POS undertakes research and prepares publications reporting on the key issues, opportunities and challenges facing the planning sector.
In addition, POS aims to share relevant publications prepared by partner organisations that may be of use to its membership.
POS RESEARCH - In progress
POS has commissioned LSE Consulting to work with us on undertaking research and developing case studies on How many new homes are not new builds - and how can planning help to deliver more?
Much of recent governments’ approaches to increasing housing supply is focused on delivering new build homes. But alongside building new homes, there are other mechanisms available to increase housing supply. These can include (inter alia):
- bringing vacant homes back to the market (2025 data of 754,264 vacant dwellings in England, albeit not all will be suitable for reuse),
- converting commercial and industrial properties into large scale residential use
- converting existing homes, e.g. homes above shops and or historic or landmark buildings in town centres
- tax measures preventing significant areas being dominated by homes used as investments or seasonal use, rather than primary residences.
POS has commissioned LSE Consulting to work with us to develop case studies which demonstrate success in increasing an area’s housing supply, creating new homes that do not rely on new builds, and ensuring planning is a key part of placemaking, building communities for the future.
From these case studies best practice guidance notes will be developed, allowing local planning authorities to adopt similar processes in their areas and / or scale up existing initiatives. POS is looking to develop guidance that planners, working with colleagues across the placemaking spectrum, can implement to create a step-change in the supply of homes available to buy or rent in their local area.
Please get in touch (Karen Chapman, projectmanager@planningofficers.org.uk) if you want to be a case study or just want more information. You can also find out more on the LSE Consulting page here: https://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/lsehousing/research/delivering-new-homes/
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
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.
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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.
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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/
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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.
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14 April 2025
POS commissioned Adams Hendry to produce a best practice publication around the practical implementation of Local Development Orders
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