This roundtable saw Dr. Peter Prinsley MP & Andrew George MP, discussing Rural Exception Sites as a method to increase housing delivery in rural areas, with Roger Hepher, Prof. Nick Gallent & Martin Collett.

This roundtable saw Florence Eshalomi MP in a Q&A-style discussion with the PLG and its members to discuss the Labour Party’s plan for government, the extent of the housing crisis in Britain, and the role of the HCLG Committee in scrutinising policy.

At this roundtable, we discussed the gap between labour and skills demand, entry routes and public perceptions into the construction industry, and the role of SMEs in the provision of construction skills.

This roundtable saw Lord Gascoigne, Chair of the Built Environment Committee, in conversation with Lord Banner KC, Co-Chair of the Policy Liaison Group, to discuss the state of the current slate of reforms aimed at addressing the housing crisis.

At this roundtable, we took a retrospective look at the New Town regimes of the 20th Century, what worked and what didn’t, and we tried to build these lessons into a modern day context – looking at placemaking, housebuilding and stewardship.

This roundtable brought together industry leaders and policy experts to discuss the long-term future of housing delivery and planning reform with Kevin Hollinrake MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities.

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage OBE, Minister for Housing & Local Government, joined the PLG to discuss how the Government aims to achieve its goal of building 1.5 million homes this parliamentary term.

At this roundtable, we hosted Lord Banner KC, whose independent review into legal challenges against Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects has recently had its recommendations taken up by Government

The PLG held a roundtable meeting discussing the crisis in S106 affordable housing demand, challenges faced by Registered Providers, and the knock-on effects this has for housing delivery across the country.

The PLG held a roundtable meeting convening the representatives of Radix Housing Commission to discuss their October 2024 report, where Government policy has addressed their recommendations, and where Government could continue to learn. The event was chaired by Lord Banner KC, and attended by Gideon Amos MP, the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Housing & Planning.

The government’s recent Devolution White Paper marks a significant shift in how strategic authorities can influence regeneration and development. With greater control over funding and decision-making, local leaders are now in a stronger position to drive place-based growth.

The PLG’s latest roundtable was convened to address the challenges facing Britain’s high streets, and to look at how a wide-angle approach encompassing wider regenerative solutions can mean busier and livelier town centres.

The PLG held a roundtable meeting exploring how the government can meet its target of building 1.5 million homes, and which levers it could pull to significantly increase delivery in the short term. The discussion highlighted key challenges, including under-resourced planning authorities struggling to keep pace and seemingly a move to a “planning-by-appeal” system that hampers efficiency. SMEs, once pivotal to housebuilding, now face mounting bureaucracy and funding obstacles that limit their contributions.

The PLG held a roundtable meeting featuring insights from Rebecca Phillips, theProfessional Lead for Planning Appeals at the Planning Inspectorate. The session, attended by various stakeholders, delved into critical issues such as the impact of recent government changes on the appeals process, challenges faced by local authorities, and strategies for improving planning outcomes.

The PLG’s latest roundtable was convened to address the urgent challenges and opportunities within the engineering and construction sectors, with a particular emphasis on skills training.

The PLG’s recent roundtable discussion focused on the critical challenges and opportunitiessurrounding infrastructure, transport, and economic policy within the current politicallandscape.

The PLG recently held a roundtable meeting on the Impact of HS2 on the West Midlands. Theroundtable focused on the ongoing impact of the HS2 project and the benefits of improvedconnectivity, most notably including economic growth, investment, regeneration and jobcreation.

The PLG held a roundtable meeting featuring insights from Rebecca Phillips, theProfessional Lead for Planning Appeals at the Planning Inspectorate. The session, attended by various stakeholders, delved into critical issues such as the impact of recent government changes on the appeals process, challenges faced by local authorities, and strategies for improving planning outcomes.

The PLG’s recent roundtable meeting with Fiona MacGregor and Jonathan Walters, Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive of the Regulator of Social Housing, provided a comprehensive overview of the current landscape and challenges within the social housing sector.

The PLG’s roundtable on Later Living brought together key stakeholders to discuss thepressing issues and potential solutions in older people’s housing. The meeting, chaired bySir Gary Streeter MP, featured insights from experts including Prof. Les Mayhew, JamesLloyd, John Collyns, and others, who explored the challenges of downsizing, the benefits ofretirement villages, planning system reforms, and the necessity for government leadershipin supporting the sector.

The PLG recently held a roundtable meeting on the Impact of HS2 on the West Midlands. Theroundtable focused on the ongoing impact of the HS2 project and the benefits of improvedconnectivity, most notably including economic growth, investment, regeneration and jobcreation.

The latest PLG meeting hosted Alan Law, Deputy Chief Executive of Natural England, foran insightful discussion on the careful balance between environmental protection anddevelopment. The meeting emphasised the necessity for strategic, collaborative, andinnovative solutions.

The meeting exploring the recently published Housing Market Study by the CMA shed light on critical housing sector challenges. From housing supply shortages to affordability concerns and the impact of planning regulations, stakeholders engaged in a comprehensive exploration of pertinent issues. The dialogue, inclusive of perspectives from SMEs, national developers, housing associations, and local authorities, emphasised the need for collaborative solutions to address the multifaceted dynamics of the housing market and delivery mechanisms. The discussion also ventured into the impact of private management of public amenities on housing estates.

The PLG’s roundtable meeting with Lord Moylan, Chair of the House of Lord Built Environment Committee brought together a diverse cohort of stakeholders to engage in a comprehensive discussion on the intricate challenges of environmental regulations vis a vis development. Lord Moylan’s incisive analysis shed light on the nuanced dynamics at play, from the tensions between EU laws and domestic regulations to the systemic inefficiencies within the planning system.

The PLG convened a meeting hosting Baroness Taylor for a roundtable discussion delving into housing and the current state of the planning system, with a particular focus on recent developments under the current Government and changes that could be implemented should the Labour Party form the next Government. Specifically, the meeting explored Labour’s vision for new towns as a driving force for housing delivery and placemaking, as well as provision for affordable housing, a strategic review of the greenbelt, and innovation in the development sector.

This roundtable meeting of the PLG hosted Chris Worrall, Member of the Labour Housing Group Executive Committee and editor of the Fabian Society’s Homes for Britain: Planning for Growth report and Anthony Breach, an Associate Director at Centre for Cities, leading on housing, planning, devolution, and local finance. This meeting aimed to delve into planning and development in the next Parliament, with a strong emphasis on what planning might look like under a Labour Government. Discussions placed focus on the Westminster Hall debate on planning which took place on the 13th of March, and the details seen thus far with regards to the Labour Party’s housing and planning pledges.