The Labour-led UK Government has promised to “get Britain building again” to deliver 1.5 million new homes and critical infrastructure. The goal is to achieve sustainable economic growth and improve living standards. New legislation will help to speed up and streamline everything, including planning approvals and construction. We want to have a closer look at it today, then if you want the input of a top architect in London, you can rely on us.
A new Bill
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill is one of the most significant milestone pieces of legislature in recent history. It details the five main objectives, as well as the various steps to help achieve them, including reforms, new investments, and more.
The first objective is to deliver a “faster and more consenting process for critical infrastructure”. The Government acknowledges that the failure to build Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) is a major problem. It restricts economic growth, causes issues with access to critical services, and is also a barrier to achieving goals to become a world leader in clean, sustainable energy generation. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will make it easier to deliver NSIPs.
Secondly, there is an objective to be more strategic about nature recovery. It is important to protect the environment, but protections can stall projects and restrict development unnecessarily. The Bill will look to change this, ensuring projects will be a “win-win for the economy and nature”. It will allow more development and ensure developers do more than simply offsetting any harm they may cause. As a top architect in London, we are really excited about this.
The third objective is to improve the planning system to ensure certainty and the quality of decision-making. The Government understands local communities, including residents, should have the power to decide what to build and where. However, local planners need to be efficient and effective, scrutinising proposals without obstructions. The Bill will empower them and ensure they have the resources they need.
Next up, the fourth objective is to unlock more land to allow large scale developments of housing, infrastructure, amenities, and more. A crucial thing the Bill will do to allow this is encourage more use of compulsory purchase powers. Reforms will ensure compensation for sites is fair, while also removing hope value and the barriers it causes.
Finally, the fifth objective is to make cross-boundary projects easier. The Bill will introduce new mechanisms to facilitate effective work across boundaries. It will support the delivery of housing and infrastructure projects.
Do you want help from a top architect in London?
As you can see, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill has all the potential to get the construction industry moving. It could allow thousands of projects to deliver the 1.5 million new homes Labour is promising. Additionally, it could unlock 150 massive infrastructure projects to improve transport, energy, and more. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said it could lead to the “biggest building boom in a generation”.
If you have a project in mind and want some help from an award winning architect in London, you should get in touch with us. We have experience with homes, housing, commercial developments, and more. Clients can work with us to explore all kinds of ideas. We’ll contribute our own and also offer assistance with vital areas like planning.