Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State, Angela Rayner, has introduced the government’s planning legislation to Parliament, signalling long trailed and potentially landmark reforms to the system.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduces streamlined planning committees, strategic spatial planning, prioritised grid connections for clean energy, and energy bill discounts for people living near new electricity transmission infrastructure.

UK100 welcomes the government’s commitment to fix a system that’s not working for the communities or the planet. However, the reforms will be built on the premise that local authorities can make quality decisions promptly.  UK100 members are struggling to attract and retain senior planners, capacity and resources will continue to be restrained unless more resources are forthcoming.  The Government’s own figures show a £362 million deficit in the planning system, with a £4.6 billion shortfall in the wider sector.

Reducing blockages is necessary to meet the housing and climate crises challenge, but communities must be brought along on the benefits and trade-offs. A strong local government sector can ensure the nation’s climate, energy and housing ambitions work for local communities.

Responding to the bill,  Christopher Hammond, Chief Executive of UK100, says:

“If we don’t plan for net zero, we won’t get to net zero. The current system hasn’t been working for anybody, whether it’s delivering clean energy or warm homes. This landmark legislation is a chance to put that right, supporting local authorities to achieve their ambitions.

“Ultimately, these reforms will depend on local planning functions being adequately resourced. The government’s own figures show the stark reality of the fiscal deficit and backlog of applications already in the queue. Councils will welcome fee reform, but additional powers to ring-fence planning fees would be better to address the chronic understaffing caused by the difficulty in attracting and retaining senior planners. 

“There is a lot to like in the proposed bill. Whether it’s speeding up the local plan process, the return of strategic spatial planning or prioritising energy projects to get on stream. These will bring a lot to the table for approving sustainable development and easing the bureaucratic burden on councils. It’s also welcome to see clarity on bill discounts communities will see from shouldering future energy infrastructure projects. But we hope this is the start of the debate on community benefits and not the end.

UK100 has called for:

• A planning system that prioritises climate mitigation and adaptation
• Ensuring all Planning Inspectors fully understand the priority placed on climate change and apply it in their inspection decisions.
• Tangible community benefits for areas impacted by new energy infrastructure in our research: ‘Local Net Zero 2.0’ and recent consultation responses on unlocking community energy and streamlining infrastructure planning.
• Long-term certainty on funding to enable strategic planning and delivery

For more, please visit: UK100 | Network of highly ambitious local government leaders for cleaner, more powerful communities