What planning system issue would you say is topping developers’ risk register right now? The lack of local plans, perhaps, or the need to obtain flood risk assessments? Surely it couldn’t be sewage treatment, could it? More specifically, the lack of wastewater infrastructure to deal with the foul water output from new homes.

Actually, it could. “Among very many issues affecting the submission, determination and implementation of planning applications at this minute, this one is probably of most concern right now,” says Sam Stafford, managing director of the Land, Planning and Development Federation.

However, if the area you work in is not affected by this issue, then it is possible that you don’t know how it is conspiring to block development pipelines up and down the country. If your area is affected – then you probably already know how serious a threat it is.