Planning Law - 2026 Hot Topics

Introduction

Planning is an ever-changing landscape. The Labour government has put planning reform at the heart of its plans for economic recovery. This has resulted in a major overhaul of national planning policy and new legislation covering planning, infrastructure, and devolution.

Measures to promote housing growth are being introduced alongside a strategic approach to securing nature recovery. A new development plan regime is being implemented which marks the return of strategic planning and an increased role for mayors and combined authorities in England.

This half day course will consider recent and forthcoming changes to the planning system. It will also look at current issues faced by planning decision makers and developers and how these are being tackled in practice. Recent guidance provided by the courts on planning issues will also be considered.

What You Will Learn

This course will cover the following:

• The key changes to national policy set out in the draft NPPF including the introduction of national development management policies
• New measures aimed at promoting housing growth
• Recent and proposed changes to green belt policy
• The latest developments in planning and nature recovery including the introduction of Environmental Delivery Plans and a Nature Restoration Fund to be overseen by Natural England
• The new local plan system and the return of strategic planning through the introduction of spatial development strategies
• Recent guidance from the courts on key planning issues