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