Found: We have set out a 3-point resourcing plan as a part of our ongoing input into the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: The government’s proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill contains welcome measures to improve the

Found: LPAs will, through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, be able to charge full cost recovery on planning

Found: The Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduces further prejudice in favour of developers, as it suggests

Found: We welcome progress made in the Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill which includes provisions

Found: To this end, the Government is progressing the Planning and Infrastructure Bill through parliament,

Found: those who are concerned about energy infrastructure, especially with the changes to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: committees.parliament.uk/publications/3453/documents/32928/default/ 30 As identified by the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: those who are concerned about energy infrastructure, especially with the changes to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: Certain other changes in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will, on balance, help to deliver those

Found: In light of the Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduced in March 2025, we feel it would

Found: Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) are a central feature of the UK's Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: 2050 will require just 2.6% of UK land.1 Planning reform for energy infrastructure Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: : Integrated guidance aligning NPS updates with emerging policy frameworks like the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: We presume this is being facilitated via legislative changes proposed through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: policies affecting energy infrastructure projects and spatial management, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: Therefore, we urge consideration of the effect of the government’s amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: policies affecting energy infrastructure projects and spatial management, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: This can be addressed through minor amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill (see Annexure

Found: those projects delivering into the SSEP and/or CSNP should be so designated When the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: policies affecting energy infrastructure projects and spatial management, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: policies affecting energy infrastructure projects and spatial management, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: policies affecting energy infrastructure projects and spatial management, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: protections to landscapes and biodiversity that are being proposed in the NPSs and the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: policies affecting energy infrastructure projects and spatial management, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: policies affecting energy infrastructure projects and spatial management, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: policies affecting energy infrastructure projects and spatial management, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: policies affecting energy infrastructure projects and spatial management, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: directly influence energy infrastructure and spatial planning—such as the proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: : Integrated guidance aligning NPS updates with emerging policy frameworks like the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: policies affecting energy infrastructure projects and spatial management, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: policies affecting energy infrastructure projects and spatial management, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill ping pong (19 and 25 March); Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: areas. 14.The re-introduction of statutory Development Corporations, as proposed in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: therefore, implemented changes to the National Planning Framework and is taking forward the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: claims that are totally without merit and could be introduced via an amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: Progress with development corporations in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will help but is this

Found: new towns (e.g. we see the expansion of powers for development corporations in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: introduction of New Town Development Corporations (NTDCs) and locally-led NTDCs within the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: missions’ objectives, including the development of a 10 Year Health Plan for England, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: As you know, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will bring these spatial development strategies into

Found: It came up yesterday in the first stage of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill in terms of how we are

Found: particular concerns that the Government is pressing ahead with weakening laws (via the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government during the Twelfth sitting of the Public Bill Committee on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill on Tuesday 20 May 2025, Official Report, column 558, what her Department's planned timeline is for consideration of measures to improve the take up of SuDS.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is committed to requiring sustainable drainage systems in new development and we have already taken action to support that objective by setting out updated policy in the revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024.

We are looking carefully at what additional steps might be taken to further improve the implementation of SuDS. A final decision will be made in the coming months.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill on the environment in Inverness, Skye, and West Ross-shire constituency.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Environment Act 2021 requires Ministers to have ‘due regard’ to the policy statement on environmental principles when making policy. This is to ensure that environmental considerations are at the heart of policymaking across government.

Environmental considerations in respect of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill were given due regard in line with the requirements of the Environment Act 2021.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 10 of the impact assessment for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, published on 6 May 2025, how her Department calculated the £1.1 billion value for planning fees reforms.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to Annex 11 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill Impact Assessment which can be found on gov.uk here.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the amendments made in Schedule 6, Part 2, Clause 41 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill relating to the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 on (a) the potential number of badgers killed and (b) local wildlife populations.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

These amendments standardise licences for development purposes under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 with those for other species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations, 2017. This is intended to facilitate strategic-level Environmental Delivery Plans.

We are legislating that all badger licences will be subject to strict tests required by the Bern Convention, which set a high bar. For licences under the Nature Restoration Fund, an overall improvement in the conservation status of badgers will be required.

The impact of these provisions will depend on practical application by Natural England through EDPs or individual licences.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help local authorities in rural areas effectively use compulsory purchase orders to bring derelict buildings back into community use.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Local authorities have various compulsory purchase powers which they can use to acquire and develop derelict or empty properties. To assist them in the use of their powers, the government has implemented the package of reforms in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 to streamline and modernise the compulsory purchase order (CPO) process and clarify that local authorities’ CPO powers can be used to deliver regeneration in their areas. Further reforms to improve the CPO process and land compensation rules have been included in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. We also publish guidance on the compulsory purchase process to help local authorities understand and use their powers.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to improve the condition of sites of special scientific interest in Lincolnshire.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) continue to be one of the most effective tools for protecting and enhancing biodiversity and deliver a wide range of health and socio-economic benefits.

