Webinar Archive
B8 Warehouses - The financial, mental and physical health effects on communities
With many thanks to Astley Warehouse Action Group, STAUNCH and Protect Diseworth, this webinar was recorded on 2nd July 2026, and was shocking and worrying to watch.
Astley Warehouse Action Group described the horror of finding a mega-shed right behind their houses. The warehouse has rightly been awarded Carbuncle of the Year 2026.
STAUNCH (Save Titchmarsh, Thrapston amd the Upper Nene Countryside and Habitats) took us through their legal journey.
Protect Diseworth told us about their efforts to protect their conservation village from expansion of the East Midlands Airport Freeport.
All 3 groups shared the toil it took on their daily lives and how important it is to work together. The aim of the Webinar was to identify practical solutions, including potential changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), to better manage the impacts of B8 developments on communities, including mitigating impacts on health, wellbeing, the environment and public finances linked to such developments. While we recognise the importance of logistics infrastructure, many communities feel their concerns are being dismissed or completely ignored, despite significant consequences for them and their local environments.
CPA has written a report on the topic: Besieged by B8s
And we have a petition with Protect Diseworth calling for changes to the National Planning Policy Framework to ensure that the building of B8 warehouses and the 24/7 operation of such mega-sheds is not permitted within 500 metres of residential properties. Link to petition: Sign Here
Forest Cities, Special Economic Zones - the truth behind the loss of planning in plain sight
Recorded on 4th December 2025, we were pleased to welcome David Powell, an artist, researcher, and grassroots activist whose independent investigations into the post-Brexit landscape have uncovered the nationwide rollout of deregulated Freeports, Special Economic Zones, AI Growth Zones, and emerging charter city frameworks.
Forest Cities are likely to start popping up in SEZs, Special Economic Zones, across the UK. There were 12 Freeports and 74 SEZs signed off after Brexit and continued into this parliament. For example, Forest City’s (www.forestcity.uk) current proposal is a plan to build a city for one million people on 45,000 acres of farmland, with a 12,000 acre forest. It is planned in isolated rural countryside on the Suffolk/Cambridgeshire border, with no current public transport links. Community Planning Alliance believes its premise is fundamentally flawed. A so-called “Forest City” might sound lovely, but it would mean pouring concrete over large swathes of good arable land, ripping out mature trees and hedgerows and replacing them with saplings, the razing of one village entirely to the ground and the fact that this is the most water stressed area in the whole country. We do not believe that this is the sort of development which will solve the affordability crisis (which is multifaceted and not just about numbers) and it will only serve to exacerbate the climate crisis.
David’s talk argued that the rapid expansion of Freeports, SEZs, and AI Growth Zones represents a pathway toward charter city style governance, of which the Forest City in Suffolk may be an early test case. Through accessible research, public talks, and collaborative organising, David’s aim is to ensure that affected communities are informed, empowered, and equipped to hold policymakers to account.
Timescaping Planning and Who Loses Out - Professor Gavin Parker & Dr Mark Dobson
Recorded on 3rd June 2025, we were delighted to welcome Prof Gavin Parker and Dr Mark Dobson, from the Planning Department at the University of Reading. We discussed why the powers-that-be seek to remove ‘obstructionists’ and ‘nay-sayers’ from the planning process in their headlong rush to get things built fast. Does this approach result in the right developments in the right places.
Gavin and Mark presented some of their recent work discussing time, speed and delay in planning from a critical perspective. This included how different actors operate different times and how the planning system is ‘timescaped’ to suit some actors. This is set in the context of planning reform and political rhetoric that invokes blockers and delay. The talk is of interest to community activists as it sets up a useful counter-point to recent and ongoing pressure to realise ‘project speed’.
Prof Gavin Parker has been Professor of Planning Studies at the University of Reading for 16 years and he has a long history of research and commentary regarding community involvement in planning stretching back to the 1990s. Notably his work on neighbourhood planning has indicated the need for support and accessibility to be ensured in fostering co-production and meaningful engagement. He has published seven books and over 125 research papers and reports. Recent research includes work for Nuffield on social justice and hyper-local planning and also on time in and for planning, which led to the recent publication of Slow Planning? Timescapes, Power and Democracy (Policy Press, 2024) with Mark Dobson.
