Planning reform confirmed in King’s Speech as government bids to speed up housebuilding

Full details on the new laws are still be unveiled.

However, the briefing document said the legislation will improve local planning decision by “modernising planning committees”, without giving further detail. 

The changes are also promised to boost local planning authorities’ capacity, to “improve performance and decision making, providing a more predictable service to developers and investors”, the document said. 

The current government has previously said it will help councils to recruit 300 extra planning officers. 

In a nod to biodiversity net gain, the bill said there will also be a move to use development to “fund nature recovery where currently both are stalled”.

The government said it will work with nature delivery organisations, stakeholders and the sector over the summer to “determine the best way forward”. 

But the briefing document added: “We will only act in legislation where we can confirm to parliament that the steps we are taking will deliver positive environmental outcomes.”  

Rules around the compensation from the compulsory purchase of land will also be reformed to ensure compensation is “fair but not excessive”, the document said, in a reference to the issue of hope value. 

“The reforms will help unlock more sites for development, enabling more effective land assembly, and in doing so speeding up housebuilding and delivering more affordable housing, supporting the public interest,” it said. 

The government has also promised that the bill will streamline the “delivery process” for critical infrastructure including “accelerating upgrades to the national grid and boosting renewable energy”. 

The majority of the new laws are expected to apply to England and Wales, but some may be extended to Scotland.