Weekly planning news

Government backs Heathrow’s plan for longer third runway

The government has chosen Heathrow Airport’s proposal for a third runway - which would require diverting the M25 - as its preferred option for the airport’s future expansion.

Two competing schemes had been under consideration: Heathrow’s plan for a 3.5km runway and new road tunnel, and a lower-cost alternative that avoided altering the M25. Ministers said Heathrow’s proposal was the “most deliverable” and offered the best chance of securing planning approval within the current parliament.

The decision will feed into an updated Airports National Policy Statement. Heathrow is expected to submit its planning application once the review is complete, with the government aiming for a final decision by 2029. Other companies will still be able to bid to build the runway and associated infrastructure.

Heathrow’s £49bn expansion includes a new terminal, satellite buildings, enhanced rail links and closure of Terminal 3. The airport says the project will boost capacity from 84 million to 150 million passengers per year.

You can find out more about the project on Heathrow's website. ¹

Planning and Infrastructure Bill clears House of Lords, after government offers environmental assurances

The government’s flagship Planning and Infrastructure Bill has passed its final stage in the House of Lords and is now set to receive Royal Assent, following key assurances to peers over the scope and rollout of its nature recovery measures.

During a debate on 24 November, peers considered 17 motions relating to amendments previously added by the Lords, but overturned in the Commons. Central to the discussion were concerns about the bill’s new system of environmental delivery plans (EDPs), which will be prepared by Natural England to address the impacts of development on protected sites and species, and funded through a new Nature Restoration Fund levied on developers.

Environmental groups and parliamentarians had warned that the provisions risked weakening existing protections. A Lords amendment - tabled last month by crossbench peer Baroness Willis of Summertown - sought to restrict early EDPs to issues such as nutrient neutrality and air and water quality, explicitly excluding wildlife impacts. The government removed this change in the Commons, arguing that the bill already provided “robust environmental protection”.

However, following further discussions with peers, housing minister Baroness Taylor of Stevenage confirmed yesterday that the first tranche of EDPs will focus solely on nutrient pollution. She said Natural England already has significant experience delivering mitigation in this area, making it a “useful test case” before expanding the system more widely.

Baroness Taylor also committed to reporting back to Parliament on the initial findings once the first nutrient EDPs are in place. No additional EDPs covering other environmental issues will be made until after this statement is scrutinised.

£48m to recruit 350 new planners

A a £48 million funding package has been announced to recruit 350 new planners for local authorities, as part of the Autumn Budget and government’s drive to accelerate housing delivery and strengthen England’s overstretched planning system.

The announcement, which came as part of the 2025 Budget, builds on last year’s £46 million commitment to fund 300 graduate and apprentice planning officers.

The government says the investment is intended to boost capacity within local planning authorities and help unlock its pledge to build 1.5 million homes. A Treasury spokesperson said the measures would help end “years of dither and delay” and support faster decision-making on stalled housing and infrastructure projects.

The sector has repeatedly warned of critical capacity shortages. Housing minister Matthew Pennycook has previously said the lack of planners “keeps him up at night”, while civil servants have acknowledged that earlier pledges to recruit 300 new planners would not be enough to meet national demand.

The announcement comes amid controversy over government decisions earlier this year to withdraw funding for Level 7 planning apprenticeships for most applicants over 22 - moves that professional bodies say could put the long-term pipeline of planners at risk.

1. https://www.heathrow.com/company/about-heathrow/expansion