Well yesterday saw the new government’s first reading of the new Localism Bill, an auspicious new wind in the planning system, though there are many ifs and buts about how it will work in practice in spatial planning. It will need good designers and facilitators to help communities make Neighbourhood Plans that are robust enough to get through the statutory processes. Not a lot is mentioned about how any allocations or plans might conflict with other EU designations or with EA regulations, but the principles suggest interesting developments ahead.