Civic Voice News

Civic Voice has revealed the full programme for this year’s Civic Voice Conference in Liverpool on Friday 17 April 2026. 9:30am–5:00pm. The conference will be held aboard the Daffodil, a former Mersey ferry permanently moored in Canning Dock, Liverpool (L3…

The Government has opened a consultation on a new, consolidated Draft Design and Placemaking Planning Practice Guidance (PPG). It is the second major planning consultation issued since December 2025 and is intended to sit alongside, and help implement, the proposed…

The Board of Civic Voice has today announced a significant and positive evolution in the organisation’s future operations, following a period of careful reflection and engagement with its membership. Having considered a range of options and listened closely to member…

The Government has issued another consultation, National Planning Policy Framework: Plan-making and national decision-making policies. The consultation comprises two main documents, one of 123 pages and another of 127 pages, together with a questionnaire comprising 223 questions. The National Planning…

Civic Voice has submitted a response to the latest consultation from MHCLG. You read our full response here. Our Expert Panel prepared this response and expressed concern at the abolition of Sports England as a statutory consultee and the failure…

The meetings in November showed clear support for Civic Voice to continue, initially as a volunteer run body whilst a review is undertaken of how to revitalise the organisation. The Board now feel confident that we can demonstrate that Civic…

The government has indicated that it will seek to promote housebuilding through new towns. The development of new towns is a long-term process and, in most cases, will only lead to the completion of additional housing in at least five…

The Civic Voice Expert Panel has discussed the Planning & Infrastructure Bill with particular reference to concerns about nature protection and recovery and produced a comment paper. Civic Voice support the concerns of the Office for Environmental Protection and others…

Civic Voice has undertaken a small-scale study of the publication of comments on local planning portals. That study has revealed a consistent pattern of preferences amongst civic societies. Societies want transparency in the publication of all comments, but also agree…

Trustees would like to clarify the arrangements for the AGM on 8 November, which is in person in Birmingham.  The first part of the meeting will be an opportunity for members to discuss Civic Voice’s future and consider a number…