Planning news:
Spending Review - £39billion towards affordable housing scheme and boosts for transport and nuclear energy infrastructure, but no more funding for Neighbourhood Plans. Is there still a place for Neighbourhood Plans in development management?
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill has passed the House of Commons and is now at the committee stage of the House of Lords.
Oxford Street pedestrianisation looks set for go ahead following consultation, which could remove vehicles from a significant section of the road as early as 2026.
PM Keir Starmer announced a range of AI tools which will be used to speed the planning process and quickly digitise records. ‘Extract’ is expected to be made available to all Local Planning Authorities by Spring 2026. However, some voices in the profession have already expressed their concern that such systems could increase the risk of errors.
PINS and MHCLG have revealed upcoming changes to and expansion of the written appeals process – read more about these changes in our recent blog.
Other things we’ve enjoyed this month:
June was full of events courtesy of London Festival of Architecture, holding talks, exhibitions, walking tours and open studios across the capital. Emily attended a talk on the role of art in community engagement and estate regeneration, as well as reflecting on the legacy and future of the Aylesbury Estate (LB Southwark). The talk accompanied the exhibition ‘The Aylesbury Voices: A Community in Motion’, organised by Our Cube CIC as part of the London Festival of Architecture.
Artwork credits: Harriet Mena Hill ‘Soft Concrete'.