Natural England has an ongoing programme to assess the condition of SSSI features and implement the actions needed to restore and maintain the condition of SSSIs, such as the Bardney Limewoods SSSI in Lincolnshire.

In the autumn budget we also allocated £13 million to Protected Site Strategies which will develop and implement spatial restoration plans for priority sites, such as The Wash, an internationally important coastal and marine protected site. These strategies will put in place action to restore protected sites and manage the impact of environmental harm.

The Nature Restoration Fund in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will also allow us to take a more strategic approach to the restoration of SSSIs and deliver improved environmental outcomes.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to their press release “Government backs SME builders to get Britain building” published on 28 May, whether councillors on local authorities will be able to refer tier A planning applications to a planning application committee for consideration.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Our proposals to introduce a national scheme of delegation through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill would be mandatory for local planning authorities as defined in the Bill.

As set out in the technical consultation on reform of planning committees published on 28 May 2025, all applications in Tier A would be delegated to planning officers.

However, Question 5 asks for views on whether there should be a mechanism to bring a Tier A application to committee in exceptional circumstances and, if so, what would those circumstances be and how would the mechanism operate.

Applications in Tier B would be presumed to be delegated unless the chief planning officer (or equivalent officer in local planning authorities without a chief planning officer) and Chair of Committee agree it should go to Committee based on a gateway test.

The consultation is open for views until 23 July 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether their plans for a national scheme of delegation as referenced in documents accompanying the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will consist of guidance to local authorities or whether local authorities will be required to follow the scheme.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Our proposals to introduce a national scheme of delegation through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill would be mandatory for local planning authorities as defined in the Bill.

As set out in the technical consultation on reform of planning committees published on 28 May 2025, all applications in Tier A would be delegated to planning officers.

However, Question 5 asks for views on whether there should be a mechanism to bring a Tier A application to committee in exceptional circumstances and, if so, what would those circumstances be and how would the mechanism operate.

Applications in Tier B would be presumed to be delegated unless the chief planning officer (or equivalent officer in local planning authorities without a chief planning officer) and Chair of Committee agree it should go to Committee based on a gateway test.

The consultation is open for views until 23 July 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to their press release “Government backs SME builders to get Britain building” published on 28 May, how they define tier A and tier B planning applications.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Our proposals to introduce a national scheme of delegation through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill would be mandatory for local planning authorities as defined in the Bill.

As set out in the technical consultation on reform of planning committees published on 28 May 2025, all applications in Tier A would be delegated to planning officers.

However, Question 5 asks for views on whether there should be a mechanism to bring a Tier A application to committee in exceptional circumstances and, if so, what would those circumstances be and how would the mechanism operate.

Applications in Tier B would be presumed to be delegated unless the chief planning officer (or equivalent officer in local planning authorities without a chief planning officer) and Chair of Committee agree it should go to Committee based on a gateway test.

The consultation is open for views until 23 July 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions her Department has had with local authorities on consistency in local planning decisions.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

A key objective of our planning reforms is to improve certainty and decision making in the planning system.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes provisions to that end, including a national scheme of delegation and requiring planning committee members to undertake mandatory training before they can take planning decisions.

Planning law requires local planning authorities to publicise planning applications through various means, including site notices, advertisements in local newspapers, and publishing information on their website. We are exploring ways to enhance community engagement through the greater digitalisation of the planning system. This will help remove barriers to participation in the planning application process, including among those in representative community groups.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will formalise the role of representative community groups in local planning decisions.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

A key objective of our planning reforms is to improve certainty and decision making in the planning system.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes provisions to that end, including a national scheme of delegation and requiring planning committee members to undertake mandatory training before they can take planning decisions.

Planning law requires local planning authorities to publicise planning applications through various means, including site notices, advertisements in local newspapers, and publishing information on their website. We are exploring ways to enhance community engagement through the greater digitalisation of the planning system. This will help remove barriers to participation in the planning application process, including among those in representative community groups.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to annex 14 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Impact assessment, published in May 2025, what she expects the average length of a strategic plan to be.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As the Planning and Infrastructure Bill Impact Assessment sets outs, the government expects that spatial development strategies will be concise and focused to reflect their role as high level strategic documents. As such, we expect future spatial development strategies to be significantly shorter than the current London Plan.

While we do not intend to indicate precisely how long spatial development strategies should be, my department will provide strategic planning authorities with further guidance to support them in meeting this expectation.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the planning system within the Planning and Infrastructure Bill on irreplaceable habitats.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is clear that development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons and a suitable compensation strategy exists.

The Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) provides an alternative mechanism for development to discharge environmental obligations relating specifically to the Habitats and Species Regulations, the Wildlife and Countryside Act, and the Protection of Badgers Act.

