On 11 March 2025, the UK government introduced the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to Parliament, aiming to address the nation’s housing crisis and accelerate the development of critical infrastructure. This legislation sets out to streamline planning processes, promote environmental sustainability, and enhance energy security.
RHA Policy lead James Barwise said: “We welcome measures announced in the Planning Bill to accelerate the delivery of infrastructure that’s vital for our industry. In recent years, the average timeline for gaining planning consent for major projects has increased from 2.6 years to 4.2 and the number of projects that are subject to successful legal challenge is increasing.
“These challenges delay new highways projects, logistics hubs and other major schemes which are key for our industry and the wider economy.”
“Last year, the RHA’s message to the new government was clear: To deliver long-term growth, the planning system must be overhauled and made fit for purpose.
“We’re glad to see the government has heard our message loud and clear, and the measures in this Planning Bill are the initial steps on a long journey to delivering the fit for purpose infrastructure that the freight and logistics sector needs”
Logistics UK Head of Infrastructure and Planning Policy Jonathan Walker says the business group’s 21,000 members support the government’s intention to reform planning, providing logistics infrastructure exists to support new communities and all sectors of the economy:
“Nothing moves without logistics, and it is the foundation of any successful economic activity, whatever the industry. Planning reform that speeds up the development of nationally significant infrastructure is long overdue and will mean the logistics sector can contribute significantly to the government’s growth agenda and drive prosperity throughout the UK.
“However, our members will need to scrutinise the Bill in detail to ensure that greater housebuilding is complemented by reforms that enable suitable logistics development to support a growing economy. The reality is that logistics infrastructure needs to be developed in conjunction with any significant housebuilding programmes so it can efficiently and sustainably service the resulting new communities, having delivered all the materials needed for new homes in the first instance.”
Key Objectives of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill:
- Accelerated Housing Development: The Bill commits to delivering 1.5 million homes within the current parliamentary term. To achieve this, it proposes reforms to the planning system, including empowering planning officers to approve applications that comply with local plans and the National Planning Policy Framework, thereby reducing delays associated with committee decisions.
- Streamlined Infrastructure Planning: The legislation aims to expedite decisions on at least 150 major infrastructure projects, encompassing roads, railways, and renewable energy initiatives. By simplifying the consenting process and reducing bureaucratic hurdles, the government intends to foster economic growth and improve national connectivity.
- Environmental Conservation: A Nature Restoration Fund will be established, allowing developers to contribute towards large-scale environmental projects. This approach seeks to efficiently mitigate the ecological impacts of new developments and enhance biodiversity across the country.
- Compulsory Purchase Reforms: The Bill proposes changes to the compulsory purchase system to facilitate swifter development of public interest projects. By addressing issues related to ‘hope value’—the speculative increase in land value due to potential planning permissions—the government aims to make land acquisition more equitable and efficient.
- Energy Infrastructure Enhancement: To bolster energy security and support the transition to clean energy, the Bill includes measures to prioritise grid connections for renewable projects. This involves replacing the ‘first come, first served’ approach with a ‘first ready, first connected’ system, ensuring that ready-to-go clean power projects are expedited.
- Local Planning Authority Reforms: The legislation introduces a national scheme of delegation, delineating which types of applications should be determined by planning officers and which should go before committees. This aims to standardise decision-making processes across local authorities and enhance the efficiency of the planning system.
- Support for Affected Communities: Recognising the impact of new infrastructure on local residents, the Bill proposes measures such as offering discounts of up to £2,500 on electricity bills for those living within 500 metres of new pylons. This initiative seeks to balance the need for infrastructure development with community welfare.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill represents a comprehensive effort by the government to modernise the UK’s planning framework, stimulate economic growth, and promote environmental sustainability. Its successful implementation will depend on balancing the interests of development with community and environmental considerations.
