Make Planning Make Sense

Centro Planning Consultancy

Aaron Zimmerman MRTPI, Director at Centro Planning Consultancy, is having honest conversations with other leaders from across the built environment sector to Make Planning Make Sense. How does town planning in the UK work? Or, rather, why doesn't it work properly? What can we do about it, and how can we still achieve results in planning today? This podcast is for anyone trying to build, fund, design, approve, or understand development in the UK. Follow for new episodes each Thursday. Make Planning Make Sense is presented by Centro Planning Consultancy and recorded in beautiful London, England. https://centroplan.co.uk/

  1. 18/12/2025

    S01 E23 Sociable, valuable social value (feat. Cleo Folkes of Thrive)

    Aaron Zimmerman MRTPI and Alex Roth sit down with Cleo Folkes of Thrive to discuss how we can measure and understand social value. In this episode, we talk through how similar the planning balance exercise is to a social value exercise. Still, for reasons we get into on the pod, we’re not close to turning the planning balance into a quantitative exercise. Be sure to follow for new episodes each week. Make Planning Make Sense is presented by Centro Planning Consultancy and recorded in beautiful London, England.

    40 min

  2. 11/12/2025

    S01 E22 Spaghetti throwing (feat. Maurice Lange of the Centre for Cities)

    In our penultimate episode of 2025, Aaron Zimmerman MRTPI and Alex Roth sit down with Maurice Lange, Analyst at the Centre for Cities and co-author of a report we keep referencing on the show! In this episode, we talk through London's approach to density, incentive structures in local government and possible ways forward for our planning system. Be sure to follow for new episodes each week. Make Planning Make Sense is presented by Centro Planning Consultancy and recorded in beautiful London, England.

    40 min

  3. 04/12/2025

    S01 E21 Can you imagine? (feat. Jamie Holmes, CEO of Vu.City)

    Aaron Zimmerman MRTPI and Alex Roth sit down with Jamie Holmes, CEO of Vu.City. In this episode, we talk through the power of Vu.City as a communication tool. We also chat about what’s next for Vu.City, a bit of comparative politics, and a bit of behavioural sociology. Be sure to follow for new episodes each week. Make Planning Make Sense is presented by Centro Planning Consultancy and recorded in beautiful London, England.

    35 min

  4. 27/11/2025

    S01 E20 Section 106 bangers and clangers (feat. Hannah Irish of McGuireWoods)

    It's our first episode in front of a live studio audience! Aaron Zimmerman MRTPI and Hannah Irish, Associate at McGuireWoods, discuss the pratfalls and pitfalls of Section 106 legal agreements. We cover: 🔹 What Section 106 agreements are and why they matter 🔹 When they’re required (vs. CIL or conditions) 🔹 Common causes of delay — and how to overcome them 🔹 Legal and policy tests under Reg 122 & the NPPF 🔹 Real case studies on monitoring fees and CIL “double dipping” 🔹 Our top tips for streamlining agreements and keeping them lawful A huge thank you to CREW UK and Pulse Consult for sponsoring and hosting the event. Be sure to follow for new episodes each week. Make Planning Make Sense is presented by Centro Planning Consultancy and recorded in beautiful London, England.

    44 min

  5. 20/11/2025

    S01 E19 Experienced planners don't grow on trees (feat. John Somers of the University of Westminster)

    Aaron Zimmerman MRTPI and Alex Roth sit down with John Somers, Senior Lecturer in Planning and the Historic Environment and Course Leader of the MA RTPI Apprenticeship programme at the University of Westminster. In this episode, we take a closer look at planning as a profession, how planning is perceived, what skills planners need and how we can support the next generation of planners. Be sure to follow for new episodes each week. Make Planning Make Sense is presented by Centro Planning Consultancy and recorded in beautiful London, England.

    36 min

  6. 13/11/2025

    S01 E18 Team allotment (feat. Natalie Taylor of Acacia Management and Facilities)

    Aaron Zimmerman MRTPI and Alex Roth sit down with Natalie Taylor, Managing Director at Acacia Management Facilities, specialists in interior and exterior landscaping. We discuss opportunities to introduce more plants into our built environment and what role planning can play to this end. Be sure to follow for new episodes each week. Make Planning Make Sense is presented by Centro Planning Consultancy and recorded in beautiful London, England.

    32 min

  7. 06/11/2025

    S01 E17 Jarring, incongruous, delightful (feat. Esther Robinson Wild & Darcie Kerr of Robinson Wild)

    Aaron Zimmerman MRTPI and Alex Roth sit down with Esther Robinson Wild and Darcie Kerr of historic environment consultancy Robinson Wild. We talked about Robinson Wild's unique approach combining heritage and viability expertise as well as the importance of integrity, expertise and a robust evidence base in determining heritage significance. Be sure to follow for new episodes each week. Make Planning Make Sense is presented by Centro Planning Consultancy and recorded in beautiful London, England.

    36 min

  8. 30/10/2025

    S01 E16 Something's gotta give (feat. Paul Willis of YES Engineering)

    Aaron Zimmerman MRTPI and Alex Roth sit down with Paul Willis, Transport Director at YES Engineering, to discuss the Government and Mayor of London's recent policy note, the need for a "common sense" approach to guidance, the efficacy of pre-apps and much more. Be sure to follow for new episodes each week. Make Planning Make Sense is presented by Centro Planning Consultancy and recorded in beautiful London, England.

    43 min
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About

Aaron Zimmerman MRTPI, Director at Centro Planning Consultancy, is having honest conversations with other leaders from across the built environment sector to Make Planning Make Sense. How does town planning in the UK work? Or, rather, why doesn't it work properly? What can we do about it, and how can we still achieve results in planning today? This podcast is for anyone trying to build, fund, design, approve, or understand development in the UK. Follow for new episodes each Thursday. Make Planning Make Sense is presented by Centro Planning Consultancy and recorded in beautiful London, England. https://centroplan.co.uk/

Information

  • Creator
    Centro Planning Consultancy
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Centro Planning Consultancy
  • Show Website
    Make Planning Make Sense
  • Provider