We are part of the Local Government Association and run 14 projects funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and Natural England. You can see below our latest bulletin - you can sign up using the "keep in touch" item in the "about us" menu above.
PAS Bulletin - Latest news
May - it's a month of elections, conferences, and, if you're at PAS, grant funding agreements and programme kick-off. We have recruited, moved everyone into their new work areas, and started promoting our new support offerings. We are also putting together our training content for councillors throughout the year, recognising that, for first-timers, planning is complicated, fast-changing, and rarely what you imagined before you got inside the council. More on the PAS new starters in June. Keep in touch at [email protected] or join one of our many networks via our website, where you can work through issues with your peers.
Anna Rose – Head of the Planning Advisory Service
At PAS we sometimes run small cohorts for senior people in councils. It's an opportunity to join a small group of your peers exploring some big, important questions in a relaxed environment. We're excited; it's hard work but one of our favourite things to do.
The format is a two day residential session, run twice. On the agenda are three of the biggest questions:
How much does your service cost?
How ready are you and your team for AI, digital services and the innovation and change that is coming our way?
We have been busy organising some in-person events with MHCLG on the Local Plan new system. We know many of you will be working at speed within the new system, so we are keen to get these in place as soon as possible.
More details on these events and information on booking will be provided soon. Please note that due to capacity, this event is only open to those currently progressing in the new system, and we will be limiting the event to a maximum of 40 attendees.
Further reforms are expected via the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, making it a good time to join the local government network for updates and peer support.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is establishing a new unit to discharge post-consent requirements for network and nuclear DCOs. This was announced as part of the Government’s response to the recommendations from the Nuclear Taskforce (Fingleton) Review, published on 24 November 2025. DESNZ is currently reaching out to LPAs to invite participants to join a research and development working group.
Participants should be planning officers at LPAs who have recently discharged post-consent requirements for energy DCOs or have other relevant experience in respect of post-consent requirements under the 2008 Planning Act. For more information, please see the Network Board, or contact [email protected]
We are hosting two planning updates sessions for councillors on 19 and 22 June. These online sessions open to any English local authority councillors will introduce the English planning process, the role of councillors in the planning process and recent planning reforms. Book your place:
Join us in Manchester and London for an opportunity discuss the practical implementation of the 2026 Planning Committee Reforms. The in-person workshops for local authority planning and legal officers will be an opportunity to discuss LPAs requirements in line with the national planning committee reforms. There will be opportunities to comment on materials and templates that PAS are producing for LPAs to use as well as discuss actions and materials from other local authorities.
The updated toolkit has been strengthened and refined through a series of pilot case studies with six councils, capturing practical learning, real world challenges and what works on the ground. It’s designed to support local authorities to:
embed nature recovery across policy and practice
align with statutory duties and local priorities
turn ambition into deliverable action.
Join us on-line at the launch event on 1 June at 1.00pm-2.00pm to:
There have been lots of change around plan making and planning committee processes recently, and these two day courses will focus on changes in the planning process and the specific skills of these key roles. There is a cost to access the session we are heavily subsidising it. To find out more visit our website or to book a place, please contact: [email protected]. There are only limited places so book your place as soon as possible.
On Wednesday 6 May 2026, we were joined by colleagues from MHCLG and DEFRA for a webinar looking at forthcoming changes to the statutory Biodiversity Net Gain approach, including BNG for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). Recordings and slides from the session are available on our website
A suite of guides have been prepared for PAS by Urban Design Learning that collate good practice across the following key areas of implementing BNG:
We provide high-quality help, advice, support and training on planning and service delivery to councils. We help local government officers and councillors stay effective and up to date. We have a ‘sector-led' improvement approach, where local authorities help each other to continuously improve.
