King’s Speech and the Forthcoming ‘Planning and Infrastructure Bill’

Following on from our recent article about likely changes in planning under the new Labour government, the King’s Speech on 17th July confirmed what is likely to take place in this parliament.

Measures to deliver on Labour’s promise to build 1.5million homes in the next parliament are among 35 draft bills that were read out by King Charles.

The speech confirmed the Government’s commitment to planning reform being central to their plans to strengthen economic growth. The planning process will be sped up and streamlined. Building more housing and infrastructure will be key. A follow-up statement from the Cabinet Office on 18th July confirmed that residents will only be able to control “how, not if” housing and infrastructure are delivered.

Commentators on the new proposals consider that once land has been identified by local planning authorities, there will be a “presumption in favour of development”, with local residents able to agree the style of new housing but not object to it getting built.  In addition, councils that fail to produce timely development plans will see ministers step in and impose house building blueprints on them.

Firmer rules are likely to be set out ensuring that big infrastructure projects such as roads, railways and reservoirs are approved quickly. This is likely to see onshore wind farms as well as laboratories and data centres classed as nationally significant infrastructure, with decisions likely to be made by ministers rather than local councils.

The King’s Speech also made reference to an ‘English Devolution Bill’ giving new powers to metro mayors and combined authorities to support local growth plans that bring economic benefit to communities. This would essentially transfer more power out of Westminster. According to the 18th July Cabinet Office statement, Mayors will be given new planning powers to “work across local authorities in their area to identify the most promising sites for development”.

Measures not mentioned include a New Towns Bill which was due to contain proposals to push ahead with the next generation of new towns and the strengthening of compulsory purchase powers.