As 2025 draws to a close, Squires Planning is looking back on a year punctuated with project successes, personal achievements and promises of planning reform in the pipeline!

It has been a successful year for the company, working with fantastic clients across the south of the UK and achieving positive outcomes across a range of projects, from solar PV installations and commercial warehousing to residential developments and Class MA conversions.

Let’s take a look back at some of the highlights.

Team growth and achievements

In June we were pleased to welcome Alban Henderson to the Squires Planning family as our Planning Director. Based in our Thames Valley Office, Alban has a wealth of experience and a reputation for delivering clear, outcome-focused planning advice.

His career spans both public and private sectors, having developed a strong foundation in both policy and development management at Swindon and West Berkshire Councils before moving into consultancy.

In November, our Managing Director Andrew Metcalfe was elected chair of the Royal Town Planning Institute Independent Consultants Network. This appointment is a testament to Andrew’s dedication to the planning profession and his commitment to supporting independent consultants across the UK.

The RTPI Independent Consultants Network plays a vital role in representing and connecting independent professionals, ensuring their voices are heard and their expertise recognised.

Results for our clients

Planning approvals have come thick and fast throughout 2025. The consistent theme has been helping clients unlock value, reduce planning risk and move projects forward with confidence. We are looking forward to continuing that momentum in 2026.

Here’s a run-down of some of our standout successes.

We secured multiple of commercial to residential conversions for various clients, including some via the Class MA approval route - a specific permitted development route. This has helped clients bring forward viable residential delivery with a faster route to consent and clear parameters for delivery.

In May we secured a flexible-use permission for our client at Hesdin Estate. This allows the site to be used for either holiday accommodation or residential dwellings, giving the client the freedom to adapt in line with market trends. Flexible permissions like this are a great example of how strategic planning can unlock long-term value for property owners.

We have, across various retail parks and commercial sites, provided planning support that enabled developments to proceed smoothly, helping clients to strengthen their retail portfolio and deliver spaces in line with demand.

Over the summer we supported a large-scale steel fabrication company in finding new premises. By reviewing potential sites early and advising on planning constraints upfront, we helped the client avoid surprises, protect the programme and support a smooth relocation.

Across the year, we have been proud to deliver permissions for schemes set to generate over 4,300kWp of renewable energy. From rooftops of commercial, agricultural and residential buildings to purpose-built sites, we’ve supported the growth of clean energy and helped clients contribute to a more sustainable future.

Elsewhere we have supported SME and private clients in gaining permission for a range of residential units, whether that is dwellings as part of a conversion of a listed building in Newbury, new apartments in Cirencester, or homes in Mid Sussex. Our focus has been to help them successfully navigate the planning process and unlock opportunities for growth.

Finally, we have also provided advice and guidance to public bodies on a range of planning matters, from neighbourhood plans to large-scale residential developments. Our input has focused on supporting effective decision-making, balancing community needs, and helping projects progress in a way that delivers public benefit.

Industry insights

Whilst we enjoy taking this opportunity to pause and reflect on a successful year, the planning system rarely stands still. We’re always keen to provide our clients, partners and followers with planning insights to keep them up to date with the latest trends.

With this in mind, here are our top three from 2025:

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG): Whilst introduced in 2024, BNG has still been a big talking point in 2025, particularly for small-scale proposals that often find it confusing and disproportionately costly. Despite these challenges, 2025 has also seen progress. Guidance has improved, and more local authorities are beginning to offer clearer pathways for compliance.

The Grey Belt: 2025 has seen a significant shift in Grey Belt planning outcomes. These are sites on lower-quality land within the Green Belt that may have been previously developed. Stats for 2025 include:

• 80% of major residential grey belt appeals have been approved.
• 1,600 new homes have been allowed on Grey Belt via planning appeals.

With more positive outcomes, developers will be looking to these sites throughout 2026 and beyond in the hope of delivering schemes that provide new homes, tackle housing affordability and offer opportunities for new infrastructure.

Housing Targets: Despite the promises before the 2024 election, the Labour Government is failing in its promise to deliver 1.5 million new homes during its tenure. Housebuilders have warned the government will miss its target, after the number of new homes started fell from 207,000 to 139,000 after Labour took office - the lowest since the Covid-19 pandemic.

2026: A look ahead

It wouldn’t be much of an end-of-year round-up without a look ahead to what the next 12 months have in store.

Here are our ‘ones to watch’:

We’re eagerly awaiting the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which should be with us before Christmas, but some policies have already been announced. For example, housebuilding near well-connected train stations will receive a default “yes” in future if it meets certain rules, ensuring more high-quality, affordable homes are built in and around our key towns and cities, saving commuters time and boosting access to housing.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill is also due to land soon. This Bill is the key to the Government’s plan to get Britain building again and deliver economic growth. The Government hopes it will speed up and streamline the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure, fast-tracking 150 planning decisions on major economic infrastructure projects by 2029. It also aims to support the delivery of a raft of clean energy projects before 2030.

Get planning for next year

Whatever development scheme you’re thinking about, Squires Planning can provide expertise and support to get you set up for a positive outcome.

We’re looking forward to a year packed with planning permissions across commercial, residential and Solar PV schemes, to name just a few.

If you would like to discuss your project to get 2026 off to a proactive start, we’re here to help.

Book a meeting today.