Chancellor's Speech on Planning Reforms and Economic Growth
Lawrence Turner, Director at planning consultancy Boyer, responds to Chancellor Rachel Reeves's January speech setting out plans to accelerate the Government's Plan for Change, including the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, the redevelopment of Old Trafford in Manchester and more housing around transport hubs.
Boyer welcomes the reforms and the planned Planning and Infrastructure Bill but stresses the scale of the task. Citing Home Builders Federation figures, it notes that new build completions fell to 198,610 in 2024, well short of the pace needed for 1.5 million homes by mid-2029.
The firm supports a default 'yes' for housing in sustainable locations near transport hubs. However, it cautions that removing 'red tape' requires understanding what those rules protect, and questions whether fast-tracking schemes such as data centres could reduce scrutiny.
A central concern is local reaction. Boyer expects some councils to appear cooperative while resisting development at committee level, particularly on Green Belt release or housing numbers, and possibly using neighbourhood planning to limit supply. It suggests the Government may need to call in high-profile applications to signal that housing need outweighs local opposition.
On devolution, the article questions whether moving strategic planning to a regional tier and introducing National Development Management Policies is really devolution at all. It describes the proposed sub-regional approach as unclear and potentially patchy compared with the former Regional Spatial Strategies, and calls for urgent clarity.
Boyer also highlights capacity constraints. Funding for 300 extra planners amounts to less than half a planner per local authority, and delivery also depends on conservation, ecology and highways officers as well as construction and sales skills. Uncertainty over NPPF transitional arrangements, viability and supply chains remains. The firm is optimistic the reforms can work if local authorities and communities are brought along, but sees significant hurdles ahead.
Originally published on The Landsite (30 April 2025)
