Key construction industry figures have hailed the publication of the “landmark” Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Ministers introduced the legislation to Parliament yesterday (11 March), promising “bold action” to “get Britain building”.
Measures within it include overhauling the order in which new developments are connected to the power grid; fast-tracking green energy projects; strengthening new-towns legislation; and reducing consultation requirements for nationally significant infrastructure projects.
Mark Reynolds, executive chair of contractor Mace and co-chair of the Construction Leadership Council, said the proposed reforms “show this government is listening to industry”.
He added: “For too long the UK’s planning systems have inhibited growth, with layer upon layer of checks and balances stifling productivity, confidence, investment and jobs.
“These proposed changes recognise that new homes and infrastructure are necessary to inject life into the economy.”
Marie-Claude Hemming, director of operations at the Civil Engineering Contractors Association, said the “landmark legislation” would create a “smarter, faster and more effective” planning system.
She said “bureaucratic” processes had caused costly delays to projects without improving outcomes.
“These inefficiencies have burdened the taxpayer, impeded progress and held back the capacity of businesses and communities to grow and thrive,” added Hemming.
“We particularly welcome provisions in the bill that will fast-track new homes and infrastructure, ensuring that the default position in approving new schemes prioritises their potential to deliver growth and jobs.
“A simplified consenting process that accelerates project delivery will be essential to creating a UK that is competitive, future-ready and delivers to public expectations.”
Neil Jefferson, chief executive of the Home Builders Federation, said the planning overhaul was a “very welcome and positive step towards increasing housing supply”.
“Removing blockages, speeding up the decision-making process and ensuring local planning departments have the capacity to process applications effectively will be essential to getting more sites up and running,” he added.
“If the other constraints currently preventing housebuilders delivering more homes can be tackled, the changes made to planning will really allow output to accelerate.”
The government said the bill would “lay the groundwork” for a new approach to grid connections and green energy.
It said a “flawed” first-come-first-served process would be replaced by a first-ready-first-connected system that prioritised “the right homegrown clean power projects”.
Meanwhile, planning decisions for onshore and offshore wind, solar power, electricity grids, hydrogen, carbon capture and nuclear power stations would be fast-tracked under the legislation.
And consultation for nationally significant infrastructure projects would be made “less burdensome”, with strengthened guidance to expert bodies and local authorities about their role in the process.
National Policy Statements covering different infrastructure types would be updated at least every five years to reflect government priorities for infrastructure delivery.
Ministers said a national delegation scheme would set out which local planning decisions could be decided by officers rather than committee, with mandatory training to be brought in for relevant councillors.
The bill would also pave the way for a Nature Restoration Fund developers can pay into to fulfil environmental obligations more quickly.
Compulsory purchase of land for development would be made easier, while spatial development strategies would look across multiple planning authorities.
The bill largely seeks to amend existing legislation. A new section of the Planning Act 2008 would state that the secretary of state could direct that development consent is not required for a particular scheme to proceed.
This could occur where the secretary of state “considers that it is appropriate for an alternative consenting regime to apply”, no application had yet been made and the site was in England or a Renewable Energy Zone outside Scottish Government control.
Elsewhere, the Senior Courts Act 1981 would be amended to reduce routes for appeal against judicial review applications rejected by the High Court.
The bill also makes provisions that will align the powers of different types of development corporations, give them greater power to bring forward infrastructure, and grant them expanded transport powers.
The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 would be amended to allow the secretary of state to “prescribe requirements relating to the size and composition of a committee or sub-committee” discharging planning functions. Councillors on planning committees will have to gain certificates before exercising their powers.
Kylie Wesson, planning partner at law firm Shakespeare Martineau said developers would be “breathing a sigh of relief”.
“For too long, committee practice has slowed and stagnated planning decisions, with little oversight, intervention or accountability around decisions,” he said.
“A radical overhaul and the introduction of the national scheme of delegation is not only long overdue, but absolutely necessary to meet the ambitious housing targets set by the government last year. With so many flaws in the system, the government will have its work cut out to rectify them all at once.
“With these reforms set to reinvigorate the planning system, the government must now focus on winning hearts and minds in its war against nimbyism, and set to work educating the public on the necessity of development in their backyard.”
Deputy prime minister and housing secretary Angela Rayner said: “Time and again, blockers have been allowed to halt progress at every turn, which has weakened our energy security and left our country exposed to soaring energy bills for working people, families and businesses. This cannot and will not continue under my watch.
She added that the government was “taking bold action” in the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill to “fix the broken planning system, paving the way for us to get Britain building more vital infrastructure”.
The bill still has to pass through Parliament before becoming law.
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Greg Pitcher