50 Shades of Planning

Samuel Stafford
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50 Shades of Planning is Sam Stafford’s attempt to explore the foibles of the English planning system and it's aim is to cover the breadth of the sector both in terms of topics of conversation and in terms of guests with different experiences and perspectives. 50 Shades episodes include 'Hitting The High Notes', which are a series of conversations with leading planning and property figures. The conversations take in the six milestone planning permissions or projects within a contributor’s career and for every project guests are invited to choose a piece of music that they were listening to at that time. Think Desert Island Discs, but for planners. 50 Shades episode also include the 'All Around the World' series, which is being led by friend of the podcast, Paul Smith. Paul put it to Sam that debates about the planning system in England tend, for the most part, to focus solely on the planning system in England. Planners here very seldom look to other countries for inspiration and ideas. Paul wanted to remedy that and so in this series he chats with planning professionals and academics from a number of countries to find out what works well there, what works less well, and what can be learnt. Sam is on Bluesky and Instagram, and his blogs can be found here. The 50 Shades platforms are expressions of Sam's personal opinions, which may or may not represent the opinions of his past, present or future employers. 50 Shades of Planning is by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use the podcast or the YouTube channel for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then do please feel free to get in touch with Sam via samstafford@hotmail.com or the 50 Shades WhatsApp Community. Why Fifty Shades? Well, town and country planning is very much not a black and white endeavour. There are at least fifty shades in between....

  1. All Around the World - New Zealand

    5d ago

    All Around the World - New Zealand

    This is the fourth of a series of episodes being led by the oldest friend of the podcast, Paul Smith. Paul put it to Sam Stafford that debates about the planning system in England tend, for the most part, to focus solely on the planning system in England. We very seldom look to other countries for inspiration and ideas. Paul wanted to remedy that and so in this series he is chatting with planning professionals and academics from a number of countries to find out what works well there, what works less well, and what can we learn. In this episode Paul chats to Stuart Donovan about planning in New Zealand. Stuart is an economist and Senior Fellow with Motu Research, an independent Wellington-based economics and public policy institute. During a conversation recorded online in January 2026 Paul and Stewart talk about why Auckland became one of the least affordable housing markets in the world and how the opportunities for upzoning presented by an earthquake in Christchurch and local government reorganisation in Auckland became so successful that they were ultimately replicated nationally. Some accompanying reading. Up-zoning New Zealand: the localisation of a globally mobile policy idea Dispelling Myths – reviewing the evidence of zoning reforms in Auckland Going it alone: the impact of upzoning on housing construction in Lower Hutt https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1051137724000512 New Zealand shows how planning reform will end Britain’s housing crisis Buckaroo! The burdens that have become a big problem for house building Some accompanying viewing. Planning on the Frontline: Navigating Abuse, Misinformation and Public Pressure Some accompanying listening. Flight of the Conchords - Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why (via samstafford@hotmail.com or the 50 Shades WhatsApp Community). Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the other episodes in the All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam. Sam is grateful to Richborough, Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and to Rachael Cooper and Adrian Meehan for recording and editing this episode.

