Planning and Infrastructure Bill Committee takes evidence from stakeholders.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill has entered its ‘Committee stage’; the next step in the lengthy process of turning the bill into law.

A committee of 17 MPs, including Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook, Shadow Planning Minister Paul Holmes, and the Planning Spokespersons of both the Green and Liberal Democrat parties, met last Thursday, to take oral evidence from a wide range of stakeholders.

Among the speakers giving evidence were Dr Victoria Hills (CEO, the Royal Town Planning Institute), James Stevens (Director for Cities, Home Builders Federation), Cllr Richard Wright (District Council’s Network Planning Lead/Leader of North Kesteven District Council) and Paul Miner (Head of Policy, CPRE- The Countryside Charity).

Thursday’s proceedings ended with Matthew Pennycook and Michael Shanks (Energy Minister), both of whom are on the Committee itself, being questioned by the committee and providing evidence.

Rejecting the concerns of environmental groups, Minister Pennycook re-iterated that:

“We don’t accept, as a government, that development has to come at the expense of nature […] the clauses drafted in this bill will allow us to deliver a win-win for development and the environment”.

The committee will meet several times over the coming weeks and months, going through the Bill line by line, proposing changes and amendments. The Bill aims to accelerate the delivery of housing and critical infrastructure in the UK.

Key points likely to be discussed by MPs include :

• Faster Planning Decisions: The Bill aims to streamline the approval process for major infrastructure projects, reducing delays caused by legal challenges and bureaucratic hurdles.
• Boosting Housing Development: It supports the government’s goal of building 1.5 million homes in England by simplifying planning regulations and fast-tracking decisions.
• Clean Energy Expansion: The Bill aligns with the Clean Power 2030 target, ensuring that key energy projects—such as electricity networks and renewable energy sources—are built more quickly.
• Planning Fee Reforms: The Bill allows councils to set their own planning fees, ensuring they have the resources to process applications efficiently.
• Strategic Planning Approach: The Bill introduces Spatial Development Strategies, requiring local authorities to coordinate housing and infrastructure planning across wider regions, which the government hopes will deliver cost savings through “economies of scale”.

SP Broadway will continue to monitor the Bill as it progresses through Parliament.