Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Angela Rayner has described the introduction of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill as ‘creating the biggest building boom in a generation’ following its first reading in Parliament.
Much of the bill has been previewed in recent months following the announcement in January it would be introduced in the Spring; its aim says Rayner is to ‘help builders get shovels in the ground quicker to build more homes, and the vital infrastructure we need to improve transport links and make Britain a clean energy superpower to protect billpayers.’
The bill will introduce reforms to cut red tape around planning decisions and speed up the process. In it’s announcement this week the government said planning committees, compulsory purchases, and the ability of planning decisions to be challenged will all be tackled.
As reported this week, decisions on which plans for housebuilding developments should be determined by officers and which should go to committee are being introduced through the bill; with councils able to set their own planning fees to allow them to cover their costs and reinvest back into the system.
Improvements to the compulsory purchase process for land acquired for projects that are in the public interest are to be brought forward through the bill, with decisions placed in the hands of local inspectors, councils or mayors where there are no objections instead of the Secretary of State. Reform to compensation paid to landowners will ensure it is not ‘excessive’and the process of using directions to remove ‘hope value’ will be sped up.
Other reforms include strengthening Development Corporations will support the delivery of plans to build new towns with necessary infrastructure including GP surgeries, schools and public transport; the introduction of a system of ‘strategic planning’ across England known as spatial development strategies, to deliver a more joined up approach to sustainable areas to build, development needs and infrastructure requirements; speeding up National Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) and reducing the number of legal challenges.
One of the more eye-catching elements of the bill is the promise to offset the extensive infrastructure needed to build the network of clean energy transmission and storage required to move away from fossil fuels faster, with lower energy bills for those affected. The government say ‘around twice as much new transmission network infrastructure will be needed by 2030 as has been built in the past decade and Britain’s electricity grid needs a 21st century overhaul to connect the right power in the right places.’ Households located within 500m of new or upgraded pylons will get discounts of up to £2,500 over 10 years, with average annual bills to rise by 80p for the rest of the country to fund it.
“The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will unleash seismic reforms to It will help us to deliver the 1.5 million homes we have committed to so we can tackle the housing crisis we have inherited head on – not only for people desperate to buy a home, but for the families and young children stuck in temporary accommodation and in need of a safe, secure roof over their heads. These reforms are at the heart of our Plan for Change, ensuring we are backing the builders, taking on the blockers, and delivering the homes and infrastructure this country so badly needs.”
concludes Rayner.
Industry bodies have broadly welcomed reform. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) commented
“RICS welcomes the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to unlock the planning system and drive the Government’s ambition to build 1.5 million homes. These reforms will be crucial to tackle the bureaucracy that is standing in the way of new homes, buildings, and critical infrastructure. Investing in our built and natural environment now, will help us realise the homes and places that we need for the future.”
said CEO Justin Young.
“Getting these reforms right is crucial for achieving the ambitious plans for building that the UK Government set out last summer. Retaining important judicial reviews while limiting the scope for vexatious delays is a proportionate response. This together with an overall reduction in bureaucracy will prove crucial for getting more building projects off the ground. The bill provides a necessary balance between the need to boost building developments, whilst protecting the natural world through a nature restoration fund, driving green initiatives. RICS will continue to provide its expertise to the government as it seeks to further reform the planning system and reach the target of 1.5 million new homes over this Parliament.”
added Tony Mulhall, RICS Senior Specialist – Land & Resources.
Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, commented
“Propertymark welcomes the UK Government’s ongoing commitment to reform planning and infrastructure projects across the country and its ongoing focus on new housing to help ensure supply keeps pace with real world demand. The legislation must deliver an infrastructure-first approach towards building new homes ensuring there are improved transport links, adequate schools and medical centres, as well as focusing on building housing for an ageing population and homes that are net zero.
“The reforms must ensure a diverse mix of properties are delivered in the right areas at the right time and mean that local councils have the capacity and resources they need to deliver additional new homes. What’s key is that local knowledge is utilised effectively, and local democracy is fully considered and enhanced when it comes to planning decisions.”
