As you read this month’s update, the Planning Advisory Service team is in Leicester for our annual Chief Planners Conference. This year’s theme, Delivering change in a time of uncertainty, brings together colleagues from across the country to explore reorganisation, strategic development, development management reform, local plans and the digital revolution. We will share presentations and photos on our website shortly.

Alongside the conference, we are finalising our programme for the next three years. There is plenty to look forward to, including new opportunities to get involved and tailored support for local authorities. Watch this space – there is much more ahead.

Anna Rose, Head of PAS

Last call: Leadership essentials – New system local plans

PAS is delivering a Leadership Essentials councillor training session at Warwick Conferences on 10–11 March 2026. The two-day residential course, Leading the Local Plan, is designed for leaders and portfolio holders whose authorities will be producing a local plan under the new plan system. It focuses on the key elements of the new system and how to provide effective political leadership.

The cost is £100 per place, which includes accommodation on the main night, meals and all learning materials.

To find out more or to book a place, please contact grace.collins@local.gov.uk

Final call: Pathways to Planning graduates

This is the final call for expressions of interest for this year’s Pathways to Planning cohort who will start with you in September 2026. The programme selects high-achieving candidates from a large national pool and creates 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. Local authorities with high housing delivery or local plan needs may also be eligible for salary bursaries of up to £40,000. Authorities facing hiring freezes may be able to access enhanced financial support.

Find out more and apply via the programme application form on the LGA website today.

New toolkit: Project managing the local plan

With the December 2026 submission deadline approaching, adopting a robust project management approach is more important than ever. Local planning authorities proposing to submit local plans under the legacy system will need to stay on track and maximise every opportunity to produce a sound plan.

PAS has developed a Project Managing the Local Plan toolkit to support authorities planning to submit by December 2026. The toolkit helps authorities to develop or validate programme plans, map key milestones and interdependencies, assess risks to delivery timescales, and make informed decisions about the achievability of submission.

Webinar: New written representations procedure

PAS is hosting a webinar on the new regulations introducing an expedited written representations appeal procedure, which come into force on 1 April 2026. The session will cover the key changes and practical implications for local planning authorities.

The webinar will take place on 17 March 2026 from 2.00–3.30pm. Register via Eventbrite.

NPPF consultation events

PAS has been running a series of events and deep dives on the proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework. If you were unable to attend, recordings from several sessions are available on our website, including a newly added recording on the design consultation.

Planning committee reforms: events coming soon

Following Royal Assent of the Planning and Infrastructure Act in late 2025, the Government has committed to consult on draft regulations to implement the national scheme of delegation as part of planning committee reforms. PAS will be hosting events to support discussion of the draft regulations once the consultation is launched. Further details will follow shortly.

Webinar: What’s next for Biodiversity Net Gain?

PAS is hosting an overview webinar with colleagues from MHCLG and DEFRA on the Government’s responses to the May 2025 consultations on improving BNG implementation. The session will cover minor, medium and brownfield development, NSIPs, and the proposed targeted exemption for residential brownfield development.

The BNG webinar will take place on Monday 23 March 2026 from 1.30–3.00pm. Register via Eventbrite.

Support offer: Nature recovery workshops

Following the delivery of six successful one-day nature recovery workshops, PAS can support a limited number of additional authorities from May 2026. You might even end up as one of our 'good practice' case studies.

If you are interested in hosting a workshop, please complete the short expression-of-interest form. Authorities that have already submitted do not need to apply again.

Research and surveys

MHCLG’s 2026 Planning Skills and Capacity Survey will launch in spring 2026 and will now be delivered via DELTA, making it quicker and easier for local authorities to complete. 160 councils have already signed up. If your authority hasn’t yet responded, or if your details need updating, please email:
LPA.SkillsSurvey@communities.gov.uk

MHCLG is seeking Local Planning Authorities with adopted authority led design codes to take part in case study interviews on their experience implementing and using their code. They are looking for both positive and challenging examples. If interested, please send a short summary (up to 250 words) outlining your experience, by 6 March, to:

• matthew.prescott@communities.gov.uk
• sirdeep.singh@communities.gov.uk
• alice.pebody@communities.gov.uk

PAS is partnering with the Design Network to develop national training on embedding design and placemaking in strategic visioning for growth. You can help shape the programme by completing a short five minute survey

From our partners

These events and resources from partner organisations may be of interest to your planning teams:

• Upcoming webinar: UPRNs The best kept secret in local government:: Unlocking revenue with location data – 18 March 2026 at 14.00-15.30. Explore how linking address and street data across services can uncover missed revenue, speed up repayments, and improve cross department efficiency. Rachel Antcliffe from Leeds City Council will outline the value of unique property and address identifiers, and how integrated systems enhance accuracy in council tax and business rates.
• Some of you will be eyeing up the implications of local government reorganisation over the coming months and years. The LGA has just published an LGR toolkit that collates a lot of learning across the whole organisation. You can also see a few reflections on how planning fits into the devolution agenda on our web page.
• The Department for Transport and leading Chargepoint Operators are running a session for planners to come along and hear about all things EV Infrastructure: What it is? Why is it important? And how can the planning system support EV rollout? Sign up for the virtual teach on 10 March 2026 at 11.00am-12.30pm.