No5 Barristers' Chambers Planning Podcast - Episode 1 - 'ICC 2020'

Having had to postpone their Annual Planning Seminar until October due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, the No5 Planning Team has taken to the airwaves to record No5’s inaugural podcast, giving a manageable discussion on various pertinent planning matters that would have been presented at the ICC.

Hosted by Hashi Mohamed, the podcast is split into two parts. In part 1, we look at the recent Gladman Planning Court decision; the Raynsford Review; local plans and housing numbers; housing land supply, the future of Green belts and the Rosewell Review one year on.

Hashi’s first guests are Richard Kimblin QC and Thea Osmund Smith who discuss a recent case they were both involved in, Gladman Developments Ltd v SSHCLG; and the presumption in favour of sustainable development contained in paragraph 11 of the NPPF.

This is followed by Peter Goatley QC and Jack Smyth who reflect on the Raynsford Review, its purpose and ambitions, especially in the context of housing supply, and they examine whether government policy has had an effect on quality.

Up next is Satnam Choongh who talks about the issues surrounding stalled local plans, housing numbers, Green Belt and a recently published government letter that calls for timely action on the part of councils to meet the Local Plan 2023 deadline.

Hashi’s next guest is James Corbet Burcher who outlines the role of technology, especially virtual inquiries and appeals, during the current crisis, as moves are made to ensure that the appeal system does not grind to a halt. James also talks about his seminar topic, ‘In Five Years' Time - Determining Housing Land Supply through Annual Monitoring Reports, Annual Position Statements and s78 Appeal Evidence.’

Next, Hashi speaks to Nina Pindham who discusses all matters concerning the Green Belt, trends in planning case law and in particular, the highly topical Supreme Court decision on the Samuel Smith Brewery case and the implications of how we assess ‘visual impact’.

Hashi’s final guest in Part 1 of this podcast is Christopher Young QC, who talks about the Rosewell Review one year on. The review was tasked in looking at ways of speeding up planning inquiries and decision-making and Christopher looks at the key lessons and main criticisms of the process. He also looks at the effect the current Covid-19 crisis has had on the system more widely.

Please click here to listen to the podcast

About the host