News
Lichfields recognised for its excellence in research with awards and a fellowship
07 Sept 2022Lichfields is delighted to have been commended twice at the 2022 RTPI Awards for Research Excellence.
Two of Lichfields’ research reports – both commissions for the Land Promoters and Developers Federation - were recognised in the Planning Practitioner category.
Taking Stock – prepared by a team led by Matthew Spry - explores how the pipeline of sites for housing development compares with what might be needed to meet the Government’s ambitions to deliver 300,000 net additional homes per year, taking into account how delivery varies across different parts of England.
Tracking Progress – prepared by a team led by Martin Taylor - does a deep dive into five local authority case studies, using their monitoring data to look at what is happening to individual planning permissions at the local level once granted.
Both reports unpack the relationship between planning permissions for residential development and housing delivery, challenging some of the unevidenced assertions made about alleged land banking.
The ceremony was held during the UK-Ireland Planning Research Conference at Manchester University. The RTPI research awards have now been running for eight years and Lichfields has had shortlisted entries each and every year, with six commendations and three winners.
In further recognition of Lichfields’ pre-eminent position in research and innovation, Senior Director and Head of the London Office Matthew Spry has been conferred Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences having been nominated by the RTPI. The Academy recognises Fellows as highly accomplished individuals known for excellence in their fields and their wider contributions to the social sciences for public benefit.
Our sustained recognition by the RTPI research awards reflects the rigorous and engaging approach we take to our planning research. The two reports commended this year both made significant contributions to the debate on housing supply and how the flow of permissions relates to the number of homes that are built. A new Prime Minister is likely to mean a fresh Government perspective on the direction of planning reform and we will continue to provide intelligence and insight to help inform the debate.
Matthew Spry, Senior Director