Michelmores' Planning Primer in association with LPDF

Michelmores' Planning Primer in association with LPDF

9 October 2024, Bristol Future Inn

Michelmores hosted its bi-annual Planning Primer on 9 October 2024 in association with the LDPF. Held at the Future Inn, Bristol to a sold-out audience of over 200 attendees, leading planning and environmental speakers addressed whether the new Government will fix the planning system and enable 1.5m homes to be delivered in this parliamentary term and how the natural capital regimes might affect housing delivery.

Keynote speakers included Steve Quartermain CBE, Lord Charlie Banner KC and Michelmores partners, Helen Hutton and Fergus Charlton, with the LPDF's Paul Brocklehurst chairing a lively panel discussion.

Michelmores' partner, Fergus Charlton, gave a clear and helpful summary of the anticipated changes to the NPPF, the proposed 'Brownfield passports' and Green and Grey Belt land, also discussing the potential for an increased use of compulsory purchase orders to facilitate major home developments.

Steve Quartermain CBE, who is the former Chief Planner at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and therefore has marked insight into past changes to the planning system, gave a particularly captivating view of embracing an imperfect planning system with 'a voice not a veto' approach. Touching upon issues such as localism, strategic planning, investment and accountability, Steve made it clear that only with a clear plan could the Government have any hope of achieving growth by utilising planning at the heart of the agenda and the industry would need to get into action despite its imperfections.

Michelmores' planning and environmental law specialist, Helen Hutton, covered the BNG and nutrient neutrality regimes and whether natural capital requirements will affect housing delivery, particularly highlighting the issues planners and solicitors were experiencing trying to implement the existing regimes.

A highlight of the evening was hearing Lord Charlie Banner KC, leading planning silk, working peer and legislator in Parliament's upper house, give an engaging analysis of two of the most important planning cases of the last decade - that of CG Fry & Son and Finch. The law as it stands is a problem and both these cases demonstrate how solutions need to be found if the Government is to have any chance of speeding up the supply of new housing. 

The event was attended by planners, developers, housebuilders, local councils, land agents and other industry professionals from across the country.

Please contact Michelmores' events team on events@michelmores.com to receive details of upcoming events including Michelmores' next Planning Primer in Spring 2025.