Planning Resources
Socrates said:
“By far the greatest and most admirable form of wisdom is that needed to plan and beautify cities and human communities.”
National Planning Policy Framework
The most important planning document for any campaigner is the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). You can access the most recent approved version (December 2024) by clicking on the link below.
The government is currently consulting on the latest draft version of the NPPF, and it has significant changes and consequences for planning and the natural environment. The consultation and draft can be found at the link below. The deadline is March 10th 2026.
Housing and Planning - courtesy of the House of Commons Library
The House of Commons Library produces useful briefings on housing and planning matters, ahead of parliamentary debates
The Planning and Infrastructure Act - courtesy of GOV.UK
The Planning and Infrastructure Act was first introduced as a Bill in the House of Commons in March 2025, and alongside other environmental and wildlife organisations in the Better Planning Coalition we worked hard with both MPs and Peers to try to improve many worrying aspects. It received Royal assent on the December 18th 2025.
We all called on the government to protect and regenerate the countryside, protect local democracy, and encourage the sustainable use of land, particularly through recycling brownfield land – previously developed land that’s no longer being used – for homes and infrastructure. Unfortunately many of our proposed amendments were not accepted by the government.
The Act brought in Spatial Development Strategies (SDS) and Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs). We are concerned that the EDPs may result in ‘cash to trash’ scenarios where developers pay to damage the environment locally. Habitats and species cannot just be picked up and moved.
Freeports - courtesy of GOV.UK
These maps show the proposed Freeport locations in the UK, their outer boundaries and the Freeport tax sites within them.
Investment Zones - courtesy of GOV.UK
More information on the Government’s proposed Investment Zones. We are very concerned about the proposals to sweep aside planning & environmental rules in these 38 zones:
Planning for the future - courtesy of GOV.UK
Controversial white paper launched in 2020, when Robert Jenrick was in charge at the Ministry. The proposals were not taken forward at that time, and the then government instead moved forward with the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act.
Planning for Nature Toolkit - courtesy of the RSPB
Lots of useful information about the planning system and how to respond to planning applications.
Guide to community rights, environment and planning laws - courtesy of Friends of the Earth
”Learn about the legal and planning system and find out how you can have your say on decisions about your local area.” A complete beginner’s guide from Friends of the Earth.
Six tests for planning - courtesy of CPRE & the Better Planning Coalition
CPA is part of a group of more than 20 environmental charities and organisations, jointly called the Better Planning Coalition. The group has devised 6 tests against which the Government will be scored red, amber and green on any proposed planning reforms. Read more about the tests and how they will be scored by clicking on the link below.
NPPF 2021 Campaign Tool - courtesy of Community Planning Alliance
CPA provided campaign tool, designed to ensure that you ‘tick all the boxes’ when you respond to a Local Plan or planning application.
Planning Appeals: Procedural Guide - courtesy of GOV.UK
Government guide outlining the responsibilities of each party and the roles they have in the planning appeal process.
CPA Webinar: Meet a Planning Inspector
Campaign groups operating within the planning system will, at some stage, be very likely called to attend a Local Plan examination or an appeal hearing. In that situation, there will be only one arbiter: a planning inspector.
It can be daunting for community representatives to attend these hearings. They will be faced with rows of planning officers, consultants and lawyers – all experts in their fields and for whom appeals hearings are bread and butter.
We were therefore delighted that the Planning Inspectorate lent us an inspector for our webinar on March 3rd 2022!
Some of the subjects she advised us on are:
- how community groups should prepare;
- how best to present your evidence – both in writing and in person;
- and what are the most important do’s and don’ts.
LBU Webinar: Housing supply, affordability, and access to land
Chaired by Dr Quintin Bradley, Senior Lecturer at Leeds Beckett University Planning School, this webinar was recorded on May 20th 2021.
The speakers included:
- Phil Collings – Head of Disposals, Northern Division, Homes England
- Adam Brannen – Head of Regeneration, Leeds City Council
- Rosie Pearson – Founder, Community Planning Alliance
- Daniel Starkey – Associate at Spawforths
LBU Webinar: Housing Need or Housing Demand - what's the difference & why does it matter?
An excellent webinar from Leeds Beckett University Planning School, recorded on March 24th 2022, with guest speakers:
- David Madden – London School of Economics
- Peter Bill – Property Week & author of ‘Broken Homes’
- Jackie Copley & Andrew Wood – CPRE
- Merle Gering – FOI campaigner
LBU Webinar: Planning, the Tilted Balance and the Property Lobby
Planning for housing supply in England is governed by a presumption in favour of sustainable development, otherwise known as the ‘tilted balance’. The tilted balance makes the proving of harm that might result from a development much more onerous. Has the balance between public and property interests in planning tilted too far?
Recorded on February 24th 2022, this Leeds Beckett University Planning School webinar was Chaired by Dr Quintin Bradley, Senior Lecturer in Planning and Housing Studies at Leeds Beckett University. With guest speakers:
- Bob Colenutt – Author of ‘The Property Lobby’;
- Constanze Bell – Planning Barrister, King’s Chambers;
- Emma Lancaster – Director, Quod Planning Consultancy.
CPA Webinar: The new Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill - a review
On May 26th 2022, Naomi Luhde-Thompson (Rights Community Action) and Hugh Ellis (TCPA) joined the Community Planning Alliance to provide a review of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which was due to have its second reading on June 8th (2022).
Naomi and Hugh talked about what is in the Bill, what is proposed for change in the current system, how local democracy is expected to be impacted, focusing especially on your Right to be Heard, what is due to change in terms of environmental protections and outcomes and more.
LBU Webinar: Land Ownership and land reform: a community planning issue
Filmed on September 15th 2022 and Chaired by Dr Quintin Bradley, Senior Lecturer in Planning and Housing Studies at Leeds Beckett University, today’s speakers included:
- Clare Symonds – Planning Democracy
- Andy Wightman – Author of “Who Owns Scotland?”
- Laurie Macfarlane – Co-author of “Rethinking the Economics of Land and Housing”
- Kate Ashbrook – General Secretary of the Open Spaces Society
CPA Webinar: What happens after Planning Permision is granted?
Just because planning permission is granted, it does not mean your campaign can stand down. There will be conditions to monitor, section 106 agreements to keep an eye on, and developer transgressions to deal with.
This can become a full-time campaign in its own right, as our speakers explained. Both are actively involved with a large development post planning permission.
This session, filmed on November 17th 2022, was chaired by CPA Management Committee member, Simon Thomas, a Hampshire-based parish councillor and long-standing campaigner.
Our first speaker, Claire Baker, is Chair of Owlthorpe Fields Action Group in Sheffield, which has been campaigning for several years. Sadly, planning permission for part of the site was granted and now Claire and her colleagues are busy holding the developer to account as the build moves forward.
Our second speaker, Daniel Fulton, serves as director of Fews Lane Consortium, which campaigns on planning and environmental issues in Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire. He told us about the many problems arising during the build-out of Northstowe, the United Kingdom’s largest new town since Milton Keynes.
Essential viewing for all campaigners who want to understand what developers really have in mind when they submit a planning application – and what you can do about it.
Do you have or know of any resources that should be included in this library? If so, please contact us today!