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Webinar ArchiveThe Community Planning Alliance has been hosting webinars since its very beginning, as part of our mission to provide support and training for the many grassroots campaigners around the country.
Details of our upcoming webinars can be found on our Events Calendar, but if you are unable to attend on the day then the recording will be listed here shortly after.
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NEW 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.
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.
Chris Katkowski KC - Making sense of the Examination in Public
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:
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.
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.
Link: youtu.be/0tgFPAduwAU
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
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
We are all familiar with stories of developers claiming that their development is not able to provide promised infrastructure or affordable housing, using 'viability' as the excuse. Communities lose out: the housing is built, but without the benefits promised at the outset.
We were therefore delighted when Murray Lloyd, a leading practitioner in viability who regularly acts as an expert witness in planning appeal cases, agreed to help us get a better understanding of what is one of the least understood areas of planning: viability appraisals.
Recorded on March 21st 2023, this session revealed how developers 'game the system' (and they most definitely do) and what the tricks of the trade are. It also demystified viability appraisals and told us what we can challenge and how best to do it.
This really is one of the most important webinars for campaigners to view if we are ever to redress the balance in the system between developers (who deliberately ensure the system is complex), and communities/councils (who need to scrutinise proposals to ensure best outcomes are delivered).
You can also download the presentation pack, which includes all the slides from the event.
Considering Judicial Review
Recorded on March 2nd 2023, this webinar is essential viewing if you, or your campaign group, is considering a Judicial Review.
Our speaker, Karen Phull, a partner in the Farrer & Co Planning and Environment team, gave us an overview of a Judicial Review (JR) of a Council’s decision to grant planning permission.
The session included:
- 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?
Our first webinar of 2023, held on February 7th, was designed to help us consider the proposed changes to the NPPF, as outlined in the Government consultation running until March 2nd.
Our four excellent speakers were:
- 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.
For those wishing to submite a response to this consultation, NPPF tracked changes can be found here, and Government's description of changes can be found here.
In addition, we have created an online template with all of the consultation questions listed. We suggest you SAVE it onto your own drive and share with anyone who is writing your group's response. You can then create columns for other people allowing you to compare responses. You might find this easier than answering one question at a time in the Government survey, although you will subsequently have to copy the answers over.
You can also download the presentation pack, which includes all the slides from the event.
What happens after Planning Permission 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.
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
'BioBlitzing' - the whys & wherefores
This webinar, recorded on September 6th 2022, focused on how communities can undertake their own 'BioBlitz'. (An intense period of biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within a designated area.)
The webinar commenced with Lisa Phipps (Keep Nethercote Rural) sharing what she has learned about recording bird and wildlife sightings. Lisa covered a range of points, including the record centres, why recording is important and much more.
Lisa was followed by Claire Baker and Sandra Fretwell-Smith (both from the Owlthorpe Fields Action Group), who shared their knowledge about planning and executing a community BioBlitz, including recording the data using iNaturalist and recording systems, identifying species and presenting results.
Air Quality Targets - the Government's proposals
New Air Quality targets set out by the Government, for consultation until 27th June (2022), were discussed at our webinar on June 9th 2022.
The presentations were led by Delyth Dyne, Deputy Head Air Quality and Industrial Emissions at Defra, and Tim Dexter, Campaigns Manager, Asthma and Lung UK.
Delyth leads DEFRA's work on National Air Quality Strategy, PM2.5 targets and the Air Quality Management Framework for Local Authorities. She outlined the background, telling us why these targets and timescale have been proposed.
Tim focussed on the health impacts of poor air quality and advocated for more ambitious policies to tackle the health effects of toxic air.
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.
Government's Environmental Targets consultation - what you need to know
New environmental targets have been set out by Government in an important consultation, with particular focus on:
- air quality,
- water,
- biodiversity,
- resource efficiency and waste reduction.
This webinar, recorded on April 28th 2022, was designed to help you learn more about these new Environmental Targets, and how you can have your say before the consultation ends on 11th May. Our speakers were:
- Richard Benwell, CEO of the Wildlife and Countryside Link
Richard told us why he believes the Government must aim higher, and why this eight week consultation is so important for the future of the environment and nature.
- Delyth Dyne, Deputy Head of Air Quality and Industrial Emissions at DEFRA.
Delyth leads DEFRA's work on National Air Quality Strategy, PM2.5 targets and the Air Quality Management Framework for Local Authorities. She explained why these targets and timescale have been proposed.
All about solar 'farms'
Solar promoters are contacting farmers and offering them far more money than they could earn growing food. Yet the cumulative impact on the environment, biodiversity and food security is not understood. Nor are the risks of batteries being taken into account.
At this event, jointly hosted with the Solar Campaign Alliance on April 21st 2022, we heard from three expert speakers:
- Professor Michael Alder, who gave us an overview of the Solar Campaign Alliance, and discussed national food security and the biodiversity impact of solar farms.
Michael is a Professor (Emeritus) of Rural Environment at Essex University, FRAgS, DL, and former principal of (the now known as) Writtle University College for 20 years.
