One thing seems to be a constant in the world of planning, and that is change. Thats why it makes sense to stay in touch. If there is one single thing we recommend to everyone we meet, it is to sign up for our bulletin. It's not another news feed - it's how we announce what we are up to including new events, toolkits and ways we can help you.
The Planning Advisory Service bulletin
Sensible people do not volunteer to get more email. But 10,000 people including planners from almost every planning authority in England subscribe to our bulletin to hear about:
- events, training and offers of support from PAS
- links to all our new useful material and downloads that help you do your job
- popular discussion forums and blogs
Sign-up for our bulletin here.
PAS networks
PAS has a number of networks for local authority officers focused on key topics with online Basecamp forums and regular meetings. For most of the networks, please email us if you would like to join.
- The Local Plan Leaders Network is relevant to Heads of Planning Policy, Local Plan Managers or Team Leaders with the responsibility for the delivery of the local plan including staff, budgets and work programmes for their local plan.
- We have a dedicated Development Management Network where officers can help one another by posting and responding to questions, sharing best practice and we upload useful resources on various matters including Government performance criteria and statistics, PAS blogs etc.
- Working closely with MHCLG we support a national Design Practitioners Network and nine Regional Design and Place Networks for local authority urban designers and planners to develop local capacity in design and placemaking, accessing training, bringing together people working on similar issues and challenges, sharing ideas and good practices.
- The BNG network is the largest and most active of our networks. If you would like to join the BNG network, please fill in this form.
- We have a network for LPAs affected by Nutrient Neutrality requirements for officers to collaborate, ask questions and share ideas.
- Our Nature Network for LPAs is a place for local authority officers to ask questions, post updates, share experience and co-develop PAS support on nature recovery.
PAS Forum
Our forum is hosted on a partner organisation called the KHub, along with many other groups both open and closed. Our one tip for getting the most from the forum is to set up what they call a "subscription" which is a daily digest of activity. We run separate groups for plan-making, DM and enforcement as well as some geekier groups for housing statistics and performance. When we don't know the answer to something, this is where we go for answers.
PAS Blog
We also maintain an off-site and unofficial blog for when we want to let off some steam or share our emerging thoughts. It's been going since 2011, but we're not the most avid bloggers. You will notice there are some themes we keep returning to - most commonly management and purpose. We like it when we have "guest posters" so if there is something you'd like to get off your chest let us know.