Anniversary Special: New Towns, MIPIM and Mayhem

Planning After Dark turns one! 

And in this anniversary special the PAD Pod marks the occasion with a lively and wide-ranging conversation on the biggest planning stories of the moment. Jackie, Catriona and Alex reflect on a whirlwind first year of the podcast before diving into MIPIM, inward investment and the UK’s patchy international presence, asking what the sector still isn’t getting right about global promotion and delivery. From there, they unpack devolution, spatial development strategies, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and the government’s latest new towns announcement – including why seven shortlisted locations may be politically significant, but won’t come close to solving the housing crisis on their own.

The episode also explores rightsizing and older people’s housing, with fresh insight from a House of Lords roundtable on how better housing choices later in life could unlock family homes and improve quality of life.

And in a more serious final section, the team discuss the worsening treatment of public sector planners, the pressures of committee culture, and the urgent need to support and retain officers across local government. With reflections on the past year and a look ahead to UKREiiF and the next guest, this is a fittingly full-on start to year two.

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Planning After Dark is the bold and insightful podcast where three powerhouse women in planning and development – Alex Notay, Catriona Riddell, and Jackie Sadek – shine a light on the industry’s biggest challenges, trends, and, yes, even a bit of behind-the-scenes gossip.

From navigating the complexities of development to debating the future of our cities, Planning After Dark is the no-holds-barred discussion you won’t want to miss.

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