The last working week before Christmas is always busier than seems fair, and this one is no different. The NPPF consultation is making lots of headlines, but it’s only part of the picture for planning reform. We’ll be holding a series of events in January to help you get to grips with what they might mean for your authority. A day out of the office might seem a big commitment, but I urge you to come to an in-person session. Not only will you get the chance to hear from the experts who wrote the policy, but you can also catch up with your peers across Local Government. Invaluable.

More events will be scheduled in February and March for the Planning & Infrastructure Bill and local plan regulations. It’s going to be busy! Come along and say hello to the PAS team – we’re here to help you navigate your way through all this change.

And in the meantime, I hope you get a chance to get a break and spend some time with your loved ones. See you in 2026.

Anna Rose
Head of PAS

Pathways to Planning applications open

Local planning authorities, statutory consultees, and councils hosting NSIPs can now apply to recruit a graduate planner or surveyor through the Pathways to Planning programme, with placements starting in September 2026.

This initiative selects top candidates from a large pool to create interview shortlists for employers at no cost. Graduates hired through the programme receive a £10,000 educational bursary to support part-time study alongside work.

Authorities with high housing delivery and local plan needs may also qualify for £40,000 salary bursaries when requesting a graduate planner. Applications for salary bursaries will be reviewed from December 2025, so act now to secure this opportunity for your planning team.

Find out more and apply

The role of statutory consultees in the planning system

There’s still time to register for two in-person events exploring the role of statutory consultees in planning. These sessions include presentations from MHCLG and statutory consultees, as well as best-practice discussions on engagement with local planning authorities.

• Statutory consultee event on transport and the historic environment planning matters - Manchester Central, Friday 16 January
• Statutory consultee event on environmental planning matters - 18 Smith Square, London, Friday 13 February

The Government’s consultation on reforming the role of statutory consultees in the planning system launched on 18 November and remains open until Tuesday 13 January 2026.

Fee setting and cost recovery masterclasses

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduces new powers for local planning authorities to set their own planning application fees and to recover full costs for other work, including Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). Doing this right means understanding the rules, achieving cost recovery, building robust hourly rates, and forecasting income with confidence. PAS will be on the road in January/February 2026, offering on-site masterclasses to help your team design and test a localised fee and cost recovery model. Find out more and express your interest

Leadership essentials – Chairs of planning committee

Due to popular demand, we’re hosting another two-day residential event for planning committee chairs and vice chairs.

Dates: Tuesday, 10 March – Wednesday, 11 March 2026
Cost: £100 per place
Focus: Proposed reforms to planning committees

For more details and to sign up to the chairs of planning committee event visit the PAS website or contact grace.collins@local.gov.uk to book a place.

Planning leadership essentials: Leading new system local plans

As part of our 2025/26 Leadership Essentials Planning offer, we’re running a two-day residential event for Council Leaders, Portfolio Holders, and Local Plan Leads.

Dates: Tuesday, 10 March – Wednesday, 11 March 2026
Location: Warwick Conferences, Coventry CV4 7SH
Cost: £100 per place
Note: These sessions are only for authorities planning under the new local plan system.

For more details and to sign up to the leading new system local plans event visit the PAS website or contact grace.collins@local.gov.uk to book a place.

NPPF Events and deep dives

We haven’t had a chance to read the NPPF yet, but it’s clear that it is part of the biggest shake up to planning for more than a decade. We are holding a series of online and in-person events to allow you to explore what it means. This will allow you to respond fully to the consultation but also start to think through what this direction of travel might mean for your council.

 
You can see the list of events on our Eventbrite page – note there is an online session for councillors and also some thematic deep-dives.

Anna Rose in conversation: Anna and Shelly Rouse discuss all things Local Plans

In the fourth of a new series of conversations, Anna Rose, Head of PAS, talks to Shelly Rouse about all things Local Plans. Shelly has also been blogging again, sharing some top tips for anyone approaching a Local Plan Regulation 19 stage in the new year.

Top tips for SDS readiness published

Strategic planning is back, with a duty for strategic planning authorities to prepare Spatial Development Strategies (SDS).

We’ve published interim Top Tips for SDS Readiness, which will form the basis of a detailed SDS Readiness Guide and Toolkit coming in February.

Thanks to Olive Branch Consulting, Catriona Riddell Associates, and Richard Wood Associates for their contributions.

Digital for directors

In partnership with MHCLG’s Digital Planning programme, we’re offering two free workshops designed to help directors navigate the digital landscape.

These sessions will demystify technology, highlight opportunities and risks, and empower leaders to make informed decisions about innovation and supplier engagement.

Dates:

• London: Afternoons of 9 and 12 February
• Manchester: Overnight residential, 9–10 March

Places are limited to eight per workshop, and your authority must be a member of the Open Digital Planning network. Contact pas@local.gov.uk to book.