The Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Key Changes and Impacts

Key Changes in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

1. Reforming Planning Committees

A national delegation system will decide which planning applications are handled by officers and which go to planning committees, ensuring consistency and efficiency across England.

The size and structure of planning committees may be regulated to improve decision-making, with a preference for smaller, more focused groups.

Mandatory training will be required for all committee members to ensure knowledge of key planning laws. Members who haven’t completed training will be barred from decision-making.

Local Planning Authorities must publish a list, making it clear who is qualified to make planning decisions.

2. Local Control Over Planning Fees

Councils and the Mayor of London will be able to set their own planning fees, but only up to full cost recovery—meaning fees can’t exceed the actual cost of processing applications.

Fee income will be ring-fenced for development management, ensuring it directly benefits planning services.

The Secretary of State can intervene if fees are considered too high, too low, or unfairly applied.

3. Strengthening Strategic Planning

The bill restores strategic planning across England, requiring combined authorities to create Spatial Development Strategies (SDS) to guide growth across wider regions.

These strategies will set housing targets and infrastructure plans but won’t allocate specific sites.

SDSs must align with climate change goals and nature recovery strategies, ensuring sustainable growth.

The process includes public consultation and independent examination, with the Secretary of State overseeing final decisions.

4. Faster Approvals for National Infrastructure Projects

National Policy Statements (NPSs), which guide infrastructure decisions, must be reviewed every five years and can be updated more easily.

Planning approvals for major infrastructure will be streamlined, reducing bureaucracy at the pre-application stage.

Some projects may be redirected to conventional planning routes if that’s a more efficient process.

Frivolous legal challenges will be restricted to prevent unnecessary delays.

5. Nature Recovery & Environmental Protections

A new Environmental Delivery Plan (EDP) will be introduced, overseen by Natural England, to ensure development contributes to nature recovery.

Developers will have to pay a levy to support conservation efforts if their projects impact protected areas.

6. Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) Made Easier

The compulsory purchase process will be simplified to speed up land acquisition for public projects.

Parish and community councils will gain expanded powers to buy land for affordable housing at fairer prices.

7. Expanding Development Corporation Powers

Development corporations, which help deliver major projects, will have greater flexibility in what and where they can develop.

Their objectives will be updated to include climate action and sustainability.

New infrastructure projects, such as heat networks and expanded public transport, will be easier to implement.

8. Major Energy Infrastructure Reforms

A new compensation scheme will support residents living near large transmission infrastructure.

The grid connection process will shift from a “first come, first served” approach to “first ready, first connected”, ensuring faster deployment of clean energy.

The Forestry Act will be updated to allow woodland areas to be used for renewable energy projects.

9. Transport Infrastructure Improvements

Electric vehicle charging points will no longer require specific licences, making them easier to roll out  nationwide.

The Transport and Works Act and Highways Act will be updated to speed up planning decisions, improve cost recovery, and streamline approval processes.

What Does This Mean?

If the bill is passed,  the intention is that it will reshape the planning system, aiming to make it -

Faster – By cutting bureaucracy and streamlining decisions. 

More efficient – By allowing councils to set their own planning fees and reinvest in services. 

More strategic – With regional plans guiding development across larger areas. 

Greener – Ensuring projects support climate goals and nature recovery.

We shall await the bill’s progress with interest.