Digital planning

Digital planning

In October 2023, the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LURA 2023) gained Royal Assent. LURA 2023 includes sections on data standards, data software and the digitalisation of many planning processes.

The Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA 2022) gained Royal Assent in April 2022. It sets out a building safety regime based on three gateways, where Gateway One is the planning process. It also provides for an approach to managing fire safety data that includes all stages of the building process, including planning.

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Latest Planning News

DESNZ launches consultation on revised energy infrastructure National Policy Statements

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has launched a consultation on revised National Policy Statements (NPS) for energy infrastructure, running from 24 April to 29 May 2025. The consultation covers updates to three NPSs: the overarching energy statement (EN-1), renewable energy infrastructure (EN-3), and electricity networks infrastructure (EN-5). Key changes include: alignment with Clean Power 2030 targets, new guidance for onshore wind following its reintroduction to the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime, requirements for offshore wind wake effects assessment, and endorsement of the Centralised Strategic Network Plan. The statements provide the legal framework for planning decisions on major energy infrastructure in England and Wales.

DESNZ releases joint invitation to clean energy investors

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), Department for Business and Trade, HM Treasury, Great British Energy (GB Energy) and the National Wealth Fund (NWF) have released a joint open letter to clean energy developers and investors. The letter announces £300m in initial funding through GB Energy for domestic offshore wind supply chains, and outlines the NWF's £27.8bn deployment capacity across loans, equity investments and guarantees. The government plans to publish a Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan in Spring 2025, following recent Ofgem reforms to accelerate grid connections. The initiative aims to position the UK as a destination for clean energy investment, supporting the government's target of achieving a clean power system by 2030.

MHCLG announces Planning and Infrastructure Bill amendments to expedite infrastructure delivery

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill intended to reduce infrastructure project delivery times by one year on average. The changes will remove existing statutory consultation requirements for major infrastructure projects, reducing the current two-year pre-consultation period by half. The reforms aim to align the process with planning applications for major housing schemes, with new statutory guidance to be issued on local engagement. MHCLG estimates these changes will save over £1bn for industry and taxpayers during the current Parliament. The amendments will affect clean energy projects, reservoirs, railway lines and other major infrastructure developments.

MHCLG publishes annual report on devolution 2023 to 2024

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published the ninth annual report on devolution, collating information on devolution agreements, covering the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. The report details devolution agreements reached with local areas and financial resources transferred to mayoral combined authorities during the reporting period. The document provides a comprehensive overview of England's devolution landscape and implementation progress over the past year.