Mark Dobson is Lecturer in Planning and Development at the University of Reading. Amongst other research on participation and the planning system, including on SCIs and pre-apps, he has just completed research for the RTPI on ‘Extensions of Time’ in development control and is co-author, with Gavin Parker, of Slow Planning? Timescapes, Power and Democracy (Policy Press, 2024).
Planning Inquiries, Judicial Reviews, NSIPs for Community Groups - Peter Cruickshank & Michael Bowes (6 Pump Court)
With many thanks to Peter Cruickshank and Michael Bowes, both barristers at 6 Pump Court Chambers. This webinar was recorded on 1st April 2025, and was extremely well attended, showing the interest of community groups in the topic.
Peter Cruickshank is a barrister practising in planning and environmental law. Peter recently represented a community group as a Rule 6 Party for a planning inquiry which lasted several weeks. The multi-million pound proposal was for large film studio development on greenbelt countryside, and issues included impact on local residents, flood risk, and transport safety. Peter has also recently represented a community group in a two-day judicial review at the Royal Courts of Justice. The claim was to the grant of permission for a substantial bridge being built into a nature park. The grounds of challenge included Environmental Impact Assessment, the application of the local plan, and democratic accountability. Peter is joint editor of key chapters of Butterworths Planning Law Service, including planning policy and the plan making process, and he is a contributor to Garner’s Environmental Law. Peter is also a Co-Convenor of the UKELA Litigation Working Party, where he recently gave a talk to members about the latest developments in environmental judicial review.
Dr Michael Bowes is a barrister at 6 Pump Court. He has extensive experience as a solicitor, across environmental, planning, utilities, energy, and competition law. He has particular expertise in water law. His career history includes working with Eversheds Sutherland LLP and BCLP LLP as a senior regulatory specialist focusing on environmental, planning, competition and water law.
The New NPPF: Targets on Steroids, Infrastructure and Affordable Housing on Placebos
Recorded on 4th September 2024, CPA’s team presented a summary of our thoughts on the NPPF proposals. The new government has proposed significant changes to planning in England, including a new methodology for calculating housing targets. In addition to the new housing targets (370k p.a) in the NPPF, there will be new towns.
A taskforce has been set up and we have written to Sir Michael Lyons, who heads it, asking for a meeting and setting out the many pitfalls involved with planning and building new towns.
Are Community Land Trusts a Solution for you? - Tom Chance, CEO Community Land Trust Network
Recorded on 14th April 2024, this presentation by Tom Chance, Chief Executive of the Community Land Trust Network gave an illuminating and positive description of how CLTs work and how they might be if interest to local groups involved in planning and housing.
https://www.communitylandtrusts.org.uk/
CLTs are democratic, non profit organisations that own and develop land for the benefit of the community, typically providing affordable homes, community gardens, civic buildings, pubs, shops, shared workspace, energy schemes and conservation landscapes. They are set up as community organisations, run by ordinary people, who want to make a difference to their local community, putting control of assets into the hands of local people. They can be set up by the community or a landowner, developer or council.
The new NPPF and LURA - what do they mean for community campaigners? - Catriona Riddell
With many thanks to Catriona Riddell, recorded on 5th April 2024, this webinar covered the long-awaited new version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which was published in December 2023. Also last year, the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act (formerly known as the LURB) was enacted. What do they both mean for community campaigners?
National Government vs Local Government - Planning and Development Functions - how it all works?
Recorded on 7th September 2023, CPA’s Nick Burton presents a view of the workings of government to try and improve a campaigner’s ability to influence decisions. This includes government departments, their different ministers and senior civil servants, including Treasury, Cabinet Office, and Spending Reviews, and how they are held to account, including via Parliamentary Questions, MP letters and Select Committees. Finally it covers APPGs.