It does not apply to irreplaceable habitats generally, for which the strong protections in the National Planning Policy Framework will continue to apply.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support biodiversity and nature when building houses and infrastructure.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 is clear about the importance of protecting and enhancing biodiversity where it is affected by development and includes stringent protections for nationally designated sites and irreplaceable habitats.

The implementation of Local Nature Recovery Strategies and Biodiversity Net Gain are helping to highlight opportunities to improve nature in conjunction with development, and to secure tangible contributions to biodiversity enhancements.

The Nature Restoration Fund, introduced by the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, will provide further benefits where development could affect protected habitats and species, by enabling strategic improvements.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to protect nature through her Department's housebuilding programme.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 is clear about the importance of protecting and enhancing biodiversity where it is affected by development and includes stringent protections for nationally designated sites and irreplaceable habitats.

The implementation of Local Nature Recovery Strategies and Biodiversity Net Gain are helping to highlight opportunities to improve nature in conjunction with development, and to secure tangible contributions to biodiversity enhancements.

The Nature Restoration Fund, introduced by the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, will provide further benefits where development could affect protected habitats and species, by enabling strategic improvements.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress she has made in updating all relevant National Policy Statements by this summer.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Consultation on proposed amendments to the Energy National Policy Statements (NPSs) 1, 3 and 5 closed on 29 May, with the relevant period for parliamentary scrutiny of these NPSs closing on 22 July 2025.

Consultation on a draft revised Ports NPS began on 4 June and will close on 29 July. The relevant period for parliamentary scrutiny of this NPS will close on 14 November 2025.

Completion of the updates to these NPSs is subject to the outcome and timings of these consultation and parliamentary scrutiny processes.

The NPS for Water Resources Infrastructure was designated in September 2023. The Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs are considering whether the NPS needs to be reviewed at this time.

Consultation on the draft new nuclear NPS EN-7, which will be applicable to nuclear power stations expected to deploy beyond 2025, closed on 3 April. Parliamentary scrutiny of the draft NPS is expected to be completed by 23 June. Depending on the completion and outcome of these processes, the government aims to designate this new NPS before the end of the year.

We are introducing legislation through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to require National Policy Statements to be updated every five years. This will include a transitional period, which will require any NPS that is more than 5 years old at the time of Royal Assent to be updated within 2 years of the Bill being enacted.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 18 of the report by Britain Remade entitled Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving, published in August 2024, on updating the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee code of practice, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of adopting a nationwide waiver specific for utilities left in place on tram routes for Section 82 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I note that the report by Britain Remade entitled ‘Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving’ makes various recommendations about how tramway construction can be made quicker, cheaper and easier.

Whilst there are lessons to be learned from across the globe, the development and delivery of mass transit, including trams, is devolved in England. It is for local authorities to identify and bring forward the best mass transit solutions for their areas. My Department has a large team who work closely with Mayoral Combined Authorities and the largest Local Transport Authorities on plans for mass transit systems where those might form part of the local transport system in our largest cities.

My Department also works closely with the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC(UK)) to reduce the impact of street and road works on members of the public. HAUC(UK) are currently reviewing the Diversionary Works Code of Practice with Department officials. There are currently no plans to amend the ‘The Streets Works (Sharing of Costs of Works) Regulation 2000’.

The New Road and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) balances the statutory rights of highway authorities and undertakers to carry out works and to minimise the disruption caused by these works. Financial incentives play an important role in ensuring compliance with requirements. There is a risk that by removing safeguards when utilities work on tram routes, reinstatements may not be fit for purpose, resulting in damage and possible safety issues that the tram company operator or Local Highway Authority would then need to resolve.

The proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill also aims to streamline infrastructure delivery, including through reforms to the Transport and Works Act 1992. The reforms will deliver a consenting process to enable the authorisation of new railways or tramways in England and Wales (as well as guided transport schemes and inland waterways) that reduces unnecessary administrative burdens placed on applicants pursuing transport infrastructure projects under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (TWA92) regime. The Bill will make various technical amendments to the TWA92 to ensure the regime is fit for purpose and proportionate, with the intention of streamlining and improving the efficiency of delivering new transport schemes. Measures include enabling cost recovery for statutory consultees and local authorities to support their resourcing and encourage timely, high-quality input. They also include introducing statutory deadlines for determination of applications to provide greater certainty for stakeholders. Other measures are allowing the inclusion of additional authorisations to streamline multiple approval processes, replacing model clauses with more flexible guidance, and clarifying legislation through amendments.

