Michelle Lyon

The Pineapples The Festival of Place brings together professionals from across the built environment to unpick what makes a place thrive. The Pineapples awards for place celebrate the best developments in the UK.

⏳ Only 3 weeks left to enter #ThePineapples Awards 2026. The final deadline is 21 November.

The Pineapple for Healthy Homes, in partnership with the TCPA, recognises completed homes that promote the health of residents & citizens.

Submit your entry: www.festivalofplace.co.uk/thepineapples

If we turn all the existing bungalows into houses, where are we going to build new bungalows for those that need bungalows (ageing population), and will new bungalows be exempt from default planning permission rules?

The 2025 round of RTPI Research Grants is open for applications.
The programme funds new, innovative, high quality, and impactful planning research.

Learn more: https://www.rtpi.org.uk/policy-and-research/research-and-practice/rtpi-research-grants/practitioner-research-fund-grant-applications/

Accessibility Factsheet

Not only is our population ageing, but there is also a growing Disabled population in the country.

Homes in England were not built with accessibility in mind. As a result of this, there is a huge gap between the number of Disabled people and the number of accessible homes.

Photo by alvarez on iStock

Feeling unstimulated and apathetic at work? You might be experiencing rustout.
Piece co-authored by Dr Sabrina Fitzsimons @sabrinafitzsimons.bsky.social, Co-Director @dcucreate.bsky.social and Assistant Professor @dcuioe.bsky.social, for @uk.theconversation.com.
Read more here: launch.dcu.ie/4l9RpqX

Griff Rhys Jones and the Vic Soc's Director James Hughes have expressed serious concerns about the validity of the public consultation process for the controversial redevelopment of London Liverpool Street Station. bit.ly/4nVrh67
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Nutrient neutrality has not gone away. It has quietened as an issue because planning applications are not being made in the 74 local authorities still affected by it (after over three years). The challenge to opponents of the Nature Restoration Fund then is if not this and now then what and when?

TfL Non-Folding e-Bike Ban On Public Transport: WfW Position Statement This ban disproportionately reduces Disabled peoples' mobility and without reasonable adjustments is discriminatory under Equality Act 2010.

A stark preview image, but TfL's non-folding #eBike ban on public transport will have a stark effect on the mobility options of Disabled people. Further, without reasonable adjustments, we believe the ban is discriminatory under the Equality Act 2010. wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk/tfl-non-fold...

Keep yourselves up-to-date with all things planning reform here 👇🏻

A new advert for hearing tests: ‘if you do this, it may be a sign you could benefit from a hearing aid’ . ‘Don’t broadcast your conversation to all, get your hearing tested’

Another update to the planning system that needs considering: the need for legislation to enshrine the right to comment on statutory planning matters and to prohibit the silencing of that right by other means.

Another update to the planning system that needs considering: the need for legislation to enshrine the right to comment on statutory planning matters and to prohibit the silencing of that right by other means.

Town and country planning work involves understanding, planning for and influencing the built and natural environment. Administrative processing work supports that town and country planning work. The administrative processing work is not in and of itself town and country planning.

Planning System Features: consistency in decision making; no such thing as precedent; every site unique. Consistency achieved through: unambiguous legislation; a plan-led system; clear policies. Differs from precedent claim: specific set/s of circumstances on unique site/s determines next decision.

Earlier this week I had the chance to present my work on ‘Social Organisation of Knowledge within Local Planning Authorities’ to UK-Ireland Planning Research Conference. Thank you for the questions and really useful feedback & suggestions in the discussions afterwards

2024 UK-Ireland Planning Research Conference: Planning for Nature/Nature of Planning Full Conference Programme From Monday 2nd September to Wednesday 4th September the University of Reading will host the 2024 UK-Ireland Planning Research Conference. This year’s theme is ‘Planning for...

This week I've been fortunate to have opportunity to attend UK-Ireland Planning Research Conf. Really enjoyed contemporary, interesting, relevant, insightful presentations & discussions on planning&nature. Plenty to think about, more reading inspiration, & renewed hope for future of planning in UK.

🎺The RTPI are currently advertising for a Head of Policy and Public Affairs - an absolutely huge role at the core of the profession. If you're a planner with experience of leading campaigns and influencing, check it out...

These colourful diagrams show how air quality has changed in over 100 countries around the world since 1850 Scientists have designed a powerful visual tool to make the invisible threat of air pollution more visible.

These colourful diagrams show how air quality has changed in over 100 countries around the world since 1850

Good to see the British Library moving forward from the cyberattack. Its detailed document on the attack is really worth reading, even if you're not nerdy: it's a shining example of clear writing www.bl.uk/home/british...

Planning Skills Fund - British Chambers of Commerce Home

Great to read the business community acknowledging “more planning capacity will help people, communities and the economy. Planning shapes every aspect of our lives, including education, homes, health, jobs, communications, trade, investment, growth and the environment…Invest in your local community”

Received my voting email for #RTPI elections & have voted before email gets buried/forgotten. Rhetoric around planning more positive than has been. RTPI Members please vote for who you think will represent your interests & shape the institute in hopefully a new era for planning. Only takes a few min

Council trial to fine drivers who park on Swindon pavements People with sight loss and wheelchair users are among those who find pavement obstructions hazardous.

Good on Swindon.

Space for pedestrians is limited in many areas and pavement parking sees more of our public realm dominated by vehicles. For some it’s a nuisance but for many it makes getting around their neighbourhood safely impossible.

Where’s next?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I know there are planning folks joining (especially from the RTPI ICN) who are looking for people to follow. Apologies for omissions…
go.bsky.app/12apaJx

BlueSky thinking by lawyers amid mass exodus from X Social media-loving lawyers have been moving en masse this week from X to BlueSky, with one chambers saying Elon Musk’s site “contradicts” its values.

A reminder of our story from yesterday, in which some of you lovely people get a mention:
BlueSky thinking by lawyers amid mass exodus from X www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/...

Anyone interested in strategic planning, research I was involved in with UWE has just been published by the RTPI. It focuses on practice and experience over the last 14 years & is full of really useful evidence & advice on how we now take forward a new era of strategic planning - www.rtpi.org.uk

A map of statutory and non-statutory strategic planning currently happening in England.

Planners and planning geeks! This, by @catrionariddell.bsky.social and others, is probably the most comprehensive research on strategic planning in England I've ever read. A landmark. Check it out...

A green bench with white writing on it saying It takes planners & everyone

Planning your world.
To find out more about planners role in the planning system, visit:
www.planningyourworld.org.uk
#plannersand

Planning our environment to achieve a beneficial outcome matters to us all because we are all impacted by the physical environment we live within

Why care leavers have no safety net when they graduate from university Care leavers aren’t able to return to a family home to consider their options after graduating.

Why care leavers have no safety net when they graduate from university