Planning Speed Read: The Budget and updated guidance on NSIPs
1st November, 2024
Our regular update for those who work in and alongside the planning sector. We aim to keep you, and your teams informed of changes in legislation, important cases signposting to the guidance and providing our own insights and experience.
More promises made by the Government during the Budget announcement
Rachel Reeves promised to deliver the UK Government’s housing plan with a cash injection of £5 billion pounds. This includes:
- Increasing the Affordable Homes Programme to £3.1 billion
- £3 billion to increase the supply of homes and support small housebuilders
- £128 million to support new housing projects across the country and
- £47 million to support the delivery of 28k homes delayed by nutrient neutrality.
This links to Labour’s overarching pledge of delivering 1.5 million homes.
Labour’s main priorities for immediate funding are as follows:
- The provision of social and affordable housing
- Unlocking the delivery of housing on brownfield sites – particularly those which are already either on site or within the planning system
- Existing funding streams as mentioned above (nutrient neutrality fund, affordable homes programme and the brownfield release fund)
The budget further emphasises the spotlight the UK government has placed on planning reform…
For more information, please click here and here.
Updated government advice on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects
The Government has published further non-statutory advice on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) – relating to good design. The advice complements the National Policy Statements (NPSs) in requiring NSIPs to contribute to sustainable development, mitigating and adapting to climate change and achieving good design.
The main factors Applicants should consider are:
- Considerations for good design
- Pre-application process – the aim is to ensure that the emphasis given to good design in the NPSs and local design documents are considered at the start of the process
- Acceptance criteria – the application and supporting documents must be of a satisfactory standard
- Examination, Recommendation and Decision.
For more information please click here.
Please note that this briefing is designed to be informative, not advisory and represents our understanding of English law and practice as at the date indicated. We would always recommend that you should seek specific guidance on any particular legal issue.
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