In terms of studying and implementing cheaper, shallower trackbeds, my Department is supporting the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) research and development project which aims to deliver all the benefits of a modern light rail solution at half the cost and time, with reduced disruption during construction due to its innovative shallow track form and battery-operated vehicle.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 18 of the report by Britain Remade entitled Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving, published in August 2024, on updating the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee code of practice, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of updating the Streets Works (Sharing of Costs of Works) Regulation 2000 to rebalance the cost of diverting utilities from tram projects to utility companies.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I note that the report by Britain Remade entitled ‘Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving’ makes various recommendations about how tramway construction can be made quicker, cheaper and easier.

Whilst there are lessons to be learned from across the globe, the development and delivery of mass transit, including trams, is devolved in England. It is for local authorities to identify and bring forward the best mass transit solutions for their areas. My Department has a large team who work closely with Mayoral Combined Authorities and the largest Local Transport Authorities on plans for mass transit systems where those might form part of the local transport system in our largest cities.

My Department also works closely with the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC(UK)) to reduce the impact of street and road works on members of the public. HAUC(UK) are currently reviewing the Diversionary Works Code of Practice with Department officials. There are currently no plans to amend the ‘The Streets Works (Sharing of Costs of Works) Regulation 2000’.

The New Road and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) balances the statutory rights of highway authorities and undertakers to carry out works and to minimise the disruption caused by these works. Financial incentives play an important role in ensuring compliance with requirements. There is a risk that by removing safeguards when utilities work on tram routes, reinstatements may not be fit for purpose, resulting in damage and possible safety issues that the tram company operator or Local Highway Authority would then need to resolve.

The proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill also aims to streamline infrastructure delivery, including through reforms to the Transport and Works Act 1992. The reforms will deliver a consenting process to enable the authorisation of new railways or tramways in England and Wales (as well as guided transport schemes and inland waterways) that reduces unnecessary administrative burdens placed on applicants pursuing transport infrastructure projects under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (TWA92) regime. The Bill will make various technical amendments to the TWA92 to ensure the regime is fit for purpose and proportionate, with the intention of streamlining and improving the efficiency of delivering new transport schemes. Measures include enabling cost recovery for statutory consultees and local authorities to support their resourcing and encourage timely, high-quality input. They also include introducing statutory deadlines for determination of applications to provide greater certainty for stakeholders. Other measures are allowing the inclusion of additional authorisations to streamline multiple approval processes, replacing model clauses with more flexible guidance, and clarifying legislation through amendments.

In terms of studying and implementing cheaper, shallower trackbeds, my Department is supporting the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) research and development project which aims to deliver all the benefits of a modern light rail solution at half the cost and time, with reduced disruption during construction due to its innovative shallow track form and battery-operated vehicle.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 19 of the report by Britain Remade entitled Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving, published in August 2024, on updating the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee code of practice, what steps her Department is taking to (a) study and (b) implement cheaper shallower trackbeds.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I note that the report by Britain Remade entitled ‘Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving’ makes various recommendations about how tramway construction can be made quicker, cheaper and easier.

Whilst there are lessons to be learned from across the globe, the development and delivery of mass transit, including trams, is devolved in England. It is for local authorities to identify and bring forward the best mass transit solutions for their areas. My Department has a large team who work closely with Mayoral Combined Authorities and the largest Local Transport Authorities on plans for mass transit systems where those might form part of the local transport system in our largest cities.

My Department also works closely with the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC(UK)) to reduce the impact of street and road works on members of the public. HAUC(UK) are currently reviewing the Diversionary Works Code of Practice with Department officials. There are currently no plans to amend the ‘The Streets Works (Sharing of Costs of Works) Regulation 2000’.

The New Road and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) balances the statutory rights of highway authorities and undertakers to carry out works and to minimise the disruption caused by these works. Financial incentives play an important role in ensuring compliance with requirements. There is a risk that by removing safeguards when utilities work on tram routes, reinstatements may not be fit for purpose, resulting in damage and possible safety issues that the tram company operator or Local Highway Authority would then need to resolve.

The proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill also aims to streamline infrastructure delivery, including through reforms to the Transport and Works Act 1992. The reforms will deliver a consenting process to enable the authorisation of new railways or tramways in England and Wales (as well as guided transport schemes and inland waterways) that reduces unnecessary administrative burdens placed on applicants pursuing transport infrastructure projects under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (TWA92) regime. The Bill will make various technical amendments to the TWA92 to ensure the regime is fit for purpose and proportionate, with the intention of streamlining and improving the efficiency of delivering new transport schemes. Measures include enabling cost recovery for statutory consultees and local authorities to support their resourcing and encourage timely, high-quality input. They also include introducing statutory deadlines for determination of applications to provide greater certainty for stakeholders. Other measures are allowing the inclusion of additional authorisations to streamline multiple approval processes, replacing model clauses with more flexible guidance, and clarifying legislation through amendments.

