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Artwork for 50 Shades of Planning

50 Shades of Planning

Samuel Stafford
Housing Crisis
Green Belt
National Planning Policy Framework
Planning System
Planning Reform
Grey Belt
Local Authorities
Sustainable Development
Strategic Planning
Community Engagement
Planning Applications
Affordable Housing
Planning
Local Government
Urban Planning
Section 106 Agreements
Housing
Neighbourhood Planning
Local Plans
Artificial Intelligence

50 Shades of Planning is Sam Stafford’s attempt to explore the foibles of the English planning system and its 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 co... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes179Founded7 years ago
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GovernmentNewsPolitics

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Artwork for 50 Shades of Planning

Latest Episodes

Sam Stafford was at a symposium organised by Create Streets at Hatfield House in June last year called ‘Building for generations’. All of the presentations on the day and the conversations there upon led Sam back to the fundamental question as to why... more

Sam Stafford was in Birmingham recently and took the opportunity whilst there to catch up with old friend of the podcast Myles Wild Smith and new friends of the podcast Mike Knott, Bart Shirm and Beth Pywell.

Myles is a Director at Lichfields, Mike... more

This is another episode in the Hitting the High Notes series, which, if you have not listened to one before, is town planning's equivalent, nee rip off, of Desert Island Discs. During these episodes Sam Stafford chats to preeminent figures in the pla... more

A couple of months ago Sam Stafford saw that Shaun Knights at Preston City Council and national vice chair of the Young Planning Officers Society (POS) had posted on LinkedIn encouraging nominations for POS’ ‘Emerging Planner Award’ (EPA).

“I’ve a... more

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Recent Guests

Myles Wild Smith
Director at Lichfields
Lichfields
Episode: Vibes and Stuff
Mike Knott
Regional practice lead at Stantec
Stantec
Episode: Vibes and Stuff
Bart Shirm
Senior planning policy officer at Sandwell
Sandwell
Episode: Vibes and Stuff
Beth Pywell
Associate director at Nexus
Nexus
Episode: Vibes and Stuff
Richard Schofield
Former Chief Planning Inspector, Planning Inspectorate
Planning Inspectorate
Episode: Hitting the High Notes - Richard Schofield
Annie Utting
Be First Ltd (London Borough of Barking and Dagenham) – EPA nominee
Be First Ltd / London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Episode: Emerging Planners
Charlotte Greenhow
EPA nominee, South Ribble Borough Council
South Ribble Borough Council
Episode: Emerging Planners
Will Lawrence
EPA nominee, Nottinghamshire County Council
Nottinghamshire County Council
Episode: Emerging Planners
Imogen Hopkin
National Chair of Young POS, South Staffordshire Council
South Staffordshire Council / Young POS
Episode: Emerging Planners

Host

Sam Stafford
Host of the podcast; independent planner commentator

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 84 ratings
  • Friendly Informative Chat

    Tackling current planning and build environment issues- is an accessible friendly sometime challenging way. Learn more -Feel part of the conversation.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Macplanner
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Planning pod cast

    A great cross sector pod cast. Should be compulsory listening for all planners.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AndrewJTaylor
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • By planners for planners

    This is where to come to fully immerse yourself in the intricacies of the planning system - topical, often funny, great guests and a warm atmosphere

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    1284749603
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Planners perspectives

    It’s great to hear the first hand experience of planners from across the spectrum.

    On life lessons episode. Some great advice! I would also advocate this to any planner, whatever their point on their career path.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bearwalton
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Excellent

    Well done, very interesting!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zaragreg
    United Kingdom5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Niche but deeply informative for planners and policymakers.
Guests are strong; occasionally some audience members feel host perspective shifts in later episodes
Professional, insightful discussions that pull in senior industry voices.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#24
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#32
Saudi Arabia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#66
New Zealand/Government
Apple Podcasts
#208
Japan/Government
Apple Podcasts
#222
Hong Kong/Government
Apple Podcasts
#233
South Africa/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Hitting the High Notes - Richard Schofield
Q: Can you describe the dynamic of a local plan examination and how it differs from earlier work?
Local plan examinations require the inspector to run the show, manage cross-examination, and keep the room under control, which is exhausting but rewarding and very different from hearings where the council leads.
Hitting the High Notes - Richard Schofield
Q: What about the first appeal/inquiry you faced, what stands out?
My first written reps appeal in 2013 was nerve-wracking but taught me the importance of concise writing and learning from experienced inspectors who mentored me through the process.
Hitting the High Notes - Richard Schofield
Q: So your first project is your Inspector Training milestone, what was that like?
It was fantastic yet exhausting; the trainers were brilliant and the learning curve was steep, making me realize how much more there is to know when you move from local planning to the Inspectorate.
Meet the MPs - Lib Dems
Q: Describe your constituency from one side to the other and what are the key challenges?
The constituency is predominantly rural with several market towns, facing limited local education opportunities, transport connectivity, and skilled workforce issues. People often move away for opportunities, and growth is hampered by the lack of strategic planning and insufficient investment in infrastructure.
The Shard Inquiry
Q: So Lorenzo, how did this all start and how did the team come together for the Shard project?
The Shard journey began with forming a team after the Heron Tower inquiry, with early engagement from Irvine Sellar and the decision to bring in Renzo Piano. The approach combined Italian architectural vision with a strong team, bold narrative, and careful planning to persuade inspectors and government bodies.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About 50 Shades of Planning

What is 50 Shades of Planning about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show focuses on the English planning system, exploring reform, local government restructures, and the politics that shape how developments move from idea to approval. Conversations span planning policy, devolution, and cross-border learnings, often featuring practitioner and policy expert guests who bring real-world experience from councils, consultancies, and law firms. A standout aspect is a mix of in-depth interviews with senior planners and cross-country comparisons, plus recurring theme series that spotlight pivotal projects and practical planning challenges for developers, communities, and local authorities. The format tends to blend rigor with accessibility, offering actionable insights for professionals while remaining engaging... more

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Which podcasts are similar to 50 Shades of Planning?

These podcasts share a similar audience with 50 Shades of Planning:

1. Have We Got Planning News For You
2. Room 106
3. Planning After Dark
4. PlannerPod
5. The News Agents

How many episodes of 50 Shades of Planning are there?

50 Shades of Planning launched 7 years ago and published 179 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on 50 Shades of Planning?

Recent guests on 50 Shades of Planning include:

1. Myles Wild Smith
2. Mike Knott
3. Bart Shirm
4. Beth Pywell
5. Richard Schofield
6. Annie Utting
7. Charlotte Greenhow
8. Will Lawrence

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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