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The end of democracy in planning decisions?
The planning system interferes with the rights we have to do what we want with our own land, and tries to influence the use of land so that it serves the public interest. So it’s always been important that planning decisions have democratic legitimacy. But all that is about to change – here’s why that’s…
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Six ways planning policy needs to change
Planning policy isn’t acting in the public interest. Here’s six changes that can make planning policy better.The Government consulted on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) from December 2025. It’s the biggest change since the NPPF was first introduced in over a decade ago. We think the draft NPPF needs changes if it is…
When should Parliament scrutinise changes in planning policy?
At the moment, Parliament gets to scrutinise changes in policy for national infrastructure but not for policy covering all other forms of development. With the recent centralisation of planning policy by Whitehall, we think that needs to change. Here’s why. The involvement of Parliament in scrutinising national infrastructure planning policy is comes from the 2008…
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Our response to the NPPF consultation
The government consultation on their new draft of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) ends today. We’ve submitted our response – you can read it here. The new version of the NPPF being consulted on is the biggest change in planning policy since the NPPF was first introduced in 2012. There are some positive aspects…
The latest NPPF consultation – a considered look
The Government published a new draft of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) just before Christmas. It’s the biggest change in national planning policy for over a decade, and is a big restructure and rewrite of what has gone before – as well as a much longer document (50% more pages compared to the current…
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The New National Planning Policy Framework – what’s changed
The Government published its new draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) this week. This post sets out the main changes and what we would like to see reflected in the final version, after the consultation on the new text. We will be working with members to develop our response to all the changes. The Better…
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The Planning and Infrastructure Bill has been passed – what have we learnt from its passage through Parliament
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill today finished it parliamentary journey. So, what can we learn about the state of planning reform from its nine-month passage through parliament? The bill is a key part of the Labour government’s programme for government. It was introduced to a background chorus of complaints about bats, newts, blockers and NIMBYs from Number 10 and the Treasury, alongside shock from nature organisations that what they thought would be a relatively positive proposal for developers…
Last chance (almost) to improve the Planning and Infrastructure Bill
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill starts its report stage in the House of Lords today. This is almost the last stage for the Bill to be amended, and the Government tabled 67 amendments to the Bill last week, part of 264 amendments tabled by peers. Steve Reed, secretary of state for housing, communities and local…
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Framework for powerful new strategic authorities needs improving
Last week, the House of Commons debated the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. The Bill will set up new strategic authorities, taking the model of the Mayor of London and metro-mayors and extending it right across England. Together with the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, this Bill will over time create a very powerful regional…
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Spatial planning and the new infrastructure strategy
The government is committed to investing in the UK’s physical and social infrastructure as a key element of their ‘mission-led’ approach. As part of this, the Treasury, which now leads on overall infrastructure policy, published a 10-year infrastructure strategy. There are some good signs in the strategy, with a greater emphasis on spatial planning, and…
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Bill report stage debates
The first day of the report stage debate for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill took on Monday 9 June, covering parts 1 (infrastructure), 2 (strategic and local planning) and 3 (nature restoration fund proposals). Day two the debate covered parts 4 (development corporations) and 5 (compulsory purchase), along with third reading. Key points are below…
Planning & Infrastructure Bill: Our briefing for Report stage
The Government’s flagship Planning and Infrastructure Bill reaches its final stages in the House of Commons on Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 June. This is the final chance to make changes to the Bill before it heads to the House of Lords, which will have their first debate on the Bill on 25 June. During…
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Five ways the Planning and Infrastructure Bill needs improving
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill has now finished its Committee stage, where a committee of MPs scrutinise the Bill line by line. We’ve welcomed parts of the Bill but Better Planning Coalition members still have concerns about the Bill (and the associated regulations and guidance needed to implement it). Here’s five ways we think it…
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Planning and Infrastructure Bill – our briefing ahead of its second reading
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill has its second reading in the House of Commons on Monday 24 March. The Better Planning Coalition welcomes many aspects of the Bill. These include better resourcing of planning to ensure it delivers an effective and efficient process, and a new strategic planning level better able to guide development to…
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Better Planning Coalition members respond to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill was published on Tuesday promising “seismic reforms” in the way the planning system works. This is a short round-up of how members of the Better Planning Coalition have been responding. The Bill itself is 161 pages with 97 clauses (at the moment) and six schedules. Better Planning Coalition members had…
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What to expect in the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill
The Planning & Infrastructure Bill is expected to be published next week. So what might be in it? First up are changes to the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) process, first brought in under the Brown Labour government (with slight changes under the Coalition). A requirement to update National Policy Statements (NPSs) every five years…
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