In terms of studying and implementing cheaper, shallower trackbeds, my Department is supporting the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) research and development project which aims to deliver all the benefits of a modern light rail solution at half the cost and time, with reduced disruption during construction due to its innovative shallow track form and battery-operated vehicle.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 14 of the report by Britain Remade entitled Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving, published in August 2024, what assessment she has made creating a speciality delivery unit responsible for (a) trams, (b) metro and (c) light rail within her Department's public transport and local group.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I note that the report by Britain Remade entitled ‘Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving’ makes various recommendations about how tramway construction can be made quicker, cheaper and easier.

Whilst there are lessons to be learned from across the globe, the development and delivery of mass transit, including trams, is devolved in England. It is for local authorities to identify and bring forward the best mass transit solutions for their areas. My Department has a large team who work closely with Mayoral Combined Authorities and the largest Local Transport Authorities on plans for mass transit systems where those might form part of the local transport system in our largest cities.

My Department also works closely with the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC(UK)) to reduce the impact of street and road works on members of the public. HAUC(UK) are currently reviewing the Diversionary Works Code of Practice with Department officials. There are currently no plans to amend the ‘The Streets Works (Sharing of Costs of Works) Regulation 2000’.

The New Road and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) balances the statutory rights of highway authorities and undertakers to carry out works and to minimise the disruption caused by these works. Financial incentives play an important role in ensuring compliance with requirements. There is a risk that by removing safeguards when utilities work on tram routes, reinstatements may not be fit for purpose, resulting in damage and possible safety issues that the tram company operator or Local Highway Authority would then need to resolve.

The proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill also aims to streamline infrastructure delivery, including through reforms to the Transport and Works Act 1992. The reforms will deliver a consenting process to enable the authorisation of new railways or tramways in England and Wales (as well as guided transport schemes and inland waterways) that reduces unnecessary administrative burdens placed on applicants pursuing transport infrastructure projects under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (TWA92) regime. The Bill will make various technical amendments to the TWA92 to ensure the regime is fit for purpose and proportionate, with the intention of streamlining and improving the efficiency of delivering new transport schemes. Measures include enabling cost recovery for statutory consultees and local authorities to support their resourcing and encourage timely, high-quality input. They also include introducing statutory deadlines for determination of applications to provide greater certainty for stakeholders. Other measures are allowing the inclusion of additional authorisations to streamline multiple approval processes, replacing model clauses with more flexible guidance, and clarifying legislation through amendments.

In terms of studying and implementing cheaper, shallower trackbeds, my Department is supporting the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) research and development project which aims to deliver all the benefits of a modern light rail solution at half the cost and time, with reduced disruption during construction due to its innovative shallow track form and battery-operated vehicle.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the findings on page 14 of the report by Britain Remade entitled Back on Track: How to Build New Trams in the UK and Get Britain Moving, published in August 2024, whether she has considered the proposals to create a national tram standard modelled after the German common standards (a) VDV Blue Books and (b) BOStrab.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I note that the report by Britain Remade entitled ‘Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving’ makes various recommendations about how tramway construction can be made quicker, cheaper and easier.

Whilst there are lessons to be learned from across the globe, the development and delivery of mass transit, including trams, is devolved in England. It is for local authorities to identify and bring forward the best mass transit solutions for their areas. My Department has a large team who work closely with Mayoral Combined Authorities and the largest Local Transport Authorities on plans for mass transit systems where those might form part of the local transport system in our largest cities.

My Department also works closely with the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC(UK)) to reduce the impact of street and road works on members of the public. HAUC(UK) are currently reviewing the Diversionary Works Code of Practice with Department officials. There are currently no plans to amend the ‘The Streets Works (Sharing of Costs of Works) Regulation 2000’.

The New Road and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) balances the statutory rights of highway authorities and undertakers to carry out works and to minimise the disruption caused by these works. Financial incentives play an important role in ensuring compliance with requirements. There is a risk that by removing safeguards when utilities work on tram routes, reinstatements may not be fit for purpose, resulting in damage and possible safety issues that the tram company operator or Local Highway Authority would then need to resolve.

The proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill also aims to streamline infrastructure delivery, including through reforms to the Transport and Works Act 1992. The reforms will deliver a consenting process to enable the authorisation of new railways or tramways in England and Wales (as well as guided transport schemes and inland waterways) that reduces unnecessary administrative burdens placed on applicants pursuing transport infrastructure projects under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (TWA92) regime. The Bill will make various technical amendments to the TWA92 to ensure the regime is fit for purpose and proportionate, with the intention of streamlining and improving the efficiency of delivering new transport schemes. Measures include enabling cost recovery for statutory consultees and local authorities to support their resourcing and encourage timely, high-quality input. They also include introducing statutory deadlines for determination of applications to provide greater certainty for stakeholders. Other measures are allowing the inclusion of additional authorisations to streamline multiple approval processes, replacing model clauses with more flexible guidance, and clarifying legislation through amendments.

