, Joanna Averley, has published the planning update newsletter dated 4 June 2026, written for chief planning officers at local planning authorities (LPAs). It highlights the introduction of mandatory data standards regulations for local plans, which came into force on 7 May 2026 and require LPAs using the new plan-making system to publish plan timetables and housing requirements in a standardised format, alongside updates on the continued rollout of the new local plan-making framework and forthcoming guidance on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for new system plans. The newsletter also reports the laying before Parliament of draft regulations to introduce a National Scheme of Delegation for Planning Decisions across England, including provisions on delegated decision-making, gateway tests for committee consideration and a maximum planning committee size of 13 members. Other updates include publication of the latest register of compulsory purchase order decisions; forthcoming Department for Transport regulations enabling local authorities to recover costs for certain services under the Highways Act 1980 and Transport and Works Act 1992; and Active Travel England’s new statutory role as a specific consultation body for local plans and supplementary plans. Further items include publication of a Good Practice Guide on archaeology and solar farms; the transfer of neighbourhood planning guidance and toolkits to GOV.UK; research on demolition, redevelopment and retrofit decision-making; launch of a third round of the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) Innovation and Capacity Fund; updates on planning recruitment initiatives through Public Practice and the Pathways to Planning programme; and confirmation that the MHCLG Planning Skills and Capacity Survey has now closed.

The Chief Planner, Joanna Averley, has published the planning update newsletter for March 2026, written for chief planning officers at local planning authorities (LPAs). It confirms that regulations bringing the new plan-making system into force under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LURA 2023) have been signed into law. The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026, SI 2026/186, come into force on 25 March 2026, replacing the 2012 plan-making regime. A period of ‘dual-running’ will apply, enabling authorities that submit plans by 31 December 2026 to continue under the existing system, while others proceed under the new framework. Further regulations are expected later in 2026 covering data standards, housing requirements and plan timetables. The newsletter also confirms the removal of the Duty to Cooperate, with cross-boundary planning to be delivered instead through spatial development strategies (SDSs) under the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (PIA 2025); the duty to prepare SDSs is expected to commence in summer 2026, and consultation on proposed SDS geographies closes on 26 March 2026. Additional updates include the extension of the expedited written representations procedure to all section 78(1) Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA 1990) appeals for applications made on or after 1 April 2026; a 3.8% increase in planning fees from 1 April 2026; the commencement of compulsory purchase reforms on 18 February 2026; the launch of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s 2026 Planning Skills and Capacity Survey; and the opening of Round 6 of the PropTech Innovation Fund.

The Chief Planner, Joanna Averley, has published the planning update newsletter dated 27 March 2026, written for chief planning officers at local planning authorities (LPAs). It highlights two Written Ministerial Statements from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning on proposals for large-scale new communities and further measures to support housebuilding and infrastructure delivery, including consultations on New Town locations, locally set planning fees, and wider reforms to planning decision-making, compulsory purchase powers and the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) regime. The newsletter also reports the launch of a consultation on draft regulations for a National Scheme of Delegation, intended to provide a clearer and more consistent framework for delegating planning decisions. It confirms a consultation on the new towns programme, including proposed locations and planning policy, closing on 18 May 2026. Other updates include a proposed Consultation Direction requiring LPAs to consult the Secretary of State where they are minded to refuse certain major housing and commercial developments; the introduction of a ‘joint running’ period for the new plan-making system following regulations that came into force on 25 March 2026; and confirmation that the expedited written representations procedure will apply to all section 78(1) appeals for applications made on or after 1 April 2026. Further items include publication of an NSIP implementation plan; the Land Use Framework for England; and the government’s response to the Future Homes and Building Standards consultation, alongside amendments to the Building Regulations 2010. The newsletter also outlines measures to support housebuilding in London, and new regulations enabling the conditional confirmation of compulsory purchase orders, with procedural regulations coming into force on 11 April 2026. Additional updates cover permitted development rights for reverse vending machines, consultation on onshore wind turbines, planning capacity funding allocations, and the ongoing 2026 Planning Skills and Capacity Survey.

