Planning Resources
The days of the planning magazine are long gone. Here are our favourite online resources:
Latest News & Expert Analysis
Have We Got Planning News For You - the latest planning news from 5 barristers.
Planner Pod - the RTPI's The Planner monthly podcast
Planning Portal - weekly planning news
#Planoraks - planning barrister Zack Simons’ excellent and humourous blogs; I confess to being a fan.
Simonicity - planning solicitor Simon Rickett's planning posts.
The Planner - the RTPI's planning features and opinions - the majority of which are freely available to non-registered users.
Development Management
Model conditions used by PINS
Planning Practice Guidance and NPPF - published by MHCLG
Planning Inspectorate webinars on various useful topics, by PINS
Statement of Common Ground PINS template and advice on drafting SoCG
The Planning Jungle (paywall: £50 - £300 p.a.) - for most consolidated Regulations and for everything on the GPDO
Useful resources
Appeal Finder Blogs on a variety of topics by yours truly
Appeal % allowed by LPA and by Inspector for the previous year to 31st March
Appeals guidance on the .GOV website
Compare old and new NPPF - can also be used to compare any 2 documents you choose
Design Code ideas and resources on the Urban Design and Learning (UDL) website
Housing Delivery Test figures and Insider's Guide to the Housing Delivery Test
Housing needs figures by LPA based on new standard method w.e.f. 22nd May 2025
Housing Toolkit for making the case for housing development
LPAs planning registers to jump quickly to an application or appeal's submitted plans, drawings, etc
Net additional dwellings figures and graphs for every local planning authority, produced by MHCLG
Net additional dwellings latest figures downloadable in table 122, published 28/11/24 for 2023-24
Planning appeal timescales & success rates - PINS current timescales for written reps, hearings, inquiries, householder & enforcement appeals
Planning application timescales by LPA - percentage genuinely decided within 8 or 13 weeks, using DLUHC performance figures
Valuable Blogs
Lichfields Insights - private sector thinking on planning and development.
Savills Insight & Opinion - news and research from the development industry's perspective.
Town Planning Expert's Planningology - particularly good on P.D., use-classes order, and notable appeals.
Spatial information & mapping tools
Elected Authorities Maps - definitive Ordnance Survey boundaries for local authorities, parishes, electoral divisions, wards, etc.
Green Infrastructure Map compiled by Natural England.
Historic maps from 1841 – 1991 at a range of scales, covering all parts of the UK (despite the website title, including England).
MAGIC Maps – DEFRA’s map with all the official designations you can think of and many others you didn’t know existed.
Planning Data Map compiled by DLUHC.
Road accident data – official record of road accidents recorded by the Department for Transport for checking around a development site.
Have you further suggestions to share? Just email Helen on info@appealfinder.co.uk with any useful websites.
