A significant development for the UK’s planning and infrastructure landscape occurred today as the government’s much-discussed Planning and Infrastructure Bill received Royal Assent, officially passing into law. The government has stated that the new Act aims to streamline the planning process, accelerate the delivery of new homes and major infrastructure projects, and bolster the nation’s energy security.
For our clients and partners in the development sector, this new legislation introduces several pivotal changes. The Act is designed to remove existing blockages within the planning system, with the government projecting it will speed up the construction of tens of thousands of homes and support the development of critical infrastructure including new roads, railway lines, and wind farms.
Key measures set to come into force immediately include:
| · Local authorities will be granted the power to set their own planning fees, a move intended to ensure they can cover the costs associated with processing applications for new homes and infrastructure. |
| · A new system of “spatial development strategies” will be introduced, requiring a more coordinated approach to planning across multiple local authorities to identify sustainable development locations and necessary supporting infrastructure. |
| · The process for connecting to the electricity grid will shift from a “first come, first served” model to a “first ready, first connected” system, prioritising clean power projects that are prepared for connection. |
The government anticipates that these reforms will inject up to £7.5 billion into the UK economy over the next decade while helping to achieve national targets of building 1.5 million new homes and delivering clean power by 2030 .
Chapman Lily Planning will continue to monitor the implementation of the Planning and Infrastructure Act closely. We will provide further updates and detailed analysis on how these changes will affect our clients’ projects and the broader planning environment.
