The Public Bill Committee will scrutinise the Planning and Infrastructure Bill line by line when it meets later today, with its conclusion expected to be delivered by around 5pm.
The bill would make changes to the law around planning and infrastructure to support ambitions in the government’s Plan for Change. These ambitions include delivering 1.5 million homes and deciding 150 nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) before the end of the 2024 parliament.
According to existing proposals, the Bill would:
+ reform rules around nationally significant infrastructure projects (under the Planning Act 2008), including by requiring regular review of national policy statements and introducing a more focused consultation process;
+ speed up the delivery of electricity infrastructure, introduce a ‘cap and floor’ revenue support scheme for long duration energy storage technologies, and set up a benefits scheme for households living near new or significantly upgraded electricity transmission infrastructure;
+ streamline planning processes for transport projects consented under the Highways Act 1980 and Transport and Works Act 1992 regimes, including through new charging arrangements, revised timescales for consultation and decision-making, and powers to take temporary possession of and use land;
+ enable local authorities to set planning fees and charges locally, establish a national scheme of planning delegation, require mandatory training of planning committee members, introduce new strategic planning boards and clarify the process for spatial development strategies;
+ grant new powers for Natural England to produce ‘environmental development plans’ to assess the impact of projects on significant nature protection sites;
+ clarify the role and remit of development corporations to ensure a consistent approach to support large-scale housing delivery; and
bring together and streamline compulsory purchase procedures to enable greater flexibility for change and early possession of land.
The bill would extend to England and Wales, with some provisions for infrastructure also extending to Scotland.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill 2024-2025 was introduced to the House of Commons and had its first reading on 11 March 2025. Second reading was held on 24 March 2025.
Reflecting on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill 2024-2025, which was introduced to the House of Commons and had its first reading on 11 March 2025 and Second reading on 24 March 2025, Nathan Emerson, CEO at Propertymark, commented: “As the overall population across England continues to grow at speed, it remains imperative to ensure legislation keeps pace with ongoing housing demand. With the UK Government promising an additional 1.5m homes within the current parliamentary term, there must be vast reform and new pathways for investment regarding future housing.
“To generate robust legislation to assist with housing demand, it is right to evaluate the entire planning and infrastructure process from the ground upwards and streamline procedures. Propertymark is keen to see an increase in the volume of new homes built, and for this to happen, there must be careful consideration regarding the speeding up of planning approvals. They also must be full consideration to ensure local councils can facilitate new homes that are urgently needed, especially when it comes to the provision and specific skill sets of planning officers.”
Read the orginal article: https://propertyindustryeye.com/what-is-next-for-the-planning-and-infrastructure-bill/
