Rob Lucas
@robmlucas.bsky.social
Learning grand parent, still planning - Principal Rob Lucas Consultancy, watching the world and trying to make a difference.
Planners. You have 30 months. That’s still a long time.
Planning Inspectorate on X: "New local plan system launching early 2026 Following today’s ministerial statement, we're sharing important news about the future of local plan development in England. Read more: https://t.co/3WlaXvur8G #LocalPlan #Planning @mhclg https://t.co/nGIH2gSPcl" / X
New local plan system launching early 2026 Following today’s ministerial statement, we're sharing important news about the future of local plan development in England. Read more: https://t.co/3WlaXvur8G #LocalPlan #Planning @mhclg https://t.co/nGIH2gSPcl
x.com
November 27, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Planners. You have 30 months. That’s still a long time.
And there was a time when content was not all over the papers in advance. Expect a rabbit and hat.
November 26, 2025 at 7:40 AM
And there was a time when content was not all over the papers in advance. Expect a rabbit and hat.
Smorgasbord is such an over used and lazy budget word. Nothing in the carefully curated mix will please the scribblers and posters.
November 26, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Smorgasbord is such an over used and lazy budget word. Nothing in the carefully curated mix will please the scribblers and posters.
Really? Not beautiful. Birmingham City ‘Power Station’ stadium. Your application is refused. Must try harder.
November 21, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Really? Not beautiful. Birmingham City ‘Power Station’ stadium. Your application is refused. Must try harder.
Councils to lose power to block large housing developments
Approve it or lose it.
Approve it or lose it.
Councils to lose power to block large housing developments
The housing secretary will take the ability to veto local objections and speed up planning delays, but councils see it as an attack on local democracy
www.thetimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Councils to lose power to block large housing developments
Approve it or lose it.
Approve it or lose it.
Reposted by Rob Lucas
If you're ever upset about the state of US land use policy, just spend 30 seconds reading anything about the UK. Automated NIMBYism!
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
AI-powered nimbyism could grind UK planning system to a halt, experts warn
Tools that help people scan applications and find grounds for objection have potential to hit government’s housebuilding plans
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:32 PM
If you're ever upset about the state of US land use policy, just spend 30 seconds reading anything about the UK. Automated NIMBYism!
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Lots of unshackling - for others. Oh good. Also need to look at why Govt departments and casework fails to meet time targets. A look closer to home. Work faster.
Pro-growth package unshackling Britain to get building
Pro-growth changes to the government's landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill to get Britain building faster.
www.gov.uk
October 14, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Lots of unshackling - for others. Oh good. Also need to look at why Govt departments and casework fails to meet time targets. A look closer to home. Work faster.
Small is beautiful - if you can ever get planning permission www.hbf.co.uk/research-ins...
Planning for Small Sites
www.hbf.co.uk
October 9, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Small is beautiful - if you can ever get planning permission www.hbf.co.uk/research-ins...
Development Corporations, not all green field, 10 principles, good spread, ways around the barriers of current planning system (maybe). All in the delivery. Read all about it. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68d694...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
September 28, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Development Corporations, not all green field, 10 principles, good spread, ways around the barriers of current planning system (maybe). All in the delivery. Read all about it. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68d694...
Community CPOs interesting
PM backs “true patriots” to lead UK renewal with £5bn investment
New powers let residents reclaim beloved assets and drive patriotic renewal, street by street – delivering on the Plan for Change.
www.gov.uk
September 25, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Community CPOs interesting
Reposted by Rob Lucas
British NIMBYism is truly a sight to behold.
“We are rejecting this solar farm, because one time I saw an electric vehicle on fire, which reminded me that decades ago a coal mining disaster killed lots of children”.
“We are rejecting this solar farm, because one time I saw an electric vehicle on fire, which reminded me that decades ago a coal mining disaster killed lots of children”.
September 9, 2025 at 3:04 PM
British NIMBYism is truly a sight to behold.
“We are rejecting this solar farm, because one time I saw an electric vehicle on fire, which reminded me that decades ago a coal mining disaster killed lots of children”.
“We are rejecting this solar farm, because one time I saw an electric vehicle on fire, which reminded me that decades ago a coal mining disaster killed lots of children”.
The answer is make the required full housing provision and stop playing politics. Institutions would agree I am sure.
Rayner set to hit English councils that block new housing with tougher sanctions
Local authorities could be forced to approve new developments or risk giving planning control to Whitehall
www.theguardian.com
August 30, 2025 at 7:38 AM
The answer is make the required full housing provision and stop playing politics. Institutions would agree I am sure.
Tame the highway engineers, reduce density and innovate. It will take more than Govt PR.
www.thetimes.com/article/3dcd...
www.thetimes.com/article/3dcd...
New towns will be boring, soulless and full of roundabouts, say voters
Survey says residents should be given more freedom to design their homes and neighbourhoods
www.thetimes.com
August 13, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Tame the highway engineers, reduce density and innovate. It will take more than Govt PR.
www.thetimes.com/article/3dcd...
www.thetimes.com/article/3dcd...
A tangled web of planning.
July 31, 2025 at 9:30 AM
A tangled web of planning.
Time is not of the essence. It would seem.
High volumes of planning applications
www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk
July 23, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Time is not of the essence. It would seem.
The many hurdles of building homes in London. Who would take the risk?
We haven’t only made it too difficult to build, but too risky
Dick Whittington would find nowhere to live were he to turn up in London today, given the shortage of affordable housing and new homes under construction
www.thetimes.com
June 29, 2025 at 8:52 AM
The many hurdles of building homes in London. Who would take the risk?
MDCs for GMCA in GtMc.
30,000 new homes are coming to Greater Manchester
Nearly 30,000 new homes are set to be built across Greater Manchester as leaders back three mayoral development corporations to accelerate regeneration and tackle the region’s housing crisis.
ilovemanchester.com
June 27, 2025 at 3:48 PM
MDCs for GMCA in GtMc.
Appealing
Upcoming changes to written representation appeals
www.gov.uk
June 25, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Appealing
This is what’s wrong: and the solutions?
This is how you get the sick back to work
Cutting benefits is no incentive, the government has to convince claimants that finding a job is truly good for them
www.thetimes.com
June 25, 2025 at 6:47 AM
This is what’s wrong: and the solutions?
Anything to speed the process but I suspect it’s not decades old documents that is the culprit.
PM unveils AI breakthrough to slash planning delays and help build 1.5 million homes: 9 June 2025
Planning permissions will be sped up as the Government rolls out a new AI tool which can scan hundreds of files in seconds – making it easier to make home improvements, while turbocharging the Plan fo...
www.gov.uk
June 9, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Anything to speed the process but I suspect it’s not decades old documents that is the culprit.
Letters at dawn!
New blog post, Not Sure Why The Media Was So Focused On Musk v Trump This Week Given What Has Been Happening In Sussex
simonicity.com/2025/06/07/n...
simonicity.com/2025/06/07/n...
Not Sure Why The Media Was So Focused On Musk v Trump This Week Given What Has Been Happening In Sussex
The gloves are off in Haywards Heath. Let’s start with a 2 June 2025 press statement: Mid Sussex District Council to Challenge Secretary of State: “Mid Sussex District Council has launched a legal …
simonicity.com
June 7, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Letters at dawn!
The source. A GB review as per NPPF.
www.london.gov.uk
May 9, 2025 at 1:09 PM
The source. A GB review as per NPPF.