Richard Hebditch
@richard.hebditch.org
I'm a board member of London TravelWatch & coordinator of the Better Planning Coalition. Previously: charities streets transport heritage environment philanthropy
Go west (A35, Christmas Eve)
December 27, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Go west (A35, Christmas Eve)
"Between July to September 2025, district level planning authorities in England received 78,800 applications for planning permission, down 3% from the same quarter a year earlier"
Perhaps other factors than the planning system itself might be behind the level of house building? Just a thought.
Perhaps other factors than the planning system itself might be behind the level of house building? Just a thought.
December 18, 2025 at 10:18 AM
"Between July to September 2025, district level planning authorities in England received 78,800 applications for planning permission, down 3% from the same quarter a year earlier"
Perhaps other factors than the planning system itself might be behind the level of house building? Just a thought.
Perhaps other factors than the planning system itself might be behind the level of house building? Just a thought.
Good work from Climate Emergency - hopefully Government will recognise the need to ensure climate change is a priority for councils through local government reorganisation process and is put at the heart of the work of the new strategic authorities.
Today Isaac Beevor along with @philipglanville.bsky.social and a cross party group of councillors delivered an open letter to Number 10 signed by 500 local leaders, cabinet members and councillors calling @miattafahnbulleh.bsky.social and @katiewhitemp.bsky.social for more local climate powers.🙌
December 17, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Good work from Climate Emergency - hopefully Government will recognise the need to ensure climate change is a priority for councils through local government reorganisation process and is put at the heart of the work of the new strategic authorities.
Reposted by Richard Hebditch
Great piece in @labourlist.bsky.social by @perranmoonmp.bsky.social on why it's critical that the UK doesn't repeat the EU's mistake of watering down EV targets & doubles down on leading the transition.
labourlist.org/2025/12/brit...
labourlist.org/2025/12/brit...
'Britain must keep its foot on the EV accelerator' - LabourList
Scrapping the ZEV mandate would trash Britain’s EV leadership, cost jobs and hand the future to China. It's just another reckless Tory idea.
labourlist.org
December 17, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Great piece in @labourlist.bsky.social by @perranmoonmp.bsky.social on why it's critical that the UK doesn't repeat the EU's mistake of watering down EV targets & doubles down on leading the transition.
labourlist.org/2025/12/brit...
labourlist.org/2025/12/brit...
New from @newautomotive.org: Europe is on track to become the world’s second-largest battery producer by 2030 but the EU's move away from a firm endpoint for new petrol & diesel cars introduces more uncertainty and risks slowing investment
storage.googleapis.com/public_downl...
storage.googleapis.com/public_downl...
December 17, 2025 at 2:05 PM
New from @newautomotive.org: Europe is on track to become the world’s second-largest battery producer by 2030 but the EU's move away from a firm endpoint for new petrol & diesel cars introduces more uncertainty and risks slowing investment
storage.googleapis.com/public_downl...
storage.googleapis.com/public_downl...
Planning and Infrastructure B̶i̶l̶l̶ Act latest
December 17, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Planning and Infrastructure B̶i̶l̶l̶ Act latest
"The defendant regarded himself as the most important person on Dale Street, and considered that everyone else needed to get out of his way so that he could get to where he wanted to get to."
An extreme event in his actions but this view in itself isn't unheard of.
metro.co.uk/2025/12/15/l...
An extreme event in his actions but this view in itself isn't unheard of.
metro.co.uk/2025/12/15/l...
Liverpool parade attacker drove at crowd screaming 'get out of the f****** way'
Paul Doyle cried during his sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court today.
metro.co.uk
December 16, 2025 at 8:48 PM
"The defendant regarded himself as the most important person on Dale Street, and considered that everyone else needed to get out of his way so that he could get to where he wanted to get to."
An extreme event in his actions but this view in itself isn't unheard of.
metro.co.uk/2025/12/15/l...
An extreme event in his actions but this view in itself isn't unheard of.
metro.co.uk/2025/12/15/l...
The "next phase of planning reform" has been announced today. The record of the Government so far has meant pretty low expectations on anything that comes out but this seems more like reactions will be along the lines of seeing it as a mixed picture.
