News

The new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) came into effect on 17 August, bringing further, immediate, changes to the way development proposals will be considered across England.

We’re pleased to welcome Emily Doughty back to RDC as she begins a degree apprenticeship in town planning, combining postgraduate study with practical experience.

As Principal Architect at RDC, Paul leads our Architectural team to deliver excellence from project concept through to completion. Collaboration sits at the heart of our design ethos, and we sat down with Paul to introduce the mind behind the design.

We’re pleased to welcome Maria Karaolides as an Architect to the team at RDC. With over 25 years’ experience, Maria brings a wealth of expertise across education, community and heritage projects, along with a strong track record of delivering thoughtful, high-quality design.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) continues to evolve, with a number of important changes coming into effect on 6 August 2026.

With the Planning and Infrastructure Act reinforcing a more directive, plan-led system, understanding how development plans are formed, updated and applied has never been more important. In this article, our Town Planner, Michael Braithwaite explains in detail how Local Plans and Neighbourhood Plans interact in practice, and why early engagement with both is increasingly critical for developers, landowners and local authorities seeking to secure policy-compliant, sustainable development.

In this article, RDC’s Managing Director, Robert Doughty, breaks down the new legislation to give an overview of the key reforms and outline the practical implications for anyone involved in the development process.

We’re pleased to welcome Shima Elshaikh, who has joined RDC as a Graduate Town Planner following the completion of a Master’s in Civic Design (Town and Regional Planning) at the University of Liverpool.

Have a question or want to learn more? Contact our team.