Town Planning Expert

31/10/2026

A very happy Halloween from all the team at TPX 🎃

30/10/2026

Find out if your site works: before you spend.

We've launched The TPX App, a free digital platform from Town Planning Expert that puts instant planning insight in your pocket for any site in England.

What you can do inside:

• HMO Checklist, run a free first-stage check on your HMO project's viability
• Class MA Checklist, check key requirements for commercial-to-residential conversions under Permitted Development
• Class Q Checklist, assess agricultural-to-residential conversion potential
• Planning Permission Checklist: the early requirements for a new application, in one place
• Planning Constraints Checklist: Green Belt, conservation areas, flood risk and more, before you commit
• Use Classes Search: what could that building be used for? Look it up under the Use Classes Order
• Site capacity and HMO bedroom calculators: instant estimates from your floorspace
• Housing Delivery Test results for your local authority, and what they mean for your application
• Direct expert advice, send your planning question straight to our RTPI-chartered planners

It's completely free, built for homeowners, landlords, developers and anyone new to planning.

Have a site in mind? Try The TPX App now at www.thetpxapp.com

29/10/2026

Jon has arrived as it’s our TPX Academy Secret Society day - Your Unfair Advantage in Property Development 🤫

Our secret society gives you access to an exclusive monthly membership and high-impact advantage designed to keep your projects moving and your pipeline profitable.

Currently we have a limited number of Secret Society spaces available! Find out more about joining: https://tpx.org.uk/secret-society

28/10/2026

This Saturday, 31 October, England's new national scheme of delegation comes into force. From that day, the way planning applications reach a decision changes for good.

If you have an application live, or you're thinking about objecting to one, here's what to know before the weekend:

For applicants:
• Householder and minor schemes fall under Schedule 1 and must be decided by professional planning officers. Councillors lose the right to call them up to committee.
• Larger schemes sit under Schedule 2 and are decided by officers by default. A committee hearing is only possible if the application passes a two-part gateway test on its significance, agreed by a nominated officer and member.
• The number of objections no longer decides the route. A hundred letters will not send a Schedule 1 scheme to committee.

For objectors:
• You can still comment, and strong planning reasons still matter. But your case now has to persuade the officer who decides the application, not a room of councillors.
• Focus submissions on policy, impact and evidence. The days of lobbying ward members for a call-in are ending for minor schemes.

One practical note: if you have an application still in the system this week, check with your case officer how the change affects its likely decision route. And think carefully before withdrawing and resubmitting after 31 October, because a fresh application brings a new fee, a refreshed timetable and no guarantee of the outcome you're hoping for.

The rules are changing, not the law of planning judgment. Solid evidence, clear policy compliance and honest impact assessment still win.

Three days to go. If you'd like clarity on how your project will be decided, our RTPI-chartered planners can talk it through.

27/10/2026

27/10/2026

⚠️ Landlords & HMO Investors: Don’t get caught out by the 2026 Article 4 wave.

The landscape for small HMOs is shifting rapidly. Councils across the UK are aggressively implementing new Article 4 Directions to restrict C3 to C4 conversions, turning what used to be a straightforward process into a complex planning hurdle.

Before you make an offer or sink money into your next conversion, our latest article breaks down:

✅The recent council rollouts (and why you can't assume your area is safe)
✅The crucial difference between an HMO license and planning permission
✅A practical pre-acquisition checklist to protect your investment

Read the full insight from our RTPI-chartered planners here: https://tpx.org.uk/news/article-4-directions-for-small-hmos-the-2026-council-crackdown-landlords-cant-afford-to-miss

27/10/2026

The new TPX app has landed! 📲

Navigating the complexities of town planning, use classes, and planning permissions in England can feel like guesswork. What if you could get expert-backed clarity on your project before spending a penny?

Meet the TPX (Town Planning Expert) app— your digital companion for ethical growth and professional planning guidance.

Whether you're evaluating a potential site, checking conversion regulations, or mapping out your next project, the TPX App gives you the tools to move forward with confidence. Our planning app for everyone!

Visit our new app: https://thetpxapp.com/

26/10/2026

A BIG PLANNING WIN FROM THE TPX HQ ✅

This is a big one! A fantastic planning win from the TPX HQ, down to hard work from the team. Planning permission granted for a s73 variation for Debenhams on Palmerston Road, Southsea, Portsmouth. 134 dwellings!

Find out how we can help you on your property and planning journey. Visit tpx.org.uk

26/10/2026

Most streets have a gap like this. Most people walk straight past it.

I’ll be showing how I spot sites like this, work out who owns them and get an offer in front of them within days, as part of the Mountbatten Estates Planning & Property Development Summit, live on Zoom across Friday 6th, Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th November. Eleven speakers, all doing deals right now, with over £20,000 in prizes for those who attend.

Only a handful of free seats remain, and once they’re gone tickets are £99 per person. It’s first come, first served, so book early to secure your spot.

Comment “SUMMIT” and we’ll send you the link to reserve your spot.

Tag someone who walks past sites like this every day

26/10/2026

Can AI replace a town planner? 🤔

While artificial intelligence is transforming how we process data, review local policies, and handle site assessments, technology alone can’t navigate the complex politics, human judgment, and nuanced negotiations required to secure planning permission.

In our latest post, we break down where technology genuinely helps streamline the system—and why an experienced, RTPI-chartered planner remains irreplaceable for your project.

Read the full insight: https://tpx.org.uk/news/article-4-directions-for-small-hmos-the-2026-council-crackdown-landlords-cant-afford-to-miss