I was delighted to be commissioned to illustrate the cover of The Planner, and even more pleased when they wanted to give away the original artwork ✨ You can enter the draw via the link below, and see more of my work here: www.instagram.com/the_field_ar... www.theplanner.co.uk/2025/09/09/w...

Vicky Payne, Head of Place and Nature, @FutureHomesHub, provided an update on the recent work of the Hub, including on: 🔶 Future Homes Standard 🔶 Whole life carbon/embodied carbon 🔶 water readiness 🔶 homes for nature 🔶 biodiversity net gain #HBFPlanning25

I will be speaking at the @homebuildersfed.bsky.social conference next week on behalf of the Future Homes Hub, looking at our priorities and achievements over the last year, reflections on government progress and what might be to come. www.house-builder.co.uk/events/hbf-p...

"Actually a very weird thing to do" I promise this is not the entirety of my take on the task of building a new community for this LDN Collective Media film, produced towards the end of my time at Jas Bhalla Works. youtu.be/ox7kYwE-vQk?...

A big change! I have taken on the role of Head of Place and Nature at Future Homes Hub, a non-profit organisation that brings together homebuilders, government and supply chains to support the delivery of sustainable, high -quality new homes and communities. www.linkedin.com/posts/vicky-...

I really enjoyed talking with @pmsmith.bsky.social for the 50 Shades of Planning podcast: pod.co/50-shades-of.... I tend to think of the alternative to zoning as an expansion of development rights, but it's helpful to talk to British land use experts...

I had a lot of fun at UKREiiF last month, taking part in the light-hearted Tetra Tech event "Delay, Delay, Delay - Whose Fault Is It Anyway?" which invited panellists to give a three minute speech pointing the finger at those responsible for the UK's sluggish housing delivery!

And quite right too.Who doesn’t like going from Abergwaun/Fishguard to Caergybi/Holyhead via Ludlow in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿?🥴 Remember next time you’re on a crowded,uncomfortable sluggish train or replacement bus service in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 somewhere: you’re helping to make Cambridge-Oxford rail travel a lot better🤔🚂 #Annibyniaeth

I have been loving this book about Ruskin and had begun to see us as kindred spirits, totally aligned in our thinking and cruelly separated by time. But then I read this….🤦🏻‍♀️

Absolutely incredible stuff from Chris Spargo on why supermarkets have clock towers- a planning and design nerds dream that references the 1970’s Essex Design Guide vm.tiktok.com/ZNdkjU8KR/

The full conversation between Ben Castell, Katie Wray, Vicky Payne and Hana Loftus about design and placemaking, part of which featured in episode 136 of 50 Shades of Planning, is available now on YouTube. youtu.be/NSx4DHV66VU?...

Creating places through placemaking and design is a critical part of the @vistrygroup.bsky.social approach. Vistry Design Guide launched recently with @jasbhalla.bsky.social @vickypayne.bsky.social Visiting sites in build and completed is part of key continual learning - Whiteley Meadows.

Happy Easter! This piece draws on one of the origin stories of the Easter bunny, when ground-nesting birds like lapwings would lay their eggs in the shallow forms left by hares. www.instagram.com/p/DIqZ3-Ntg4...

We are hiring an urban designer! Come and nerd out with us about large scale masterplanning, new settlements and town centre strategies 🤩 www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/42...

New settlements are an integral part of the government’s emerging strategy to increase housing supply, but centres in new places have proved notoriously difficult to realise successfully. My latest column for The Planner (no paywall): www.theplanner.co.uk/2025/04/08/h...

An enjoyable ramblechat with @mspry.bsky.social, @simonicity.bsky.social, @hanaloftus.bsky.social + Mike Kiely at Soho Radio the other week on the 50 Shades of Planning podcast. Thanks @samuelstafford.bsky.social for the invitation + indulging our conversational meanderings! pod.co/50-shades-of...

Talking with Ben Castell, Katie Wray and Hana Loftus about Labour's progress on design and placemaking in the 50 Shades of Planning "Labour of Love II" conversation! Thanks @samuelstafford.bsky.social for the opportunity to take part. www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSx4...

Wonderful article by Ben Flatman for Building Design. about @jasbhalla.bsky.social and Jas Bhalla Works ❤️ Really proud to be working with Jas and the team at this exciting time. www.bdonline.co.uk/briefing/15-...

The Housing Design Awards database is SUCH a good resource - searchable by location, density, theme etc 😍 hdawards.org/scheme/jacob...

When you're inspired but you don't have quite the same access to resources...

Exciting times

Prof. Matthew Carmona: Evolving design codes, Earls Court shows the way matthew-carmona.com/2025/04/01/e...

It's that time of year again!