    1h 9m
  2. Hitting the High Notes - Peter Soulsby

    Jun 20

    Hitting the High Notes - Peter Soulsby

    Sam Stafford was invited to a ProCon Leicestershire event in Leicester in October 2025 and also on the panel that evening was his old friend Grant Butterworth. Grant, Head of Planning at Leicester City Council, kindly invited Sam down early for a tour of the city, and whilst so doing suggested that Peter Soulsby would make a good podcast guest. Peter has been a politician for over 50 years. He was first elected to Leicester City Council in 1973, but lost his seat in 2003. In between he served as the Leader of the Council twice, first from 1981 to 1994 and then from 1996 to 1999. He was the Member of Parliament for Leicester South from 2005 until he resigned his seat in 2011, in order to contest the new post of City Mayor, a role he has held since 2011. Long-serving listeners will know that, hitherto, it has been preeminent figures in the planning and property sectors that have talked Sam through the planning permissions or projects that helped to shape them as professionals during these Hitting the High Notes episodes. Given the relationship between planning and politics it was a good idea of Grant’s to broaden that tent and hear another perspective. Hitting The High Notes is town planning’s equivalent, nee rip of Desert Island Discs in that, so listeners can get to know people a little better personally, for every project or stage of their career Sam also asks his guests for a piece of music that reminds them of that period. Unlike Desert Island Discs you will not hear any of that music during the episode because using commercially-licensed music without the copyright holders permission or a very expensive PRS licensing agreement could land Sam in hot water, so, when listeners have finished listening to this episode, please check out the YouTube videos and a Spotify playlist below. In a conversation recorded in person in January 2026, Peter tells Sam about moving from the North East to London and then up to Leicester to study. He talks about why he gave up teaching for politics, what local government looked like half a century ago and why not all mayors are the same. They talk about building roads, housing renewal, the City Challenge programme, regeneration and knocking down roads. Some accompanying listening. Changes – David Bowie Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad - Meat Loaf The Day Before You Came - Abba Is That All There Is? - Peggy Lee I Cried For You – Katie Melua Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana – Pietro Mascagni Peter’s Spotify Playlist Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why (via samstafford@hotmail.com). Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the Hitting The High Notes and All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam. Sam is grateful to Richborough, Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and to Adrian Meehan for editing this episode.

    1h 4m
  3. The Shard Inquiry

    Jun 13

    The Shard Inquiry

    This episode features the recording of an event hosted by Lorenzo Pandolfi and Simone Pagani in February 2026. Lorenzo and Simone invited Chris Katkowski and Russell Harris to tell the story of the Shard inquiry. Chris and Russell, two of the most prominent KCs in the country, share their recollections of one of the most consequential planning inquires of modern times. They talk about the characters involved, what it is like to be a part of an event of that scale, and lessons that they took, and that we all can learn, from the experience. Some accompanying reading. My Favourite Building: Sam Stafford – The Piece Hall How to Thrive in the Planning Jungle: 100 Tips for Consultants, Real Estate Developers and Architects Some accompanying listening. Underworld - Mmm... Skyscraper I Love You Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam Stafford's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why (via samstafford@hotmail.com). Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the Hitting The High Notes and All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam. Sam is grateful to Richborough, Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and to Adrian Meehan for editing this episode.

    1h 23m
  4. The Tip of the AIceberg

    Jun 6

    The Tip of the AIceberg

    "The second (epochal change) is the technology revolution led by developments in artificial intelligence, which will change everything. I mean everything. There is no point in debating whether this technological revolution is a good or bad thing. Just know it is a ‘thing’. In fact, it is ‘the thing’. It will displace jobs, though creating new ones, but no one yet knows the full consequence. Companies and countries will rise or fall on the back of it. It will revolutionise the private sector and should in time revolutionise public services and government. Yet people in most countries, including Britain, have no idea what is about to hit them." So wrote Tony Blair in his recent essay ‘The Labour Party Is Playing With Fire Over Its Future and the Future of the Country.’ What is about to hit us? What are the implications of AI in the planning context? What does it mean for what we do now and what we might do in the future? What are the legal implications? The data implications? The implications for public engagement? These are themes that were explored in a conversation recorded online back in February of this year between old friends of the podcast Hashi Mohamed, Kathryn Ventham and Sue Chadwick, and new friend of the podcast Harry Quartermain. Hashi, who steered the conversation, is an author and a barrister at Landmark Chambers; Kathryn is a Senior Director at Twenty5 Planning; and Sue is a strategic advisor at Pinsent Masons. Harry is Head of Insight & Research at LandTech and an Associate Lecturer at the University of the Built Environment. Due to some technical issues on the day another new friend of the podcast, Graham Stallwood, was unable to join the recording, but Graham, Interim Chief Executive at the Planning Inspectorate, listened to it and provided an addendum that Sam Stafford drops in at the end of the episode. Some accompanying reading. Podcast episode 170: The Tip of the AIceberg Are we consulting with people? The Labour Party Is Playing With Fire Over Its Future and the Future of the Country Digital planning in England Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Judicial Guidance (October 2025) Use of artificial intelligence in casework evidence How AI is slowing down the planning system and what we can do about it English councils to trial Google AI tool to speed up planning decisions Some accompanying viewing. A new planning system and future-ready planners Some accompanying listening. Is AI Too Powerful to Control Responsibly? Jim James - State Of The Art (A.E.I.O.U.) Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why (via samstafford@hotmail.com). Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the Hitting The High Notes and All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam. Sam is grateful to Richborough, Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and to Adrian Meehan for recording and editing this episode.

