Today, the UK government will introduce the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to Parliament, delivering wide-ranging reforms to speed up the construction of homes and major infrastructure projects. The legislation is central to Labour’s commitment to build 1.5 million new homes and fast-track decisions on 150 major infrastructure projects by the next election in 2029.
The Bill introduces key measures to streamline the planning process, accelerate clean energy projects, and ensure communities benefit from critical infrastructure developments. It will replace outdated planning systems, unlock billions in investment, and enhance the UK’s energy security while driving economic growth.
Key reforms in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill:
- Fast-tracking clean energy projects – Wind, solar, and hydrogen projects will be prioritised for grid connections under a ‘first ready, first connected’ system, replacing the outdated ‘first come, first served’ process. These changes will reduce connection delays by up to seven years.
- Boosting homebuilding and infrastructure – New measures will remove barriers to delivering 1.5 million new homes, ensuring the planning system supports both housing and economic growth.
- Community benefits for electricity pylons – Households near new pylons will receive energy bill discounts of up to £2,500 over 10 years.
- Expediting grid upgrades – The Bill will unlock £200 billion in investment to improve the UK’s electricity transmission network, cutting red tape and modernising outdated infrastructure.
- Cutting planning delays for major projects – A new framework will streamline environmental and legal assessments, ensuring faster approval for nuclear plants, wind farms, and other major infrastructure.
- Expanding electric vehicle infrastructure – A new permitting system will speed up EV chargepoint installations on public roads, making it easier and cheaper to expand the UK’s green transport network.
- Supporting long-duration energy storage – The Bill directs Ofgem to implement a ‘cap and floor’ scheme to unlock private investment in renewable energy storage.
Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said:
“Time and again blockers have been allowed to halt progress at every turn which has weakened our energy security and left our country exposed to soaring energy bills for working people, families and businesses. This cannot and will not continue under my watch.
“Through our landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill we’re taking bold action to fix the broken planning system, paving the way for us to get Britain building more vital infrastructure so our children and grandchildren can grow up in a more energy secure world.
“This is just one of many steps we’re taking to deliver our Plan for Change for working people and families with a decade of national renewal, unleashing growth to boost living standards, slash everyday costs and increase prosperity for all.”
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill is part of the government’s wider Plan for Change, a strategy to drive economic renewal, energy security, and infrastructure transformation. The government has already approved 10 major infrastructure projects, including six solar farms generating nearly 3 gigawatts of clean energy.
With this Bill, the government hopes to triple the number of major infrastructure decisions made this Parliament compared to the last.