diff --git a/vppcfg/vpp/planner.py b/vppcfg/vpp/planner.py
index 1eb50a2..c4f4c74 100644
--- a/vppcfg/vpp/planner.py
+++ b/vppcfg/vpp/planner.py
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ metadata, and plan configuration changes towards a given YAML target configurati
 """
 import sys
 import logging
-from vppcfg.config import loopback
 from vppcfg.config import interface
 from vppcfg.config import lcp
 from .vppapi import VPPApi
@@ -43,6 +42,7 @@ class Planner(PlannerPruneOperations, PlannerCreateOperations, PlannerSyncOperat
         vpp_api_socket="/run/vpp/api.sock",
         vpp_json_dir=None,
     ):
+        super().__init__()
         self.logger = logging.getLogger("vppcfg.planner")
         self.logger.addHandler(logging.NullHandler())
 
@@ -84,7 +84,6 @@ class Planner(PlannerPruneOperations, PlannerCreateOperations, PlannerSyncOperat
                 ret = False
         return ret
 
-
     def write(self, outfile, emit_ok=False):
         """Emit the CLI contents to stdout (if outfile=='-') or a named file otherwise.
         If the 'emit_ok' flag is False, emit a warning at the top and bottom of the file.
diff --git a/vppcfg/vpp/planner_base.py b/vppcfg/vpp/planner_base.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..babcc46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vppcfg/vpp/planner_base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2022 Pim van Pelt
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at:
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+#
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+"""
+Base class defining the interface expected by planner mixins.
+"""
+
+from abc import ABC
+from typing import Dict, Any, List
+
+
+class PlannerBase(ABC):  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
+    """Abstract base class defining the interface expected by planner mixins."""
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        # These attributes will be set by the concrete Planner class
+        self.cfg: Dict[str, Any]
+        self.vpp: Any  # VPPApi instance
+        self.logger: Any  # Logger instance
+        self.cli: Dict[str, List[str]]  # CLI commands grouped by operation type
diff --git a/vppcfg/vpp/planner_create.py b/vppcfg/vpp/planner_create.py
index 7b255bd..70e5d8c 100644
--- a/vppcfg/vpp/planner_create.py
+++ b/vppcfg/vpp/planner_create.py
@@ -23,9 +23,10 @@ from vppcfg.config import bondethernet
 from vppcfg.config import bridgedomain
 from vppcfg.config import vxlan_tunnel
 from vppcfg.config import tap
+from .planner_base import PlannerBase
 
 
-class PlannerCreateOperations:
+class PlannerCreateOperations(PlannerBase):  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
     """Mixin class providing create operations for the Planner."""
 
     def create(self):
@@ -213,4 +214,4 @@ class PlannerCreateOperations:
                     continue
                 cli = f"lcp create {ifname} host-if {iface['lcp']}"
                 self.cli["create"].append(cli)
-        return True
\ No newline at end of file
+        return True
diff --git a/vppcfg/vpp/planner_prune.py b/vppcfg/vpp/planner_prune.py
index 0f1d58b..1eb9349 100644
--- a/vppcfg/vpp/planner_prune.py
+++ b/vppcfg/vpp/planner_prune.py
@@ -22,11 +22,11 @@ from vppcfg.config import interface
 from vppcfg.config import bondethernet
 from vppcfg.config import bridgedomain
 from vppcfg.config import vxlan_tunnel
-from vppcfg.config import lcp
 from vppcfg.config import tap
+from .planner_base import PlannerBase
 
 
-class PlannerPruneOperations:
+class PlannerPruneOperations(PlannerBase):  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
     """Mixin class providing prune operations for the Planner."""
 
     def prune(self):
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ class PlannerPruneOperations:
             return True
         return False
 
-    def _tap_has_diff(self, ifname):
+    def _tap_has_diff(self, ifname):  # pylint: disable=too-many-return-statements
         """Returns True if the given ifname (tap0) has different attributes between VPP
         and the given configuration, or if either does not exist.
 
@@ -692,4 +692,4 @@ class PlannerPruneOperations:
                     cli = f"set interface state {ifname} down"
                     self.cli["prune"].append(cli)
 
-        return True
\ No newline at end of file
+        return True
diff --git a/vppcfg/vpp/planner_sync.py b/vppcfg/vpp/planner_sync.py
index 318151d..3d7e3eb 100644
--- a/vppcfg/vpp/planner_sync.py
+++ b/vppcfg/vpp/planner_sync.py
@@ -21,9 +21,10 @@ from vppcfg.config import loopback
 from vppcfg.config import interface
 from vppcfg.config import bondethernet
 from vppcfg.config import bridgedomain
+from .planner_base import PlannerBase
 
 
-class PlannerSyncOperations:
+class PlannerSyncOperations(PlannerBase):  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
     """Mixin class providing sync operations for the Planner."""
 
     def sync(self):
@@ -589,4 +590,4 @@ class PlannerSyncOperations:
                 state = "down"
             cli = f"set interface state {vpp_ifname} {state}"
             self.cli["sync"].append(cli)
-        return True
\ No newline at end of file
+        return True