Senior Consultant A senior Cabinet Member in one of the UK’s largest local authorities, Andrew brings more than fifteen years of experience in local government and public engagement. A former member of a planning committee, Andrew has worked on a variety of regeneration and housing projects across the country, working …

Chelgate Local, the leading public affairs specialist for planners and developers, has further strengthened its team with new public relations and stakeholder engagement expertise for clients working in greenbelt, rural, and protected landscapes. Jonathan Ray, a Chelgate senior advisor in issue and reputation management, has joined the firm from National …

Account Executive Emily Anderson is a graduate from the University of Edinburgh with a Masters in English Literature. Whilst at university, she wrote for the university newspaper and several student outlets. She also ran the publicity for the University’s student radio station. After university, she worked in geriatric care, before …

In the recent Sunak reshuffle, Rachael Maclean was ousted from Government, and her position,  to be replaced by Lee Rowley. Some will remember that Rowley took the Housing reins in the interim Truss Government. It is still unclear if he will also be taking on the planning portfolio. The MP …

Welcome to our November issue of Planning ahead. In this issue we have articles on the recent updates to the Levelling Up Bill; the Conservative party conference; the Labour party conference; and the Garden Towns Conference. We also have an article on Intervention and housing need and our usual political and Local Plan updates, as well …

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) intervened in the Spelthorne local plan in late September. The housing minister, Rachel Maclean, sent a letter to the council blocking the authority from rescinding its emerging plan from examination. This was the first time in two years DLUHC has intervened, …

Michael Hardware spoke at the Garden Communities and New Towns Conference held in October in Kensington Town Hall, London, organised by the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF). Speakers relayed progress on the many new garden communities coming forward across the UK. Hardware described the progress of the Harlow …

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, first published in May 2022, has received royal assent after over a year of parliamentary debate. The Bill became an Act on 26 October, after being debated and revised by both parliamentary houses. Changes to planning policy are set to begin coming into effect …