It's back! Great to talk design and placemaking progress from the now not-so-new Labour government with @bencastell.bsky.social , Katie Wray and @hanaloftus.bsky.social at 1:13:21 on this bumper episode of 50 Shades of Planning. Thanks @samuelstafford.bsky.social 🙌 pod.co/50-shades-of...

- Stretching the definition of "article". - A few things that are not the Planning and Infrastructure Bill ahead of our podcast record tomorrow @samuelstafford.bsky.social and the gang! - Plus, how is my blossom picture related to planning and urban design...? www.linkedin.com/pulse/improm...

Community-led housing delivers social and affordable homes for local people and empowers communities. This government is backing it with investment that will support the growth of the community-led housing sector. www.gov.uk/government/n...

I love being involved in projects, conversations and events relating to North Wales, my childhood home and an area I'm still very connected to. So I'm really excited to run a workshop for Colwyn Bay Town Council in May with David Rudlin! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-colwyn...

Balance, renewal, and a little bit of magic—welcome, Spring! ☀️🌙 The Spring Equinox is here, bringing equal light and dark, new beginnings, and the promise of growth. Happy Ostara! www.instagram.com/p/DHaf8rLNM-...

Our three highlights from the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Number 3 is my personal favourite having been involved in the Strategic Planning Group - thank you Prior + Partners @catrionariddell.bsky.social! What are you excited/disappointed by? www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

I don’t talk much on here about Endometriosis (always open to chats if you’re struggling) but felt compelled to write to The Guardian today about the framing of this treatment option. theguardian.com/society/2025...

Starting from April I will run 1 hour long online mentoring calls for women, trans and non-binary folks in the built environment industry. See link for more details and please share with anyone you think might be interested: www.linkedin.com/posts/vicky-...

I like this idea of putting a few degrees of separation between the self and any errors said self might make. "Apologies I appear to have misdirected myself" Next stage is surely "Apologies my self unexpectedly acted against my explicit direction" www.planningresource.co.uk/article/1908...

Thanks Prior + Partners + @catrionariddell.bsky.social for the opportunity to be part of the Strategic Planning Group. The final (for now) session with @matthewpennycookmp.bsky.social, Joanna Averley and @tobylloyd.bsky.social was a great way to round things off. Excited for the outputs!

TODAY 1pm: "How high-quality housing can be delivered in less well-off areas" www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-high-q...

📔Report launch📔 How to get centres working in new settlements? A huge challenge that no one is getting 100% right, but we have some pieces of the puzzle! We (JBW) have summarised our knowledge into a set of common issues and potential solutions: 👇 www.paperturn-view.com/jas-bhalla-w...

I’m sure it’s occurred to someone that by drawing where housing can’t go you’re simultaneously kind of drawing where it can

Getting town centres to work in new settlements- it’s challenging but not impossible. In the next week or so Jas Bhalla Works will be launching a short report consolidating our learning on this topic, setting out common issues and potential solutions. www.linkedin.com/posts/jas-bh...

So pleased to see our research being cited in this report - an excellent foreword by Andy Burnham Mayor of Greater Manchester too! @andyburnham.bsky.social globalfuturefoundation.com/reports/earn...

This issue is close to my heart + crucial to understand as we tackle the housing crisis. Very flattered to be asked to respond briefly to this important report "Tackling Inequality in Housing Design Quality" at the launch on 11th Feb. Sign up 👇 + RT www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-high-q...

This week I presented our masterplan for a “modern market town” garden community to the New Towns Taskforce roundtable www.linkedin.com/posts/jas-bh...

www.theguardian.com/food/2025/ja... A wonderful Friday read.

This is one way round any #greenbelt #goldenrules:

Enjoyed presenting at Earls Court Development Company breakfast roundtable this morning, sharing the process and findings of the design code review that I led in partnership with UCL + a panel of experts last year. An amazing site and an impressive code: issuu.com/earlscourtde...

Our first voting intention since the general election shows a close contest between Labour and Reform UK (12-13 Jan 2025) Labour: 26% Reform UK: 25% Conservatives: 22% Lib Dems: 14% Green: 8% SNP: 3% yougov.co.uk/politics/art...

So pleased to have had a small role in developing the #EarlsCourtDesignCode! Last year I led a panel of built environment professionals in partnership with Matthew Carmona of UCL to review the #EarlsCourtDesignCode + provide feedback to inform the final draft. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

This is Ty Hyll (The Ugly House - in Welsh). My family and I called in for a hot drink while on a walk over Christmas. We all said beauty was too subjective to be defined in the NPPF but apparently ugliness is more easily labelled 🥲 www.visitwales.com/attraction/h...

I write a semi-regular (read, sporadic) column for The Planner - you can read them all here: Based on my peak output of errr one every 2 months…I should probably be writing another one right about now 😅 www.theplanner.co.uk/authors/vick...

Yes! Been awaiting to encounter a podcast about Praxis! www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...