Weekly planning news

Planning and Infrastructure Bill clears lords second reading

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill (PIB) has passed its second reading in the House of Lords ¹and will move to committee stage for detailed scrutiny (date TBC), having cleared its third reading in the Commons on 10 June.

Debate around the bill focused on two contentious areas: environmental protections and planning committee reforms. Critics, including economists, environmental lawyers and campaigners, warned the bill weakens safeguards by allowing developers to pay into a “nature restoration fund” instead of meeting existing obligations to avoid habitat damage. Peers raised doubts over Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) and Natural England’s ability to enforce them.

In the Commons, MPs rejected an amendment requiring EDPs to include conservation timetables, with ministers preferring a flexible approach.

The bill also proposes mandatory training and structural changes for planning committees, which some peers said unfairly portray them as development blockers.

Despite concerns, the bill passed without a vote and will now be examined in committee.

Public sceptical on new towns, new research finds

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and YouGov ²have released the results of a national survey showing low public confidence in the concept of new towns, the locations of which are yet to be announced.

The findings reveal significant doubts about whether the next generation of new towns will meet long-term community needs – but also a clear appetite for a more community-driven approach.

Key survey findings:

• 73% lack confidence these towns will still serve communities well in 50 years’ time.
• 74% believe incoming residents should have the greatest influence over planning, design, and funding.
• 82% want developments led by a mix of organisations, not just large housebuilders.
• 59% support experimenting with new planning, design, and funding models.

While post-war new towns such as Stevenage, Crawley, and Milton Keynes improved living standards for millions, many survey respondents associated them with negative terms like “concrete”, “boring” and “soulless” – and, for some, simply “roundabouts”. Nonetheless, there was recognition of the ambition behind these developments, even where goals fell short.

RTPI chief executive Dr Victoria Hills said the government’s plan for a new generation of towns was “a chance to get it right – to create ambitious, community-led places that are designed with communities, for communities.”

90% of councillors could go - district leaders fear being cut out of planning decisions

District council representatives have voiced concerns that they could be sidelined from key planning decisions under the government’s proposed regional reorganisation of local authorities.

The plans – which would replace existing local government structures with larger unitary authorities serving populations of around 500,000 - have prompted warnings from leading academics about the future of local democracy.

In a paper published by the thinktank Localis³, the academics estimate that councillor numbers could fall by as much as 90%, from roughly 12,000 to just 1,200 nationwide. Such a reduction, they argue, would place unsustainable workloads on those remaining, with the risk of years of disruption.

They caution that the loss of local representation could make it harder for residents to engage with their elected officials and could leave communities feeling disconnected from decision-making. “Local government may become less local,” the paper warns, with new structures potentially distracting councils from their statutory duties, including meeting housing targets and delivering frontline services.

With ministers yet to confirm the full scope and timetable for reorganisation, district councils are urging the government to ensure they remain active participants in planning decisions and other areas vital to their communities.

Rachel Reeves signals renewed push for faster infrastructure delivery

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is preparing a second Planning and Infrastructure Bill that could reshape how the UK delivers major projects, with proposals aimed at accelerating timelines for schemes such as Heathrow Airport’s long-debated third runway.

According to the Financial Times⁴, Reeves believes the government must go further than the current Planning and Infrastructure Bill, instructing officials to explore reforms that would limit judicial reviews - one of the primary causes of delays to nationally significant projects. Under the proposals, the criteria for legal challenges would be tightened, potentially reducing both their frequency and duration.

The chancellor has set an ambitious timetable: construction on Heathrow’s third runway could begin by 2029, with operations starting by 2035. The move is also framed as a safeguard for the government’s £113 billion capital investment programme, ensuring it is not mired in prolonged legal and bureaucratic wrangling.

These reforms come against the backdrop of a potential fiscal shortfall of £20–50 billion, heightening the need to deliver infrastructure quickly to stimulate productivity and economic growth. Yet, the approach raises questions about the trade-off between speed and scrutiny. Critics warn that scaling back judicial oversight risks curbing public consultation and reducing environmental and social accountability.

1. https://www.theplanner.co.uk/2025/07/02/pib-passes-second-reading-house-lords
2. https://www.rtpi.org.uk/news/2025/august/public-lacks-confidence-in-the-next-generation-of-new-towns-but-has-clear-ideas-for-getting-them-right-rtpi-and-yougov-survey-finds/
3. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=newssearch&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiT5syC6oiPAxV_ZkEAHTyqFnYQxfQBKAB6BAgJEAE&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.localgov.co.uk%2FReorganisation-could-wipe-out-90-of-councillors%2F62598&usg=AOvVaw273mzCFtLB_CFL5S5XLh3l&opi=89978449
4. https://www.ft.com/content/e3fa09b0-35b8-4788-86ac-ae9a1227b6d1