    56 min
  5. Meet the MPs - Labour

    May 30

    Meet the MPs - Labour

    The role of local councillors in the planning system has been a familiar topic of conversation on the podcast in the context of, for example, overturning officer recommendations and the case for a national scheme of delegation. There is less talk about the role of MPs in the planning system, which is something that friend of the podcast Andrew Taylor wanted to remedy. This then is the first of what he and Sam Stafford hope will be five episodes exploring the role of a member of a parliament by way of conversations that Andrew records with representatives from the now five major parties. First, Labour, and a conversation recorded with Elsie Blundell and Mike Reader at Soho Radio Studios in March 2025. Andrew, regular listeners will know, is Group Planning and Sustainability Director at Vistry, Elsie represents Heywood and Middleton North and Mike represents Northampton South. Andrew explores with Elsie and Mike their journeys to Westminster and their role now in the space between national objectives and what is going on in their respective patches. They talk local government reorganisation, they talk infrastructure delivery and regulation, and they talk about skills. Some accompanying reading. Public Practice’s Associate Programme Some accompanying viewing. Planning Teams for the Future: What they are and how we get there Some accompanying listening. Politics – Personal Trainer Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why (via samstafford@hotmail.com). Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the Hitting The High Notes and All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam. Sam is grateful to Richborough, Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and to Adrian Meehan for recording and editing this episode.

    1h 5m
  6. Reform, reform and more Reform

    May 23

    Reform, reform and more Reform

    Sam Stafford was in Manchester recently and took the opportunity to catch up with friends of the podcast Charlotte Leach, Katie Wray, Claire Petricca-Riding and Paul Smith. Their conversation, recorded at Reform Radio, was a good old fashioned 50 Shades-style ramblechat. They started with the local elections and then from Reform got on to planning reform and back again and before they knew it an hour had passed by. Some accompanying reading. Housing and Planning Minister speech to UKREiiF 2026 Farcical scenes during planning meetings put Bristol’s economic future at risk I Promised You A Miracle Why NPPFs fail #1 - planning by committee Some accompanying viewing. This Country Detectorists Some accompanying listening. Boards of Canada - Constants are Changing Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why (via samstafford@hotmail.com). Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the Hitting The High Notes and All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam. Sam is grateful to Richborough, Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and to Mike Dunbar and Adrian Meehan for recording and editing this episode.

    57 min
  7. LGR

    May 16

    LGR

    The 2026 local elections will likely turn out to be significant for a number of reasons. Westminster psychodrama aside though, one area of immediate interest, for example, is what the increased number of councils under no overall control will mean for local plan-making. That is a topic to which Sam Stafford hopes the podcast will return in due course. Of similar immediate interest is the possible impact upon local government reorganisation (LGR), the whys and wherefores or the pros and cons of which might have been thought to be settled up until recent events. For now though it is to be assumed that, despite perhaps some spanners being thrown into some works, LGR remains the direction of travel for the foreseeable future at least. What has to be happening right now to make it a success? What lessons can be learnt from the most recent round of unitisation? How will reorganisation affect decision-making in the authorities about to be abolished? And how does planning get a place at the top table in the authorities that will replace them? These are the themes that were explored in a conversation recorded online in March 2026 between old friends of the podcast Catriona Riddell (who chaired the discussion), Jonathan Werran, Claire Tester and Jane Meek, and new friend of the podcast James Hood. Catriona is a Director at Catriona Riddell & Associates; Jonathan is the Chief Executive of Localis; Claire is Head of Strategic Planning at the South Downs National Park Authority; Jane founded Frontier Planning; and James is a Director at the Local Councils Network. Some accompanying reading. Local government reorganisation: Policy and programme updates Ride the Wave - Balancing investment risk and opportunity to guide urban renewal Everything in its right place - Establishing strong organisations and practices for successful devolution Connected Devolution - Digital systems for successful reorganisation Managing the impact and maximising the potential for planning and place-making services Cheers to William Marsden: The Mancunian who Invented the Weekend! Some accompanying viewing. Labour of Love II - Devolution, strategic planning and local government reorganisation Some accompanying listening. Going for Growth: Can We Make Britain Wealthy Again? (Matt Clifford) Orange Juice – Rit It Up Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why (via samstafford@hotmail.com). Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the Hitting The High Notes and All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam. Sam is grateful to Richborough, Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and Adrian Meehan for recording and editing this episode.