The Chief Planner, Joanna Averley, has published the May 2024 planning update newsletter, written for the chief planning officers at local planning authorities.

The Chief Planner, Joanna Averley, has published the November 2024 planning update newsletter, written for the chief planning officers at local planning authorities.

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.

The Chief Planner, Joanna Averley, has published the a planning update newsletter for October 2025, written for the chief planning officers at local planning authorities (LPAs). The newsletter contains details of preparations for the New Towns Unit to advance the next generation of new towns, following the government’s commitment to begin construction on at least three sites within this Parliament. It also highlights strong engagement with MHCLG’s consultation on infrastructure planning reforms, which will run until 27 October 2025, and reminds LPAs to submit their 2024–25 neighbourhood planning claims by 31 October 2025. The Planning Inspectorate reports early positive feedback on its new pre-examination checklist for local plans, introduced to streamline the submission process, while the Environment Agency continues to promote its new flood risk assessment template to support higher-quality planning applications. Additionally, the newsletter covers the launch of applications for the Digital Planning Improvement Fund, offering grants of up to £50,000 to support digital transformation in planning services, and previews the forthcoming Digital Planning Training Directory—a free resource to help planning professionals access education and training opportunities.

The Chief Planner, Joanna Averley, has published the September 2024 planning update newsletter, written for the chief planning officers at local planning authorities.

An individual often appointed at the request of creditors to oversee a restructuring.

Name of firm [Insert firm name] Name of role holder [Insert name] Reports to [Senior partner OR Board OR Management committee] Role type (full-time/part-time/contractor) [Insert] If a contractor role, length of contract [Insert] Primary location [Insert the primary location for this role—if there is a requirement for the role holder to regularly spend time in multiple locations, eg in each regional office, it is worth making sure this is made clear] Remote/hybrid/office-based? [Insert type of work model] Date role commenced [Insert date] Length of probation period [Insert] End of probation review date [Insert date] Role summary The Chief Executive is the senior executive manager on the [Board OR Management committee] with responsibility for effective governance, developing strategy and vision for the firm and delivering the strategy as agreed. The Chief Executive is expected to: • ensure excellence in legal services and client care, risk management and regulatory compliance • lead the senior professional managers and other team members to ensure effective day-to-day operations and the implementation of change programmes • effect a coherent support strategy for senior colleagues, including the provision of coaching and mentoring, to enable them to deliver the plans approved by the

A CRO is appointed to a debtor company to lead a financial or operational restructuring often during periods of (anticipated) financial distress. This Practice Note looks at the role of a chief restructuring officer (CRO) within a distressed company, including why they are appointed, what they are appointed to do, their experience and qualifications, and where their responsibilities and liabilities lie. Appointment In the initial stages of distress, the lending group or creditors' committee may request that an independent chief restructuring officer (CRO) is appointed within the debtor company as a precondition to continued restructuring discussions or support. The appointment reassures them that information flow will be easier and accurate, changes will be made, that the company is taking the matter seriously and should help facilitate future discussions. To be effective and to maximise the chances of a successful turnaround, the CRO must be appointed early on when the first warning signs of distress appear, such as: • a ratings downgrade or the company or its securities placed on negative watch (see Practice Note: Impact

The Chief Planner, Joanna Averley, has published a second planning update newsletter for December 2024, written for the chief planning officers at local planning authorities (LPAs). The newsletter contains details of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)'s publication of a working paper proposing a new approach to development and nature recovery, suggesting that developers contribute to a 'Nature Restoration Fund' to meet their environmental obligations more effectively. Additionally, the MHCLG published an updated Criteria Document for improving planning performance, reducing the assessment period for decision-making speed from 24 months to 12 months. The MHCLG also announced grant funding to support the implementation of recent National Planning Policy Framework changes, with over £14.8m available to support local authorities with local plan delivery and Green Belt reviews. Expressions of interest for this funding are due by 17 January 2025. The newsletter also highlights ongoing initiatives, such as Public Practice's recruitment support for LPAs and a new Regional Design and Place Advocates programme. LPAs are also reminded to update their brownfield land registers by 31 December 2024.