In terms of studying and implementing cheaper, shallower trackbeds, my Department is supporting the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) research and development project which aims to deliver all the benefits of a modern light rail solution at half the cost and time, with reduced disruption during construction due to its innovative shallow track form and battery-operated vehicle.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the findings on p.18 of the report by Britain Remade entitled Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving, published in August 2024, on updating the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee code of practice.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I note that the report by Britain Remade entitled ‘Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving’ makes various recommendations about how tramway construction can be made quicker, cheaper and easier.

Whilst there are lessons to be learned from across the globe, the development and delivery of mass transit, including trams, is devolved in England. It is for local authorities to identify and bring forward the best mass transit solutions for their areas. My Department has a large team who work closely with Mayoral Combined Authorities and the largest Local Transport Authorities on plans for mass transit systems where those might form part of the local transport system in our largest cities.

My Department also works closely with the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC(UK)) to reduce the impact of street and road works on members of the public. HAUC(UK) are currently reviewing the Diversionary Works Code of Practice with Department officials. There are currently no plans to amend the ‘The Streets Works (Sharing of Costs of Works) Regulation 2000’.

The New Road and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) balances the statutory rights of highway authorities and undertakers to carry out works and to minimise the disruption caused by these works. Financial incentives play an important role in ensuring compliance with requirements. There is a risk that by removing safeguards when utilities work on tram routes, reinstatements may not be fit for purpose, resulting in damage and possible safety issues that the tram company operator or Local Highway Authority would then need to resolve.

The proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill also aims to streamline infrastructure delivery, including through reforms to the Transport and Works Act 1992. The reforms will deliver a consenting process to enable the authorisation of new railways or tramways in England and Wales (as well as guided transport schemes and inland waterways) that reduces unnecessary administrative burdens placed on applicants pursuing transport infrastructure projects under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (TWA92) regime. The Bill will make various technical amendments to the TWA92 to ensure the regime is fit for purpose and proportionate, with the intention of streamlining and improving the efficiency of delivering new transport schemes. Measures include enabling cost recovery for statutory consultees and local authorities to support their resourcing and encourage timely, high-quality input. They also include introducing statutory deadlines for determination of applications to provide greater certainty for stakeholders. Other measures are allowing the inclusion of additional authorisations to streamline multiple approval processes, replacing model clauses with more flexible guidance, and clarifying legislation through amendments.

In terms of studying and implementing cheaper, shallower trackbeds, my Department is supporting the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) research and development project which aims to deliver all the benefits of a modern light rail solution at half the cost and time, with reduced disruption during construction due to its innovative shallow track form and battery-operated vehicle.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference page 15 of Britain Remade's report entitled Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving, published in August 2024, whether she plans to devolve the Transport and Works Act 1992 approval process to allow regional mayors to sign off on new projects.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I note that the report by Britain Remade entitled ‘Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving’ makes various recommendations about how tramway construction can be made quicker, cheaper and easier.

Whilst there are lessons to be learned from across the globe, the development and delivery of mass transit, including trams, is devolved in England. It is for local authorities to identify and bring forward the best mass transit solutions for their areas. My Department has a large team who work closely with Mayoral Combined Authorities and the largest Local Transport Authorities on plans for mass transit systems where those might form part of the local transport system in our largest cities.

My Department also works closely with the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC(UK)) to reduce the impact of street and road works on members of the public. HAUC(UK) are currently reviewing the Diversionary Works Code of Practice with Department officials. There are currently no plans to amend the ‘The Streets Works (Sharing of Costs of Works) Regulation 2000’.

The New Road and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) balances the statutory rights of highway authorities and undertakers to carry out works and to minimise the disruption caused by these works. Financial incentives play an important role in ensuring compliance with requirements. There is a risk that by removing safeguards when utilities work on tram routes, reinstatements may not be fit for purpose, resulting in damage and possible safety issues that the tram company operator or Local Highway Authority would then need to resolve.

The proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill also aims to streamline infrastructure delivery, including through reforms to the Transport and Works Act 1992. The reforms will deliver a consenting process to enable the authorisation of new railways or tramways in England and Wales (as well as guided transport schemes and inland waterways) that reduces unnecessary administrative burdens placed on applicants pursuing transport infrastructure projects under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (TWA92) regime. The Bill will make various technical amendments to the TWA92 to ensure the regime is fit for purpose and proportionate, with the intention of streamlining and improving the efficiency of delivering new transport schemes. Measures include enabling cost recovery for statutory consultees and local authorities to support their resourcing and encourage timely, high-quality input. They also include introducing statutory deadlines for determination of applications to provide greater certainty for stakeholders. Other measures are allowing the inclusion of additional authorisations to streamline multiple approval processes, replacing model clauses with more flexible guidance, and clarifying legislation through amendments.

