"The second (epochal change) is the technology revolution led by developments in artificial intelligence, which will change everything. I mean everything. There is no point in debating whether this technological revolution is a good or bad thing. Just know it is a ‘thing’. In fact, it is ‘the thing’. It will displace jobs, though creating new ones, but no one yet knows the full consequence. Companies and countries will rise or fall on the back of it. It will revolutionise the private sector and should in time revolutionise public services and government. Yet people in most countries, including Britain, have no idea what is about to hit them."
So wrote Tony Blair in his recent essay ‘The Labour Party Is Playing With Fire Over Its Future and the Future of the Country.’
What is about to hit us? What are the implications of AI in the planning context? What does it mean for what we do now and what we might do in the future? What are the legal implications? The data implications? The implications for public engagement?
These are themes that were explored in a conversation recorded online back in February of this year between old friends of the podcast Hashi Mohamed, Kathryn Ventham and Sue Chadwick, and new friend of the podcast Harry Quartermain.
Hashi, who steered the conversation, is an author and a barrister at Landmark Chambers; Kathryn is a Senior Director at Twenty5 Planning; and Sue is a strategic advisor at Pinsent Masons. Harry is Head of Insight & Research at LandTech and an Associate Lecturer at the University of the Built Environment.
Due to some technical issues on the day another new friend of the podcast, Graham Stallwood, was unable to join the recording, but Graham, Interim Chief Executive at the Planning Inspectorate, listened to it and provided an addendum that Sam Stafford drops in at the end of the episode.
Some accompanying reading.
Podcast episode 170: The Tip of the AIceberg
Are we consulting with people?
The Labour Party Is Playing With Fire Over Its Future and the Future of the Country
Digital planning in England
Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Judicial Guidance (October 2025)
Use of artificial intelligence in casework evidence
How AI is slowing down the planning system and what we can do about it
English councils to trial Google AI tool to speed up planning decisions
Some accompanying viewing.
A new planning system and future-ready planners
Some accompanying listening.
Is AI Too Powerful to Control Responsibly?
Jim James - State Of The Art (A.E.I.O.U.)
Any other business.
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If you are a new listener do please check out the back catalogue where you will find episodes on myriad planning topics, as well as the Hitting The High Notes and All Around the World series, and remember that by subscribing new episodes will magically appear in your phone as soon as Sam has published them.
50 Shades of Planning is the podcast by planners and for planners and so if you would like to use it as a platform for sharing anything you think that the sector needs to be talking about then you are also very welcome to get in touch with Sam.
Sam is grateful to Richborough, Town Legal and Tyler Grange for supporting the podcast; to Vistry for sponsoring the 50 Shades mugs; and to Adrian Meehan for recording and editing this episode.