In the second part of the webinar, CPA’s Simon Thomas focusses on the impacts of the national planning frameworks on local decision making. It covers how you might effectively lobby and influence the County/Unitary, District/Borough, and Town/Village Council Members and Officers to achieve appropriate outcomes, balancing the different political, planning, and personal elements with their respective weights in the decision-making process.
Nick Burton spent nearly 40 years working in and around government, including the Cabinet Office, Home, Defence, Business, and Education Departments, plus the NHS, local government and the armed services. He has been part of the successful StopTheArc Group that persuaded the government to cancel the Oxford Cambridge Expressway and withdraw the 1 million housing plans, and forced local government leaders to scrap the Arc Leaders Group. He is currently campaigning against the “Arc by Stealth” as East West Rail’s business case is also dependent on large numbers of unneeded houses of which 95% will be for car drivers.
Simon Thomas has worked in the advertising industry for 45 years in commercial roles. For the last 20 years he has been with a large Times 100 / NYSE holding company in global senior management roles. An ‘activist’ local government councillor for a decade until recently, he previously had 15 years campaigning locally for the right homes, in the right places, at the right prices, across dozens of major sites and many more garden-grabbing cul-de-sacs. His scope quickly expanded to District and County wide campaigns against inappropriate planning applications. He believes in establishing and building relationships with key stakeholders, such as Council Leaders and Cabinet members, Executive and Service Officers, Residents Groups, and even Developers and Consultants. Securing many refusals at District Planning Committees, with dozens of appeals dismissed after giving evidence and debating planning policy with applicants, indicates he knows something about the NPPF, Local Plans, and the difference between politicians’ sound-bites and applicable policies. He is on the Hampshire CPRE Planning Policy Group and is an active national team member of CPA.
Making sense of the Examination in Public - Chris Katkowski KC
Recorded on 8th June 2023, many thanks to renowned planning barrister, Chris Katkowksi KC of Kings Chambers, who gave us the benefit of his many years attending examinations.
Chris covered:
- Why it is not about whether an approach is the “Best” approach, but whether it is an “Appropriate” approach
- What is a “Reasonable” Alternative
- What makes a Plan “Sound”
- Why amendments are only needed if they make a Plan “Sound”
- What is “Justified” evidence
- Why some statements within the National Planning Policy Framework should not be taken literally
- The status of various parts of the Plan, the Policies themselves, the supporting text (the reasoned justification) and the supporting documents (the evidence)
Chris was the planning lawyer appointed by the Government to the Task Force which drew up the proposals for sweeping changes to the planning system set out in the Planning for the Future White Paper published by the Government in August 2020. He has also worked with the Government as an adviser and has supported training for the Planning Inspectorate. In addition, Chris has not only topped Planning magazine’s annual survey as the No. 1 planning KC a record 12 times (more than anyone else in the history of the survey), but his expertise has also been specifically recognised in a number of publications.
Book Launch - Property, Planning and Protest - Quintin Bradley
Book Launch, recorded on 20th April 2023: “Property, Planning and Protest – the contentious politics of housing supply”, by Quintin Bradley, Senior Lecturer in Planning and Housing at Leeds Beckett University
The first book to give serious attention to the concerns of amenity and community planning groups over unregulated housing development. Hear from the author and an expert panel. Chaired by Sue Brownill, professor in Urban Policy and Governance at Oxford Brookes University
Panel Discussion:
Rosie Pearson, chair and founder of the Community Planning Alliance
Clare Symonds, chair and founder of Planning Democracy
Andy Inch, senior lecturer in Urban Studies and Planning at University of Sheffield
Michael Edwards, lecturer at the Bartlett School of Planning and founding member of Just Space
How to Challenge Developers' Viability claims
Considering Judicial Review
- Grounds for JR including case law
- Minimising cost exposure
- Time limits, pre-action letters and the process in the High Court
- How objectors can engage effectively in the planning application process
- What happens if your JR succeeds
The NPPF Consultation - what do you need to know?
