The industry has welcomed reforms laid out in the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which streamlines multiple planning processes to enable development.
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The industry has welcomed reforms laid out in the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which streamlines multiple planning processes to enable development
Debuted by deputy prime minister and housing lead Angela Rayner in Parliament on Tuesday 11 March, the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill seeks to enable delivery of the targeted 1.5m new homes by 2029 and associated infrastructure by streamlining planning processes, reducing the scope and influence of planning committees that could delay projects.
Increased resourcing and prioritising of clean energy infrastructure supporting these new developments will also benefit from the reforms laid out in the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Industry reactions have been largely positive
Read some of the more positive industry reactions below.
Sarah Barker, principal transport planner – transport and mobility planning at SLR Consulting
“The Planning and Infrastructure Bill sets out bold reforms to tackle many of the challenges we face to deliver sustainable development, including creating communities with homes, jobs and infrastructure, and delivering clean energy.
“Our Vision-led Planning approach sets out the desired outcomes of a new development and then identifies the placemaking and mobility interventions to realise these outcomes. The vision is a set out outcomes for a development centred around liveability, which are climate driven, healthy, accessible and inclusive.
“Changes will be made to the Highways Act and the Transport and Works Act so transport and mobility projects can progress smoothly, and we look forward to seeing the detail of these changes and supporting clients to deliver well-designed, sustainable and popular places.”
Lee Gordon, Planning & Infrastructure Consents partner at Walker Morris
“The newly announced Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduces sensible, well-considered reforms, many of which have been in the pipeline for some time. These extensive changes aim to improve and speed up various aspects of planning and delivery. I’d describe the reforms as largely evolutionary rather than revolutionary, which is a positive.
“Radical changes could disrupt already stretched planning departments, and that risk has largely been avoided. A predictable and supportive regulatory environment is essential for the development industry to thrive. The Bill seeks to streamline planning processes, reduce approval times for significant projects, and introduce measures like spatial development strategies, reducing opportunities for judicial reviews for major infrastructure projects and offering an easier and more strategic approach to ecological impacts. The latter is likely to be of particular significance for offshore renewables scheme.
“The practicalities around a number of the reforms will require detailed consideration with industry, including the integration of spatial planning so as to avoid unnecessary disruption. These reforms should on the whole though help support the delivery of new homes, drive clean energy development, and improve the efficiency of planning approvals. Overall, the reforms balance progress with stability.”
James Corrigan, UK managing director for infrastructure at Turner & Townsend
“Today’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill is one of the most substantive steps we’ve seen to unlock infrastructure in recent years. With widespread changes to the consenting regime for nationally significant infrastructure projects, it signals Labour’s commitment to reducing barriers to growth.
“A streamlined planning system for England, with faster decisions and less uncertainty over outcomes will give confidence to invest to both private and public partners alike.
“It also helps address the next challenge, which is delivery. If the government gets the consenting regime right, it will also allow better control throughout the project lifecycle too. Greater certainty will improve visibility – allowing major programmes to be set up for success from the outset.
“The final piece of the puzzle is then determining where new investment will be directed, and therefore where resource will need to be built up. For this we await the Infrastructure Strategy and Spending Review in the spring.
“The test for the government will be whether it can join these dots – leveraging the impact of this new bill to unlock investment in a pipeline that is deliverable, while also being ambitious enough to support growth.”
However, some felt that important areas had been missed
Martin Lambley, Global Product manager for Urban Climate Resilience at Wavin, said:
“Clarity on water management is a key missing piece in the Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill. The UK housebuilding industry will welcome a simpler, faster planning process, but skipping proper water policy for the sake of speed risks having the opposite effect.
“The Flood and Water Management Act is dripping through into law, but serious questions remain about implementation, not least when Schedule 3 will finally arrive, and today’s Bill offers little in terms of progress. The introduction of the Nature Restoration Fund could muddy the waters further – will the Fund allow developers to bypass obligation like Biodiversity Net Gain, for example?
“Everyone needs clarity on water regulation if we want our new developments to be resistant to extreme weather that will become more common in the near future. But it’s also about giving developers, planners, and installers the green light to start educating themselves on how to meet these regulations quickly and efficiently. We’ll only get the best from technologies such as Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) if everyone’s responsibilities are clear, and with clarity will come the speed that the Government is aiming for.”
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