I’m writing this on one of the first really cold days of the season. It makes it natural to think about Christmas, and what we’re told is going to be the traditional gift of a big package of planning reforms. We have lots of dates earmarked through January and February, but nothing to book yourself onto just yet.

It's good news that the well-regarded Pathways to Planning project is widening its scope to include other built environment professionals. More details below.

For all other planning support, please look at at the PAS webpages, join a PAS network, or head to our knowledge hub.

Anna Rose
Head of PAS

Chief Planners Conference – spaces remaining

PAS will be hosting the annual Conference for Chief Planners on 26-27 February 2026. The conference sessions will be held at City Hall in Leicester.

The conference will focus on delivering change in a time of uncertainty. The agenda includes high-profile guest speakers from Homes England, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the Planning Inspectorate (PINS), and a walking tour around the city, and a choice of workshops. We will cover the food for both days and accommodation for the Thursday evening. This event is for local authority chief planners only.

Places are limited and you are advised to reserve your ticket now: PAS Chief Planners Conference

Events - Statutory Consultee reform

We are holding two in-person events to discuss the role of statutory consultees in the planning system, specifically those that are governed by the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

These events will be an opportunity for some best practice discussions on working across organisations and will include presentations by MHCLG, local councils and statutory consultees.

You can sign up for the following events now:

• Statutory consultee event on transport and the historic environment planning matters - Friday 16 January 2026, Manchester Central
• Statutory consultee event on environmental planning matters - Friday 13 February 1016, 18 Smith Square, London

The Government’s consultation on reforming the role of statutory consultees in the planning system was launched on 18 November 2025 and will remain open until Tuesday 13 January 2026.

Pathways to Planning – Applications open now

Local planning authorities, statutory consultees and councils hosting Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) can now apply to hire graduate planners and graduate surveyors to work in a wide variety of built environment roles through the Pathways to Planning programme. 

Graduates will start work in September 2026 and receive a bursary to fund their postgraduate study on an accredited course. Local authorities hiring graduates to work as planners can also access partial salary bursaries through the application form, with first awards intended to be made before Christmas. 

To apply, or find out more, visit Information for employers or email emma.roberts@local.gov.uk. 

New support offer: Local authority nature recovery toolkit – delivery pilots

What can your council services do to support nature recovery? Our Nature Recovery Toolkit for Local Authorities is designed for local authorities to use 'in-house' across the council to build commitment and action for nature recovery through their own service delivery. It is a process that springboards from a cross service in-person workshop.

We want to test the toolkit and support a selection of councils in order to build case studies to show how it can be tailored and delivered as a ‘self-service’ toolkit.

Interested? Please complete this expression of interest (EOI) form to arrange an initial exploratory chat: PAS nature recovery toolkit for local authorities - EOI for pilots

Anna Rose in conversation: Talking LGR with Steve Bambrick, Director for Growth at Buckinghamshire Council

Join Anna Rose, Head of the Planning Advisory Service, in conversation with Steve Bambrick, Corporate Director for Planning, Growth and Sustainability at Buckinghamshire Council. 

They dive into the challenges and lessons from Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), including moving to a single unitary council, navigating COVID disruptions, and reshaping planning services. 

Steve shares insights on governance, culture change, committee structures, and the journey toward an award-winning planning service. 

If you’re a planner or council leader preparing for LGR, this discussion is packed with practical advice and real-world experience. 

Strategic planning readiness top tips

As part of our PAS Strategic Planning support, we've commissioned a Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) readiness guide and toolkit which is due to be published at the end of January 2026. 

The work is being led by a consortia of Olive Branch Consulting, Catriona Riddell Associates and Richard Wood Associates. It will be a practical guide with digital tools based on seven identified themes that will help you decide what to do now and what can wait. The seven themes are:

• role assessment
• evidence and data audit
• engagement strategy
• delivery and governance
• digital and innovation
• skills and resources and
• project delivery plan.

In meantime, we will publishing linked Top Tips for SDS Readiness on our website at the end of November.

How Local Plans and Spatial Development Strategies interact?

PAS has been holding workshops between a range of combined /upper tier authorities and local planning authorities to find out how they are managing the interaction between strategic and local plans to look for good practice tips. We aim to share these in December.

MHCLG recognises this is an area where guidance is needed and will be publishing this in the coming month.

Natural England air pollution advice

PAS held a webinar on 20 October 2025 to discuss the new Natural England standing advice on air pollution.

You can find a recording of the Natural England webinar and the downloadable presentation on the PAS website. This includes a response to the key questions posed at the webinar.

Planning and sustainability: Utilising the planning system to shift toward net zero

This LGA roundtable took place on Thursday 23 October 2025 with presentations from City of Lincoln, Lancaster City Council and Liz from PAS.

You can read about the roundtable and view presentations from past sessions on the Sustainability hubs upcoming events and roundtables page.

Development Management (DM) Network

PAS has a development management network where we share advice and allow participants to seek peer support for issues they are facing in development management. We have over 60 people signed up so far and more are joining all the time. 

We have lots of news coming up on planning reforms in development management and best practice we are preparing on our website. If you want to join this network simply email us on pas@local.gov.uk and we will add you to the group.