In terms of studying and implementing cheaper, shallower trackbeds, my Department is supporting the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) research and development project which aims to deliver all the benefits of a modern light rail solution at half the cost and time, with reduced disruption during construction due to its innovative shallow track form and battery-operated vehicle.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 8 May to Question 49985 on Planning: Appeals, when he plans to publish the guidance.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Guidance on the costs that may be considered when calculating planning fees will be published at the earliest opportunity following Royal Assent of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to Appendix 2 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill Impact Assessment, Annex 1: Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects reform, what the target date is for the publication of EN-8 on Nuclear Fusion Energy.

Answered by Kerry McCarthy - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department plans to publish its response to the consultation on a Fusion Energy National Policy Statement EN-8 soon. Further details will be available in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 45696 on Planning Permission, if she will publish the Planning and Infrastructure Bill environmental principles assessment.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Environmental Principles assessments are not routinely published. However, environmental considerations in respect of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill were given due regard in line with the requirements of the Environment Act 2021.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of withdrawing the UK from the Aarhus Convention to enable damages to be sought from people who bring frivolous judicial reviews relating to road infrastructure projects.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government remains committed to protecting access to justice in environmental cases, while supporting the timely delivery of infrastructure projects under the Government’s Growth Mission.

The issue of cost caps relating to Judicial Review in the planning context was considered by Lord Banner in his independent review published in October 2024. He did not recommend any change to the default cost caps in Aarhus cases. Judges already have the power to vary costs caps upwards or downwards according to the particular circumstances in a case. The MoJ published a call for evidence on Lord Banner’s recommendations on 28 October 2024, alongside the publication of his report by MHCLG. The call for evidence closed on 30 December.

Some of Lord Banner’s recommendations have been taken into the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and will tighten the judicial review process to cut delays for major infrastructure projects and look to strike the right balance between improving efficiency and ensuring access to justice. The change will only allow one attempt at legal challenge, instead of three, for meritless claims and two for other claims. These changes will prevent meritless claims from holding up projects by exhausting the appeals process and will ensure legitimate legal challenges are heard promptly.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's report entitled Delivering economic growth and nature recovery: an independent review of Defra’s regulatory landscape, published on 2 April 2025, whether he directed Dan Corry to consider the Planning and Infrastructure Bill in that report.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Dan Corry’s review of Defra’s regulatory landscape focussed on developing recommendations to ensure that the Department is driving economic growth while protecting the environment. As mentioned in the introduction to the review, Dan Corry was aware of several other strands of work in government that were relevant, including the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, so sought to complement this work and avoid duplication.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Environmental Statements under section 20(2)(a) and (3) of the Environment Act 2021, what the evidential basis is for the conclusion that the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will not have the effect of reducing the level of environmental protection provided for by any existing environmental law.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Part 3 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill concerning development and nature recovery will not reduce overall levels of environmental protection.

Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) can only be put in place where the Secretary of State is satisfied the delivery of conservation measures are likely to outweigh the negative effects of development.

EDPs and the conservation measures they propose must be evidence-based and properly scrutinised before being put in place.

EDPs may include back-up measures that can be deployed if monitoring shows the environmental outcomes are not being achieved.

Natural England will be empowered and given the tools to deliver the conservation measures needed to secure the aims of the EDP.

The government is confident that this more strategic approach to the assessment of negative effects, and delivery of conservation measures, strikes the right balance and will result in better environmental outcomes that go further than simply offsetting harm as required under current legislation.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to commence the remaining provisions of the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government intends to commence the temporary possession provisions in the Neighbourhood Planning Act (NPA 2017).

To pave the way for this, we are taking forward a measure in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to amend the NPA 2017 temporary possession powers to disapply them to Transport and Works Act Orders, Development Consent Orders and Infrastructure Consent Orders. This will allow the NPA 2017 provisions to be commenced for taking temporary possession of land in respect of compulsory purchase orders made under regimes such as the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 without impacting the delivery of critical infrastructure.

Following Royal Assent of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and before commencing the amended NPA 2017 temporary possession power provisions, we will need to consult on regulations relating to the reinstatement of land subject to a period of temporary possession.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to Annex 10 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Impact assessment, published in May 2025, in which financial year the 374,000 annual new additions in England will be first achieved.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 includes a new Standard Method for assessing housing needs that is aligned to our Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million new safe and decent homes in England by the end of this Parliament. The new Standard Method sets a local housing need for England of 370,408. Detail on how individual local planning authorities should plan to meet this updated housing need, including transitional arrangements, is set out in the Framework.

Paragraphs 85 to 87 in the summary Impact Assessment for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill (and paragraphs 44 to 45 of Annex 10) explain the housing trajectory used and the assumptions underpinning this.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to Annex 7 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Impact assessment, published in May 2025, how many (a) consents, (b) permissions and (c) permits will be required to place an electric vehicle charge point on (i) a public highway and (ii) private land.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Whether a chargepoint requires planning permission, a Section 50 licence, or a permit depends on factors such as size, location, and context.

