POS prepares publications reporting on the key issues, opportunities and challenges facing the planning sector to lobby for change and share best practice. 

In addition, POS aims to share relevant publications prepared by partner organisations that may be of use to its membership.

POS Member Survey

POS undertook a survey of its membership in summer 2025, with the results of this survey available below. 

POS Members Survey

Executive Summary

POS RTPI Concordat 

POS and the RTPI have signed a 5 year Concordat setting out the principles for joint working. 

POS RTPI Concordat

GOOD PRACTICE GUIDANCE NOTE - National Scheme of Delegation

03 June 2026
The new National Scheme of Delegation (NSD) will come into force on 31 October 2026. LPAs will need to review and update their constitutions to ensure they reflect the NSD. POS has developed a Good Practice Guidance Note (GPGN) containing advice and a series of templates covering each of the main requirements of the new NSD. The GPGN and templates are for use by POS members to streamline their constitutional review process and support POS members with a comprehensive and efficient update of their documentation and procedures to meet the NSD requirements.   Read more

GOOD PRACTICE GUIDANCE NOTE : Strategic Applications

05 May 2026
The POS Good Practice Guidance Note: Strategic Applications sets out how local planning authorities can shift from a traditional Development Team Service to a more proactive Design Team Service, ensuring that good design is embedded from the very start of major development proposals. The guide explains that Government now expects the planning system to “achieve well designed spaces” and treat the creation of high‑quality places as “fundamental to what the planning and development process should achieve” . It highlights national initiatives such as the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission and the National Design Guide, all reinforcing the need for stronger design leadership in planning. The guidance provides a structured five‑stage pre‑application model—Initiation, Urban Design, Community Engagement, Application Preparation and Closedown—aligned with the RIBA Plan of Work to maximise early influence on design outcomes. It emphasises collaborative working between planners, developers, councillors, communities and specialist consultees, supported by tools such as Planning Statements, Project Plans and Planning Performance Agreements. The overall aim is a front‑loaded, design‑led process that delivers better places, reduces risk, and ensures that strategic applications arrive as well‑considered, high‑quality proposals ready for determination.  Read more

RTPI publishes State of Profession Report

28 November 2025
The RTPI has recently published its State of the Profession report setting out recruitment, skills need, working practices and demographics of LPAs, and the career experiences, career plans, wellbeing and demographics of member respondents. These findings add to those gained through the POS Membership Survey run over the summer and demonstrate the need for greater support to ensure the sector can continue to deliver.  Read the RTPI report here:  ​ https://www.rtpi.org.uk/policy-and-research/state-of-the-profession-2025/state-of-the-profession-2025-england/ ​  Read more

POS Member Survey - Executive Summary

08 November 2025
The 2025 POS membership survey was run in summer 2025. An executive summary of the results is available here with a full power point slide deck available under a separate website entry, see below.  Read more

2025 POS MEMBER SURVEY RESULTS

15 October 2025
  Read more

Local Development Orders and Their Practical Implementation

14 April 2025
POS commissioned Adams Hendry to produce a best practice publication around the practical implementation of Local Development Orders  Read more

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