Planning reforms: helping or hindering?

Last week, two contrasting news stories on planning reforms caught my attention and highlighted just how complex the landscape has become.

The first, published on Thursday 24 April, reported that new planning reforms aim to cut a year from infrastructure delivery times. According to the government, changes to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will streamline decision-making, reduce consultation periods, and accelerate the delivery of clean energy projects, public transport links, and other major infrastructure. The reforms promise to save over £1 billion for industry and taxpayers, with meaningful local engagement remaining a priority, even as statutory consultation requirements are paired back.

Yet, just a day later, another headline read: ‘Planning pressures leading to more unfinished residential projects hitting the market.’ This article pointed to a marked increase in incomplete or ‘part-complete’ residential developments, attributing the trend to slow-moving planning reforms and ongoing bottlenecks in the system.

For those working in the built environment, these conflicting reports are unlikely to surprise. While the government’s ambition to accelerate housebuilding is commendable, reforming the planning system is inherently challenging and cannot deliver overnight results. Recent estimates suggest the government could fall short of its 1.5 million homes target by up to a third, underscoring the scale of the challenge.

On the positive side, efforts to streamline consultations for major infrastructure projects, introduce new statutory guidance, and empower local authorities to set planning fees and invest in their own planning services are steps in the right direction. The reforms also place greater emphasis on strategic planning, aiming to better align housing, growth, and infrastructure delivery across regions.

However, the reforms are not without controversy. Reducing the influence of statutory consultees and delegating more decisions to planning officers may speed up processes but risks diminishing local democratic input and scrutiny. Meanwhile, developers argue that reforms are not moving quickly enough to address the housing crisis, and the sector continues to face uncertainty as new legislation is debated and implemented.

In summary, planning reforms are both helping and hindering. While they offer the promise of faster infrastructure delivery and a more strategic approach to growth, the pace and complexity of change, coupled with persistent resource constraints, mean that challenges remain; particularly for residential development. The coming months will be critical in determining whether these reforms can truly unlock the delivery of homes and infrastructure at the scale and speed the country needs.