Planning Advisory Service
The Planning Advisory Service (PAS) was established in 2004 to provide planning help, advice and training to councils in England. It is part of the Local Government Association and provides training, guidance and forums for planning advise.
Some of these services are free, however, some are now paid for, although they are still provided at cost and in a way that supports the goals and ethos of local government.
Councils can join us as subscribers and will then gain access to events and briefings to keep them up-to-date, a quarterly ‘best practice' update and annual training session for councillors or planning committees.
In April 2016, The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) announced that it had has halved its grant to the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) for the financial year, 2016/17.
A DCLG spokesman said: “The Planning Advisory Service will continue to play a valuable role in helping councils deliver effective planning.
“We are still supporting the Service with a £1m grant. However, all parts of the public sector need to play their part in tackling the deficit and delivering greater value for money for the taxpayer.
“PAS will become more focused and targeted on working with councils whose performance needs to improve, while improving value for money.”
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
ECA, JIB and JTL back Fabian Society call to invest in skills for a stronger built environment workforce.
Women's Contributions to the Built Environment.
Calls for the delayed Circular Economy Strategy
Over 50 leading businesses, trade associations and professional bodies, including CIAT, and UKGBC sign open letter.
The future workforce: culture change and skill
Under the spotlight at UK Construction Week London.
A landmark moment for postmodern heritage.
A safe energy transition – ECA launches a new Charter
Practical policy actions to speed up low carbon adoption while maintaining installation safety and competency.
Frank Duffy: Researcher and Practitioner
Reflections on achievements and relevance to the wider research and practice communities.
The 2026 Compliance Landscape: Fire doors
Why 'Business as Usual' is a Liability.
Cutting construction carbon footprint by caring for soil
Is construction neglecting one of the planet’s most powerful carbon stores and one of our greatest natural climate allies.
ARCHITECTURE: How's it progressing?
Archiblogger posing questions of a historical and contextual nature.
The roofscape of Hampstead Garden Suburb
Residents, architects and roofers need to understand detailing.
Homes, landlords. tenants and the new housing standards
What will it all mean?
The Architectural Technology podcast: Where it's AT
Catch-up on the latest episodes.
Edmundson Apprentice of the Year award 2026
Entries now open for this Electrical Contractors' Association award.
Traditional blue-grey slate from one of the oldest and largest UK slate quarries down in Cornwall.
There are plenty of sources with the potential to be redeveloped.
Change of use legislation breaths new life into buildings
A run down on Class MA of the General Permitted Development Order.
Solar generation in the historic environment
Success requires understanding each site in detail.