- Richard Haynes BSc, who talked about the impact of solar farms on landscape and heritage settings.
Richard obtained a degree in Estate Management from University of Reading before becoming a Chartered Surveyor. His career was spent in private practice but he worked almost exclusively for central and local government, regularly appearing as an expert witness in planning inquiries. He is currently a Trustee of CPRE Essex.
- Dr Edmund Fordham, who told us all we need to know about battery storage.
Edmund is a a physicist and engineer in the energy industries, CPhys, CEng, FInstP.
Housing Need or Housing Demand - what's the difference & why does it matter?
Another 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
How to fight an unsuitable 'Garden Community'
'Garden Communities' are all the rage with developers. They allow the presentation of developments that are much, much larger than normal as something different and special. They invariably are not.
Modern Garden Communities are sprawling, car-dependent and lacking in the 'community' required by the name. Often, the promised infrastructure is not deliverable and affordable homes are few and far between. The 'garden community' label allows developers to propose huge numbers of houses in locations that are often completely unsuitable.
The sheer size of these proposals can make them seem daunting and unstoppable. They are likely to be presented to communities as a 'done deal'. However that is not the case!
In this webinar, recorded on March 17th 2022, we heard from two north Essex campaigners, Richard Pavitt and Rosie Pearson, whose campaign groups saw off five enormous garden communities proposals. The largest being for 24,000 homes.
Richard and Rosie explained what they learned during their campaigns and shared their top tips on how to get behind developer promises and oppose an unsuitable garden community.
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.
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.
Considering Opportunities for Local Measuring & Monitoring of Air Pollution (Session 2)
The Community Planning Alliance held the second of three planned events aimed at engaging communities more actively in the air pollution/air quality debate on Tuesday 8th February 2022, continuing the (non-polluting) journey to take action to reduce the harmful contaminants in our air. This second session focused on increasing local measuring and monitoring of air pollution and how communities can get involved.
It was, once again, a very interesting and informative webinar, with three great guest speakers:
- 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.
Their contact details can be found in the presentation pack, which includes all the slides from the event.
How to become a Councillor (and why)
Recorded on 27th January 2022, this inspiring webinar focuses on why Local politics are so important and how you can become a Councillor and make a difference in your community. With guest speakers:
- 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)
The Community Planning Alliance has been supported by Andrew Jackson, Head of the Government's Joint Air Quality Unit (DfT/DEFRA) to develop a series of short events aimed at actively engaging member organisations and other community representatives in discussions about next steps in the campaign to drive improvements to air quality in the UK.
At the first of three sessions, recorded on December 7th 2021, our three distinguished speakers were:
- 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
We discussed the debate to date, on targets for air pollution, the complexities, the range of pollutants, the impact on our health and wellbeing, and much more.
Please Note: You can also view/download the slide presentation that accompanied this webinar by clicking here.
Into The Lions' Den - Preparing for Examination of a Local Plan
Examination in Public is the end game for campaigners, often after years of consultations and plan-making. Once you get to the ‘Reg 19’ consultation, or Draft Submission Plan, then you have only one audience: a Planning Inspector.
Getting your consultation response right at this stage is crucial because it determines whether you get a seat at the table or not. Preparation for the hearings is key – you need to think about hearing statements, your team and your strategy. This webinar, recorded on November 18th 2021, will give you top-tips for this all-important stage of the planning process, with input from:
- Caroline Dibden, campaigner & CPA Secretary, who has survived the experience and won battles;
- Naomi Luhde-Thomson, planning expert at Rights : Community : Action.
This webinar is intended to help level the playing field. EiP’s are full of barristers and planning consultants. We hope it will help you to go into your Examination confident and fully prepared.
Environmental Protection - a poor second to 'Build, Build, Build'?
There is increasing concern that environmental protection policies in the planning system have been compromised by the perceived imperatives of housing supply. An 82% increase in the volume of residential development approved in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty suggests that protection is undermined. Recently the methodology for measuring Biodiversity Net Gain in development has come under criticism. More alarming still is the long-term deterioration in 14 out of 42 key biodiversity indicators. On November 11th 2021, our panel reviewed the evidence and shared their expertise on this hot topic.
Our speakers were:
- 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
Session chaired by Dr Quintin Bradley, Senior Lecturer in Planning and Housing at Leeds Beckett University, with an introduction by Rosie Pearson from the Community Planning Alliance.
Biodiversity Net Gain - problems & solutions
Recorded on November 4th 2021, this helpful webinar includes contributions from:
- 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
In this webinar, recorded on October 12th 2021, journalist & writer, Ros Coward, shares her top tips for campaigners dealing with the press.
Learn about the importance of building and maintaining press relationships, of thinking of inventive, relevant and newsworthy angles, and of considering who you seek to influence and what your goal is.
Other useful topics include the five why's of headline writing - who, what, when, where, why - which will prove useful for all those writing press releases, and why local press is just as important (if not more important) than national press.