In this episode, I step back and explain what planning actually is, and why it so often feels confusing, frustrating, or unpredictable for homeowners.

Rather than focusing on tactics or outcomes, I walk through the different planning routes, such as Permitted Development, householder planning, full planning, and prior approval, and explain what each of them is designed to do. We look at why some projects are checked against fixed rules, while others are judged in context, and how problems often begin when expectations don’t match the type of submission being made.

This episode is about giving you a clearer mental map of the planning system before you engage with it, so you can choose the right route, ask better questions, and avoid mistakes that are difficult to undo later. It’s not about beating planning, but about understanding how  ...