Some responses from orgs follows...
Some responses from orgs follows...
December 16, 2025 at 6:04 PM
The "next phase of planning reform" has been announced today. The record of the Government so far has meant pretty low expectations on anything that comes out but this seems more like reactions will be along the lines of seeing it as a mixed picture.
Some responses from orgs follows...
Some responses from orgs follows...
Reposted by Richard Hebditch
Response from LGA on planning reform.
In a nutshell, private sector alone isn't solving this problem
In a nutshell, private sector alone isn't solving this problem
December 16, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Response from LGA on planning reform.
In a nutshell, private sector alone isn't solving this problem
In a nutshell, private sector alone isn't solving this problem
"A [planning] system saying ‘no’ more often than it says ‘yes’", says Steve Reed.
Nine out of ten planning applications are approved.
It doesn't help anyone to say things that are demonstrably not true.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Nine out of ten planning applications are approved.
It doesn't help anyone to say things that are demonstrably not true.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Housing Sec pledges to 'go further than ever before' to hit 1.5 million homes
The government has launched a major consultation on a revamped National Planning Policy Framework today.
www.gov.uk
December 16, 2025 at 4:32 PM
"A [planning] system saying ‘no’ more often than it says ‘yes’", says Steve Reed.
Nine out of ten planning applications are approved.
It doesn't help anyone to say things that are demonstrably not true.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Nine out of ten planning applications are approved.
It doesn't help anyone to say things that are demonstrably not true.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by Richard Hebditch
Our friends at CoMoUK want to hear from YOU if you're going to be affected by the closure of car sharing club @Zipcar. Why are car clubs important to you? What will you do when Zipcar closes? What will be your transport options? Share your story: www.como.org.uk/zipcar
December 16, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Our friends at CoMoUK want to hear from YOU if you're going to be affected by the closure of car sharing club @Zipcar. Why are car clubs important to you? What will you do when Zipcar closes? What will be your transport options? Share your story: www.como.org.uk/zipcar
Good to see recruitment of Civil Society Council going ahead: apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9069
I'm a bit sceptical of whether Number 10 are massively investment in a partnership with civil society but this is positive.
I'm a bit sceptical of whether Number 10 are massively investment in a partnership with civil society but this is positive.
Appointment details – Expressions of Interest: Civil Society Council Members – Apply for a public appointment – GOV.UK
apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk
December 16, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Good to see recruitment of Civil Society Council going ahead: apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9069
I'm a bit sceptical of whether Number 10 are massively investment in a partnership with civil society but this is positive.
I'm a bit sceptical of whether Number 10 are massively investment in a partnership with civil society but this is positive.
Investment like this needs policy certainty on the transition to EVs. Conservative antipathy to policies to cut emissions, including the petrol and diesel new car phase out, threatens investment like this.
Nissan has launched the next-generation LEAF in Sunderland after a £450m investment, supporting 6,000 jobs. The move strengthens the UK’s EV manufacturing base as part of the government’s £4bn automotive Industrial Strategy.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Nissan launches £450m next-generation LEAF in major vote of confidence in UK’s Industrial Strategy
Nissan have launched their next-generation LEAF in Sunderland, marking a major boost for the UK’s automotive industry.
www.gov.uk
December 16, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Investment like this needs policy certainty on the transition to EVs. Conservative antipathy to policies to cut emissions, including the petrol and diesel new car phase out, threatens investment like this.
On today's order paper, written ministerial statement on "Planning Reform: Next Phase".
See thread below for what might be in it.
See thread below for what might be in it.
In the last few days before Christmas, MHCLG should be publishing the consultation on a revised National Planning Policy Framework and new NDMPs (more on those in a bit).
So what might be in the consultation this week?
Briefing here: betterplanningcoalition.com/wp-content/u...
Thread follows...
So what might be in the consultation this week?
Briefing here: betterplanningcoalition.com/wp-content/u...
Thread follows...
betterplanningcoalition.com
December 16, 2025 at 7:20 AM
On today's order paper, written ministerial statement on "Planning Reform: Next Phase".
See thread below for what might be in it.
See thread below for what might be in it.
Reposted by Richard Hebditch
🚨 Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has proposed to abolish the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate (ZEV).
