Planning Bill Enhanced with New Powers
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill has been strengthened with a last-minute amendment to tackle stalled projects and accelerate delivery.
This move is part of a pro-growth package aimed at removing red tape and delays, which ministers believe will "unshackle Britain".
- Allow the Housing Secretary to intervene in council decisions on major schemes
- Reduce the time projects spend in the courts
- Accelerate delivery of large-scale developments, including reservoirs, windfarms, and housing projects
Officials estimate that the full package could boost the economy by £7.5bn over the next decade.
Sluggish planning has real-world consequences. Every new house blocked deprives a family of a home.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed emphasized that the current system has been "shackled by governments unwilling to overhaul the stubborn planning system".
Author's summary: UK Planning Bill gets new powers.