The Labour Government will deliver its aim of building 1.5 million houses by ‘modernising planning committees.’
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has used his first King’s Speech to confirm the Government’s ambition to ‘get Britain building, including through planning reform, as they seek to accelerate the delivery of high-quality infrastructure and housing.’
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill aims to accelerate housebuilding by improving local planning decision making and by increasing local planning authorities’ capacity.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves last week pledged to reintroduce compulsory housing targets, which drew criticisms from local government.
Labour has previously promised to pay for 300 new planners for local authorities.
The Bill also seeks to streamline the delivery process for critical infrastructure in part by simplifying ‘the consenting process for major infrastructure projects’ and enabling ‘new and improved’ National Policy Statements to come forward.
Localis chief executive, Jonathan Werran, said: ‘Legislative plans outlined in today’s King’s Speech to reintroduce strategic planning, could be a gamechanger for housing supply and ultimately help “take the brakes off Britain”.’
He added: ‘Any reforms to planning will also have to be fully integrated with the Government’s infrastructure priorities and will need to be supported by better resources for local authorities to deliver on the ground the manifesto ambition for 1.5 million new homes over the lifetime of the parliament.’
