Design counsellor Proactive planning has a critical part to play in improving the quality of England's public realm, says the architect and planner asked by the government to review built environment policy.

Game changer The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is under threat from government plans to bypass slow-moving planning authorities. But its head of development management tells Susanna Millarthat it has turned the corner.

Out with the old, in with the new Bristol's first elected mayor has ambitious plans, including curbing the spread of supermarkets and reviving an axed arena project. But to do this, he tells Michael Donnelly, he needs a revamped city planning structure.

A man with a mission In his day job, the American Planning Association president must find room for 120,000 new homes in 20 years.

Property patron The British Property Federation chief tells Colin Marrs that planning is essential, but needs to be less burdensome on developers.

Quiet reformer The extent of the changes to Scotland's planning system may be as significant as those in England, but the country's planning minister is trying to avoid provocation in his dealings with the sector, reports John Geoghegan.