Industry Responses to The Planning and Infrastructure Bill
In a move that could revolutionise the housing and infrastructure sectors, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill was introduced to Parliament on Tuesday, March 11. The bill, a substantial piece of legislation, is aimed at streamlining planning decisions, enhancing coordination, and removing delivery barriers to expedite the delivery of new homes, critical infrastructure, and boost economic growth.
At the heart of the bill is the government's ambitious target of delivering 1.5 million new homes within this Parliament. Supporters argue that the bill is crucial to achieving this goal by streamlining local planning processes. Delegating routine applications to professional planners will allow elected councillors to focus on the most significant or controversial cases, leading to more efficient housing delivery without reducing local input. Environmental protections remain intact, particularly for irreplaceable habitats like ancient woodland.
The bill also introduces a more strategic spatial approach to planning infrastructure, enhancing coordination across local, regional, and national levels. This includes a duty for some authorities to produce Spatial Development Strategies (SDSs) that align housing and infrastructure plans across boundaries. A national infrastructure spatial tool will integrate AI and various data sources to improve decision-making, build stronger investment cases, and increase confidence among developers and investors.
Experts emphasise the importance of removing delivery barriers through improved coordination and operational reforms. These reforms will accelerate consenting regimes, clarify policies for developers, reduce judicial review delays on major infrastructure projects, prioritise energy projects, and increase planning system resources.
However, concerns have been raised about potential double standards and the need to respect local authority powers. Some opposition voices express reservations about extending compulsory purchase order (CPO) powers, particularly their use beyond road projects, emphasising the need to better coordinate between authorities.
Industry voices such as the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and Places for People welcome the bill, with ABI members committing to invest £100 billion in productive assets and infrastructure over the next decade, including in energy and building new homes. Places for People emphasises the need for sustained investment and the right skills to turn the government's ambition for homebuilding into reality.
Cllr Adam Hug, Housing and Planning Spokesperson for the Local Government Association (LGA), expresses concerns about the bill ensuring councils remain at the heart of the planning process. The LGA supports measures in the bill such as making it easier for councils to purchase vacant land for house building, localising planning fees, and increasing planning capacity.
The bill follows on from the ambitions outlined in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the Government's Written Ministerial Statement 'Building the homes we need.' Tom Pike, Director of Planning at Lanpro, believes the bill will fundamentally change the planning and development sector for the better. Lawrence Turner, Director of Boyer, shares this sentiment, stating that the bill is exactly what the industry has been asking for to tackle the housing crisis.
As the bill progresses through Parliament, it is expected to face scrutiny and debate. However, with the support of industry experts, clients in the housing and infrastructure sectors, and a strong commitment to the Spending Review in June, the bill is poised to make a significant contribution to addressing long-standing delivery barriers and supporting economic growth.
- The local government, through the Local Government Association (LGA), has expressed concerns about ensuring councils remain central in the planning process, as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, crucial for achieving the government's housing target, moves forward.
- In the finance sector, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has pledged to invest £100 billion in productive assets and infrastructure over the next decade, including energy and building new homes, in support of the ambitious bill.
- The bill, set to revolutionise housing and infrastructure sectors, has garnered approval from industry experts like Tom Pike from Lanpro and Lawrence Turner from Boyer, who believe it will tackle the housing crisis effectively.