@shaunspiers1.bsky.social, executive director, responds to the proposal ⬇️
@shaunspiers1.bsky.social, executive director, responds to the proposal ⬇️
December 15, 2025 at 1:15 PM
🚨 Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has proposed to abolish the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate (ZEV).
@shaunspiers1.bsky.social, executive director, responds to the proposal ⬇️
@shaunspiers1.bsky.social, executive director, responds to the proposal ⬇️
In the last few days before Christmas, MHCLG should be publishing the consultation on a revised National Planning Policy Framework and new NDMPs (more on those in a bit).
So what might be in the consultation this week?
Briefing here: betterplanningcoalition.com/wp-content/u...
Thread follows...
So what might be in the consultation this week?
Briefing here: betterplanningcoalition.com/wp-content/u...
Thread follows...
betterplanningcoalition.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:04 PM
In the last few days before Christmas, MHCLG should be publishing the consultation on a revised National Planning Policy Framework and new NDMPs (more on those in a bit).
So what might be in the consultation this week?
Briefing here: betterplanningcoalition.com/wp-content/u...
Thread follows...
So what might be in the consultation this week?
Briefing here: betterplanningcoalition.com/wp-content/u...
Thread follows...
16 new inquiries from the Commons' Public Accounts Committee. Including environmental regulation, regulating for growth and unlocking land for housing. Should be a busy new year for consultation response writing with new NPPF as well...
committees.parliament.uk/committee/12...
committees.parliament.uk/committee/12...
December 15, 2025 at 9:23 AM
16 new inquiries from the Commons' Public Accounts Committee. Including environmental regulation, regulating for growth and unlocking land for housing. Should be a busy new year for consultation response writing with new NPPF as well...
committees.parliament.uk/committee/12...
committees.parliament.uk/committee/12...
New planning rules out this week. I think this is the only pre-briefing on them, which focuses on having a go at action on climate change & allows the Telegraph to attack Sadiq Khan. Brilliant.
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
Access Restricted
www.telegraph.co.uk
December 15, 2025 at 8:21 AM
New planning rules out this week. I think this is the only pre-briefing on them, which focuses on having a go at action on climate change & allows the Telegraph to attack Sadiq Khan. Brilliant.
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
Ticked off the southern side of the Thames Path and the London Loop. Now to make a start on the North Downs Way on a very grey December day.
December 12, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Ticked off the southern side of the Thames Path and the London Loop. Now to make a start on the North Downs Way on a very grey December day.
London has gone to the pub
December 11, 2025 at 6:14 PM
London has gone to the pub
London's 5.8% fare rise now confirmed. London TravelWatch statement here: www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/news/london-...
December 11, 2025 at 5:19 PM
London's 5.8% fare rise now confirmed. London TravelWatch statement here: www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/news/london-...
Reposted by Richard Hebditch
The RTPI and @thetcpa.bsky.social have published a new guide to help local authorities consider climate impacts in all planning decisions.
The guide is considered the ‘gold standard’ for planning guidance at local level.
Read the guide now:
www.tcpa.org.uk/resources/pl...
The guide is considered the ‘gold standard’ for planning guidance at local level.
Read the guide now:
www.tcpa.org.uk/resources/pl...
December 11, 2025 at 9:24 AM
The RTPI and @thetcpa.bsky.social have published a new guide to help local authorities consider climate impacts in all planning decisions.
The guide is considered the ‘gold standard’ for planning guidance at local level.
Read the guide now:
www.tcpa.org.uk/resources/pl...
The guide is considered the ‘gold standard’ for planning guidance at local level.
Read the guide now:
www.tcpa.org.uk/resources/pl...
This is a good article from Lord Krebs and Baroness Willis about their approach to winning concessions on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Main concessions below.
greenallianceblog.org.uk/2025/12/10/t...
greenallianceblog.org.uk/2025/12/10/t...
December 11, 2025 at 9:26 AM
This is a good article from Lord Krebs and Baroness Willis about their approach to winning concessions on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Main concessions below.
greenallianceblog.org.uk/2025/12/10/t...
greenallianceblog.org.uk/2025/12/10/t...