As regular listeners know there is often talk on the 50 Shades of Planning podcast about the role of local councillors in the planning system, in the context of, for example, overturning officer recommendations or a decision to withdraw a local plan.
There is talk less often about the role of MPs, which is something that friend of the podcast Andrew Taylor wanted to remedy and this is the third of what he and Sam Stafford hope will be five episodes exploring what it is to be a member of a parliament by way of conversations that Andrew records with representatives from the now five major parties.
Andrew, again regular listeners will know, is the Group Planning & Sustainability Director at Vistry.
This time he speaks to representatives of Reform UK.
The title of this episode is not 'Meet the MPs', as with the previous episodes in the series with representatives of Labour and the Liberal Democrats. In this episode listeners will meet a MP and a London Assembly Member (AM).
The AM in question is Alex Wilson. In a conversation recorded online in August 2026 Alex tells Andrew about his time, before switching allegiances, as a Conservative councillor in Redbridge that included a spell as the Cabinet member for planning. They then touch on the London Plan and the package of emergency measures proposed by the government and the Mayor of London to support housebuilding in the capital.
Having heard from Alex listeners will then hear from the MP for Boston & Skegness, and the Deputy Leader of Reform UK, Richard Tice.
In a conversation recorded online in September 2026 Richard tells Andrew about his background in property and the live property-related issues in his constituency, which also include viability. This led them to the planning teal paper, which was published during the recent Reform Party Conference and upon which Sam offers some reflections at the end of this episode.
Some accompanying reading.
Affordable Social Housing for Working Britain
Planning Teal Paper
Buckaroo!
Buckaroo! The burdens that have become a big problem for house building
Some accompanying viewing.
Local Government Reorganisation Paused: What happens next?
Some accompanying listening.
Immigrant Song – Led Zeppelin
Any other business.
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