Weekly planning news

Planning appeals to follow new, streamlined process

The government has announced changes to the planning appeals process, aimed at making it faster and more focused on the evidence submitted during the original application.

Under the new approach, applicants will no longer be able to introduce new evidence at the appeals stage. Instead, appeals will be determined based solely on the information provided as part of the initial application.

Previously, applicants could strengthen their case during an appeal by submitting additional evidence. The updated process removes this step, placing greater emphasis on submitting a complete and robust application from the outset.

These changes will apply to all planning applications submitted from 1 April 2026.

The government says the reforms will both speed up decision-making and improve the quality of applications:

“This will not only speed up appeals but will also, importantly, encourage a full body of evidence to be provided at application stage, giving local planning authorities the information they need to make decisions - aligning with universal planning principles of keeping decisions local.”

Further details are available on the government’s website¹.

Projects allocated £2m Social Housing Innovation Fund

A list of projects set to receive a share of the government’s £2 million Social Housing Innovation Fund² has been announced.

The fund is designed to improve communication between tenants and landlords, helping residents to have a stronger voice, greater control over their living conditions, and quicker, more effective resolution of issues.

The selected projects will run for around a year, trialling a range of new approaches. These include the use of AI tools to help tenants access support more easily, mobile spaces for face-to-face conversations with housing officers, a national online hub for shared ownership residents, and initiatives aimed at amplifying the voices of underrepresented groups.

A full list of the successful projects has been published on PBC Today.³

Factory farm planning rules could be loosened, reports suggest

The government is reportedly considering changes to planning laws that would make it easier to approve large-scale livestock farms.

According to reporting by The Guardian, proposed updates to the planning framework could make it more difficult for applications to be refused on environmental grounds, alongside other measures designed to support the livestock farming sector.

The report suggests the poultry industry has been lobbying for several years for reforms that would allow for more space and a planning system better suited to intensive farming.

Critics warn the changes could lead to increased water and air pollution, greater environmental and climate impacts, and a higher risk of disease outbreaks such as avian flu. 

You can find the full exclusive report on the Guardian's website.⁴

Consent for Stone Henge tunnel formally revoked

The government has officially scrapped the controversial Stonehenge tunnel project, bringing an end to years of planning and significant public investment. Any future proposals for the site will now need to begin from scratch.

Millions had already been spent on plans that included a tunnel near Stonehenge, two new road junctions, and a bypass. The project was originally scrapped in 2024 due to costs – after the spend reached £179 million. The government has now formally revoked the Development Consent Order (DCO), because the project is no longer deemed to be feasible or deliverable. This means if the project were ever to be revived, the process would need to start from scratch.

According to the BBC,⁵ Wiltshire Council are disappointed with the decision:

"There has not been any discussion on a viable alternative that reduces congestion and stops the rat‑running through Wiltshire villages."

Meanwhile, critics of the project, which has attracted significant controversy since its conception, are happy about the formal discontinuation, but want to see further investment into public transport infrastructure:

"The South West has been neglected in terms of transport infrastructure for many years - we need investment and some of the savings should be used to improve the region's public transport network," she said.

You can find further details on the BBC's website.⁶

1. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/simpler-faster-planning-appeals-are-coming
2. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-housing-innovation-fund-prospectus/social-housing-innovation-fund-prospectus
3. https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/planning-construction-news/20-schemes-benefit-from-social-housing-innovation-fund/160719/
4. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/02/uk-looks-to-relax-planning-rules-for-factory-farms-after-industry-lobbying
5. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7959v897n9o
6. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7959v897n9o