- Rosie Pearson, CPA Chair, who introduced the consultation and then focused on the good, the bad and the missing
- Gareth Capner, Planning Consultant, who highlighted some key points about the ‘Standard Method’
- Caroline Dibden, CPA Committee Secretary, who covered what the development sector and others are saying about the proposed changes
- Catriona Riddell, Planning Consultant, who focused on the removal of the ‘Duty to Cooperate’ and why strategic planning is good for communities.
What happens after Planning Permission is granted?
Land Ownership and Land Reform: a community planning issue
- 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
'BioBlitzing' - the whys & wherefores
Air Quality Targets - the Government's proposals
The new Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill - a review
Government's Environmental Targets consultation - what you need to know
- air quality,
- water,
- biodiversity,
- resource efficiency and waste reduction.
All about Solar 'Farms'
Housing Need or Housing Demand - what's the difference & why does it matter?
- David Madden – London School of Economics
- Peter Bill – Property Week & author of ‘Broken Homes’
- Jackie Copley & Andrew Wood – CPRE
- Merle Gering – FOI campaigner
How to fight an unsuitable 'Garden Community'
Meet a Planning Inspector
- 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.
Planning, the Tilted Balance and the Property Lobby
- Bob Colenutt – Author of ‘The Property Lobby’;
- Constanze Bell – Planning Barrister, King’s Chambers;
- Emma Lancaster – Director, Quod Planning Consultancy.
Considering Opportunities for Local Measuring & Monitoring of Air Pollution (Session 2)
- Professor Stephen Peckham, who helped us to understand why we should be undertaking local monitoring of air pollution;
- Graham Turnbull, who provided a very practical demonstration, showing us how to build our own air quality monitors;
- Mike Josephs, who talked about rural air quality monitoring and the concept of the Smart Village.
How to become a Councillor (and why)
- Joanne Beavis – Parish Councillor, District Councillor & former County Councillor
- Tom Walsh – Parish Councillor, District Councillor & former Town Planner
- Simon Thomas – CPA Committee Member, campaigner & former Parish Councillor
Engaging Communities in the Air Pollution/Air Quality Debate (Session 1)
- Andrew Jackson – Head of the Defra/DfT Joint Air Quality Task Force
- Professor Roy Harrison (OBE, FRS) – University of Birmingham
- Heather Henry (RN, BSc (Hons) Nursing, MBA, Queen’s Nurse) – Founder of Breathchamps
Into The Lions' Den - Preparing for Examination of a Local Plan
- Caroline Dibden, campaigner & CPA Secretary, who has survived the experience and won battles;
- Naomi Luhde-Thomson, planning expert at Rights : Community : Action.
Environmental Protection - a poor second to 'Build, Build, Build'?
- Lorayne Woodend Wall – Planning Officer at Friends of the Lake District
- Jonathan Easton – Planning and Environmental Barrister at Kings Chambers
- Faye Durkin – Head of Ecology at Ecus Ltd
- Duncan Hartley – Director of Rural Solutions
Biodiversity Net Gain - problems & solutions
- Sophus zu Ermgassen, based at Kent University, carried out research for his PhD which explored the ecological outcomes of mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain using evidence from early-adopter jurisdictions in England. He told us what he discovered … and what community groups should look out for.
- Max Heaver, of DEFRA’s Net Gain Policy and Legislation, Land Use Division, spoke to us about his work and then took questions from the audience.
- Rosie Pearson, Chairman of the Community Planning Alliance, talked through the responses to the CPA survey – whether people like BNG or loathe it, and what suggestions they have to improve it.
How to deal with the press
What next for Public Engagement in Planning?
- Quintin Bradley – Senior Lecturer, Leeds Beckett University
- Huw Ellis – Policy Director, Town and Country Planning Association
- Bob Pritchard – Legal Director, Shoosmiths
- Rosie Pearson – Founder, Community Planning Alliance
- Naomi Luhde-Thompson – Chief Executive Director, Rights: Community: Action
Turning consultation into participation
All about Neighbourhood Plans
Housing supply, affordability, and access to land
- 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
Do you have or know of any resources that should be included in this library? If so, please contact us today!