The government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill has received Royal Assent.
The government says that the landmark Act will remove blockages and delays in the planning system, accelerating the construction of tens of thousands of new homes across every region. In addition, it will get dozens of new roads, railway lines, windfarms, and key critical infrastructure built quicker – all while securing a win-win for the environment and the economy.
Housing secretary, Steve Reed, said: “Britain’s growth has been held back by a sluggish planning system, slamming the brakes on building and standing in the way of fixing the housing crisis for good,” said housing secretary Steve Reed.
“Today that changes. Our landmark Planning and Infrastructure Act will tear down barriers to growth, and this means getting spades in the ground faster, unshackling projects stuck in planning limbo and crucially unlocking a win-win for the environment and the economy.”
“We’re ushering in a new era to build 1.5 million homes that will give families a secure roof over their head, alongside key infrastructure to create high-paying jobs and power our homes and businesses. That’s exactly the Britain I want to see so it’s time to get on with the job and build baby build.”
Key changes in the Act include:
- New Nature Restoration Fund will allow developers to get spades in the ground faster for multiple housing and infrastructure projects, with Natural England putting in place pro-nature measures at scale to restore natural habitats and wildlife.
- Limiting the number of attempts at legal challenge against government decisions on major infrastructure projects, with only one attempt rather than three for cases deemed by the court as totally without merit.
- Modernising planning committees to focus on the most significant developments rather than smaller projects, speeding up local decisions on new homes.
- Extra powers for development corporations to speed up delivery of large-scale projects, including the next generation of new towns, with more affordable homes and public transport.
- Simplifying the approval process for new EV chargers on public roads to save time and costs while supporting clean power.
- Enabling electricity bill discounts of up to £2,500 over 10 years for communities hosting new pylons and transmission infrastructure.
- Making it easier to acquire land for new homes, GP surgeries, and schools.
Chancellor of the exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said: “We promised to grasp the nettle of planning reform – and we’re delivering. This landmark legislation ends years of dither and delay that has held back too many vital projects, like Lower Thames Crossing and Sizewell C.”
“And we’re not stopping there, this government will leave no stone unturned to get spades in the ground – building the homes families need and the infrastructure our economy needs to thrive.”
Sam Bensted, assistant director of the British Property Federation, said: “The Planning and Infrastructure Bill gaining Royal Assent is welcome and should pave the way for more strategic planning and streamlined decision making at the local level.”
“It is crucial that more homes are delivered and at pace to meet housing need. Greater certainty in the local planning process, and the greater delegation of planning decisions to planning officers, should go some way to achieving this. A lot of the detail that will come forward through the emerging Spatial Development Strategies is still to be worked up, and it is vital that these new strategic plans also effectively plan for employment uses to generate jobs alongside new homes. The larger than local approach must be applied to industrial and logistics space, which enables goods to move efficiently around the country, boosts employment and creates economically sustainable communities. The detail around the Environmental Delivery Plans and the new Nature Restoration Fund will be crucial. We want reassurance that the new approach will be delivered in a way that genuinely protects and restores nature in tandem with speeding up the development process.”
Tom Pike, director of planning at Lanpro, said: “The Royal Assent of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill represents a significant step forward in creating a more predictable, efficient, and investment-ready planning system. By reducing delays, improving clarity for decision-makers, and streamlining approvals, the Bill will help unlock private investment, accelerate the delivery of homes, employment space and strategic infrastructure, and support long-term economic growth. Greater certainty across the planning system will be welcomed by businesses, investors, and developers alike, providing a stronger platform for sustainable growth and the transition to a secure, clean energy future.”
