Important ongoing planning reforms

There has been a flurry of further publications in which the Government is setting out its plans to reform aspects of the planning system:

Revised National Planning Policy Framework  

The revised NPPF was published on 12 December intent on delivering an enormous uptick in housing and economic growth.  Associated updates to the Planning Practice Guidance have already been published, but more updates are due to be made in 2025 in relation to (among other things) reducing carbon emissions, steering new development to areas with the lowest flood risk, planning application fees, and design. Further information is set out in the policy paper and the message from the Chief Planner.

Planning Reform Working Paper on Planning Committees  

The proposals were published on 9 December and views are invited. These are proposed reforms to planning committees to delegate more decisions to officers, introduce specialist planning committees for major developments, and upskill planning committee members, in a bid to speed up decision making. Whilst there is no formal deadline, the Government intends to publish a formal public consultation on these detailed proposals to coincide with the introduction of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill during the course of 2025. Further information is set out in the Working Paper and the press release.

Planning Reform Working Paper on Development and Nature Recovery 

This was published on 15 December and views are invited.  The Government aims to create more efficient ways to meet environmental obligations by shifting more of the burden away from developers onto the state and trying to manage the environmental impacts of development more strategically. Again, there is no formal deadline, but feedback from the working paper will inform the next stage of policy development. The Government would use the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to introduce legislative changes during the course of 2025. More detail is set out in the Working Paper and press release.

English Devolution White Paper

The White Paper was published on 16 December and outlines plans to reorganise local authorities and introduce a more strategic approach to planning with strong regional leadership from Mayors and combined authorities via an English Devolution Bill. The English Devolution Bill is due to be introduced in 2025 (subject to Parliamentary time). On a wider education perspective, the White Paper also includes various proposals relating to skills, research and innovation, which would give Mayors/combined authorities greater power to set the strategic direction for local skills improvement and greater funding flexibility. More detail is set out in the White Paper and press release.

Consultation on Compulsory Purchase Process and Compensation Reforms

This consultation was published on 19 December and closes on 13 February 2025. It includes changes to the power to limit compensation payable for the prospects of planning permission (“hope value”). Consider responding to the consultation, particularly in relation to the proposals to broaden the powers of Councils and other bodies to compulsorily acquire land at existing use value rather than market value (i.e. based on a valuation of land that takes into account the prospects of planning permission being granted for its development, known as ‘hope value’). Further detail is set out in the consultation.

Planning and Infrastructure Bill 

The Bill will implement legislative reforms to the planning system.  It may be introduced to Parliament in March 2025. Consider responding to the consultations and working papers to date to influence the drafting of the Bill.  Look out for more consultations, white papers and announcements leading up to publication of the Bill.

If you need further advice on the implications of any of the above, please contact Peter Seaborn or Melanie Grimshaw.