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 from the debates are below.
There were 118 pages of amendments and around 55 MPs who wanted to speak, so shows the level of interest in the Bill from MPs. We should see similar interest from Lords, ahead of second reading there on 25 June.
- Part 3 Nature Restoration Fund
- The Government are indicating they will compromise on Part 3 of the Bill.
- Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook said: “I continue to reflect on the reasonable points made by hon. Members and the advice of the Office for Environmental Protection with a view to deliberating on what more might be done to ensure everyone is confident that the outcomes for nature provided for by this part of the Bill will be positive. For the purposes of clarity, that includes giving serious consideration to ways in which we might instil further confidence in respect of the rigour of the overall improvement test, provide for greater certainty in respect of the delivery of EDPs, and ensure that there is more clarity about the evidential basis and environmental rationale for strategic network level conservation measures.”
- No government amendments have been published or tabled yet and campaigning on this will continue until these are in the public domain.
- Labour backbencher Chris Hinchliff’s amendment to strengthen Environmental Delivery Plan (EDP)delivery was selected for a vote, and had support of 15 Labour rebels, as well as Greens, LDs and Conservatives
- Paul Holmes for the Conservatives continued to express concern about Natural England running the EDP process and called for councils and mayors to be in charge of this instead
- Planning committees / national scheme of delegation
- The Government have said they will not shift on this but it continued to be an issue of concern for MPs. No amendments on this were selected by the Speaker for a separate decision
- Swift bricks
- The Government is supportive of action to address the decline of swift bricks. Swift brick coverage is increasing but the Government wants to do more. The Minister doesn’t think amending building regs is right way as would take too long to feed into building practice and could be too blunt in forcing swift bricks into all buildings, whether suitable or not. More effective to change national planning policy. “National policies for decision making” (ie the new national development management policies, NDMPs) could compel swift bricks. Government will consult later this year.
- The Government have also updated planning policy guidance to support swift bricks
- Play
- Tom Hayes’ amendment on a play duty for LPAs had over 60 backers. The Minister talked about NPPF changes to better protect play areas but also promised to bring together MHCLG, DCMS and DfE to discuss the issue. It will also be covered in the future NDMPs
- This amendment was selected for a separate decision but was not moved by Tom Hayes, and the chair did not let others who had signed it move it to a vote, despite complaints from Conservative members
- Chalk streams
- Pennycook: The Bill doesn’t weaken their protection. More than happy to engage with members on this issue
- National Policy Statement revision and NSIPs
- Meg Hillier’s amendment on requiring Government to respond to the Commons or Committees’ resolution on changes to an National Policy Statement (signed by nearly all select committee chairs) were not accepted by Government, and the amendment was not selected for a separate decision/vote. Pennycook promised to try and get Ministers to promptly attend hearings of committees on NPS changes but Meg Hillier (chair of the Public Accounts Committee) didn’t look massively impressed by his promises
- No MP raised concerns about the ending of statutory pre-application consultation in the Nationally Significant Projects (NSIP) regime. Pennycook promised that pre-app consultation remains very important and consultation on the statutory guidance on this “in the coming months”
- Social and affordable housing
- Pennycook rejected targets for social housing now: “It would not be appropriate to set a target until after the sector is stabilised, knows what is required and, importantly, is clear on what investment will be available to support delivery, which will become apparent only after the spending review.”
- Gideon Amos’ amendment on social housing targets in spatial development strategies was selected for a vote – LDs, Greens and Reform voted for it. Conservatives abstained and no Labour rebels.
- Conservative amendments on solar farms and villages
- The Conservatives amendment on preventing villages merging into each other was voted on – Reform, LDs, left-wing Independents group and Conservatives in favour. Greens and Labour against
- Amendment on preventing solar farms on high quality agricultural land had support of Conservatives, Reform, Plaid and Independents group.
- Heritage disapplication
- This was not raised by MPs nor commented on by the Minister
On day two, new clause 22 was voted on with Liberal Democrat MP Freddie van Mierlo explained that this would require the Secretary of State to update guidance on the use of compulsory purchase orders for active travel routes. He explained that CPOs are regularly used for road transport projects, but “when it comes to active travel, local authorities are reticent”. NC22 was disagreed to, ayes 73, noes 312.
Moving new clause 85, Shadow Housing Minister Paul Holmes called for “aligning compensation more closely” with the full market value of property. NC85 was disagreed to, ayes 107, noes 314,
Moving new clause 114, Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson Gideon Amos said that the clause would require development corporations to deliver open spaces and parks in their developments. NC114 was disagreed to, ayes 78, noes 309.
The Bill was read a third time with Conservatives, Lib Dems, Greens and Reform all voting against the Bill, setting up likely opposition to parts of the Bill in the Lords.
Hansard of the debate is here.