The government’s flagship Planning and Infrastructure Act is now law, promising to cut red tape and speed up the construction of tens of thousands of homes.
The move is a cornerstone of the government’s pledge to deliver 1.5 million new houses this Parliament and boost the economy through major infrastructure and property investment.
The government says dozens of new roads, railways, wind farms, and other vital projects will now get built faster. The Act also gives powers to speed up reservoir construction, introduces a scheme to cut energy bills by up to £2,500 for people living near pylons, and prioritises clean energy projects for grid connections to boost Britain’s energy security.
Ministers have promised to announce in the coming weeks when the rest of the reforms will take effect.
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.
“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 Rachel Reeves commented: “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.”