    1 hr
  8. The West Midlands Problem (plus Grey Belt and some other stuff)

    May 2

    The West Midlands Problem (plus Grey Belt and some other stuff)

    Sam Stafford was in Birmingham recently and took the opportunity to catch up with friends of the podcast Mike Best, Kathryn Ventham and Michelle Simpson-Gallego at PodHaus studios in Digbeth. They talked about why the recent consultation on areas for producing Spatial Development Strategies seemed to generate more interest in the West Midlands than other parts of the country (an issue for which this episode has named); they talked about the politics of Grey Belt; they talked about some live development management issues, including LPAs basing decisions on unpublished evidence; and they touched on PINS’ recent performance. Some accompanying reading. Areas for producing spatial development strategies Will the real West Midlands please stand up? Elections 2026 How Long Are Local Plan Examinations Taking? Planning After Dark LIVE at UKREiiF with Cratus Group Toxic Communications and Relational Planning SM sites for SME builders Some accompanying viewing. What the local election results mean for housebuilding Some accompanying listening. City Minutes: The Croydon planning experiment The Nightingales - Gales Doc Any other business. If you enjoy the episode do please consider bolstering Sam's fragile self-esteem by leaving the podcast a nice rating and a nice review wherever you listened to it. Obviously though if you have not enjoyed it then please do not leave a review, but do please feel free to let Sam know why (via samstafford@hotmail.com). Feedback on 50 Shades episodes is always welcome. If you have enjoyed to the extent that you feel compelled to share the podcast on one your social platforms then, if you tag Sam, you will be entitled to an exclusive and much-sought after 50 Shades of Planning mug. If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the Hitting The High Notes and All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them. 50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam. Sam is grateful to Richborough, Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and to Carl Thomas-Edwards and Adrian Meehan for recording and editing this episode.

    57 min
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About

50 Shades of Planning is Sam Stafford’s attempt to explore the foibles of the English planning system and it's aim is to cover the breadth of the sector both in terms of topics of conversation and in terms of guests with different experiences and perspectives. 50 Shades episodes include 'Hitting The High Notes', which are a series of conversations with leading planning and property figures. The conversations take in the six milestone planning permissions or projects within a contributor’s career and for every project guests are invited to choose a piece of music that they were listening to at that time. Think Desert Island Discs, but for planners. 50 Shades episode also include the 'All Around the World' series, which is being led by friend of the podcast, Paul Smith. Paul put it to Sam that debates about the planning system in England tend, for the most part, to focus solely on the planning system in England. Planners here very seldom look to other countries for inspiration and ideas. Paul wanted to remedy that and so in this series he chats with planning professionals and academics from a number of countries to find out what works well there, what works less well, and what can be learnt. Sam is on Bluesky and Instagram, and his blogs can be found here. The 50 Shades platforms are expressions of Sam's personal opinions, which may or may not represent the opinions of his past, present or future employers. 50 Shades of Planning is by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use the podcast or the YouTube channel for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then do please feel free to get in touch with Sam via samstafford@hotmail.com or the 50 Shades WhatsApp Community. Why Fifty Shades? Well, town and country planning is very much not a black and white endeavour. There are at least fifty shades in between....

Information

  • Creator
    Samuel Stafford
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    173
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2019 The 50 Shades of Planning Podcast
  • Show Website
    50 Shades of Planning

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