Late-stage amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill have been made to slash delays and “get Britain building faster”.
The government’s proposals aim to increase housing delivery and speed up infrastructure projects.
If approved ministers will get new powers to prevent local councils from rejecting planning applications while they consider using ‘call-in’ powers to decide whether or not they should be approved.
The plans also include greenlighting reservoirs faster, pumping fresh water into the taps of people’s homes and accelerating plans for windfarms and large housing schemes.
The government says nearly 900 major housing developments were blocked by local authorities in the past year. It hopes the changes proposed will help it reach its target of 1.5 million new homes and, in doing so, raise an extra £3bn in tax revenue.
The Bill is due to go to the House of Lords on October 20 for its report stage.
Housing secretary Steve Reed MP said: “The changes we are making today will strengthen the seismic shift already underway through our landmark Bill. We will ‘Build, baby, build’ with 1.5 million new homes and communities that working people desperately want and need.”
Associate director and head of Sheldon Bosley Knight’s planning and architecture department, Natasha Blackmore da Silva said: “These latest amendments reflect the government’s determination to accelerate housing and infrastructure delivery.
“Whilst this is a goal that I as a town planner support in principle, true progress depends on striking the right balance between national ambition and local accountability.
“Giving ministers greater powers to intervene may help unblock some stalled projects, but it also risks undermining the collaborative, place-based approach that good planning relies on.
“Streamlining processes must go hand in hand with maintaining quality, sustainability, and community trust.
“Ultimately, success will be measured not just by how many homes we build, but by how well they contribute to thriving, resilient, and sustainable communities.”