In general, home, workplace, and smaller low-powered installations in off-street parking areas qualify as permitted development and do not require a planning application. However, permission may still be needed for certain existing properties particularly where issues like height, siting, or proximity to listed buildings arise and for larger rapid charging hubs that include electrical cabinets.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduces a measure to replace Section 50s with permits which would make it more efficient and cost-effective for chargepoint operators to install infrastructure. Additionally, to streamline development we have expanded permitted development rights and have launched a call for evidence to explore further improvements.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the withdrawal of funding for the Level 7 Chartered Town Planner Apprenticeship on the recruitment of planning officers.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognise that Chartered Town Planner Apprenticeships (Level 7) are a valuable entry point into planning careers. However, the government has decided to prioritise levy funding for young people entering the labour market, who need skills and training to get started in their careers.

We will continue to fund Level 7 apprenticeships for those aged 16-21 when they start their apprenticeship; support apprentices already on a Level 7 apprenticeship through to completion; and ensure local authorities can still access the Level 7 apprenticeship route for those aged 22 and over until 1 January 2026.

Supporting local planning authorities to attract, retain and develop skilled planners is crucial to ensuring they provide a proactive, efficient planning service for local communities and that new developments are well designed and facilitate local growth.

The government appreciates that planning departments across the country are experiencing challenges with recruitment, retention, and skills gaps and that in many cases these issues are having a negative impact on service delivery.

At the Budget last year, the Chanceller announced a £46 million package of investment into the planning system as a one-year settlement for 2025-2026.

Our manifesto committed us to appointing 300 new planning officers into LPAs. We are on track to meet that commitment through two routes, namely graduate recruitment through the Pathways to Planning scheme run by the Local Government Association and mid-career recruitment through Public Practice.

On 27 February 2025, the government announced funding to support salaries and complement graduate bursaries. Further information can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 27 February 2025 (HCWS480).

On 25 February 2025, the draft Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications, Deemed Applications, Requests and Site Visits) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2025 were agreed. These regulations increase planning fees for householder and other applications, with a view to providing much-needed additional resources for hard-pressed LPAs.

More broadly, the Department’s established Planning Capacity and Capability programme is also developing a wider programme of support, working with partners across the planning sector, to ensure that LPAs have the skills and capacity they need, both now and in the future, to modernise local plans and speed up decision making, including through innovative use of digital planning data and software.

Lastly, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes provisions that will allow LPAs to set planning fees or charges at a level that reflects the individual costs to the LPA to carry out the function for which it is imposed and to ensure that the income from planning fees or charges is applied towards the delivery of the planning function.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to Annex 11 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Impact assessment, published in May 2025, what statistics will be collated on the unit planning fee charges for different types of application charged by local authorities under the localised regime.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In order to inform a national default fee schedule, the government will consult and undertake a national benchmarking exercise. We will also publish guidance on the costs that may be considered when calculating planning fees.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to Annex 11 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Impact assessment, published in May 2025, what estimate her Department has made of the change in (a) prior approval and (b) householder planning fees under the localised regime.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In order to inform a national default fee schedule, the government will consult and undertake a national benchmarking exercise. We will also publish guidance on the costs that may be considered when calculating planning fees.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to Annex 1 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Impact assessment, published in May 2025, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the timing of the update of the National Policy Statement for Waste Water on sewerage capacity.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will speed up and streamline the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure.

As indicated in Annex 1 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill impact assessment, the Bill includes statutory timeframes for relevant National Policy Statements to be updated. Defra owns the National Policy Statement on wastewater, and it will be updated in line with this new statutory requirement. Once updated this will provide developers with heightened certainty enabling a smoother planning process.

The National Policy Statement sets out the process for development consent applications for major wastewater infrastructure. These major infrastructure projects fall within the definition of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) as defined in the Planning Act 2008.

Sewerage undertakers are required to prepare, publish and maintain Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs). DWMPs set out how the sewerage undertaker intends to improve their drainage and wastewater systems over the next 25 years, accounting for factors including growing population and changing environmental circumstances. These plans will help sewerage companies to fully assess the capacity of the drainage and wastewater network and develop collaborative solutions to current problems and future issues.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to p.61, Appendix 2 of the document entitled Annex 1: Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects reform of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Impact assessment, published on 6 May 2025, for what reason the dates listed in that document for the next updates to National Policy Statements differ to those on p.25 of the Plan for Change, CP 1210, published on December 2024.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The dates the hon. Member refers to relate to different aspects of our reforms to National Policy Statements (NPSs).

The ‘next summer’ date referred to in the government’s Plan for Change relates to the commitment made by the Chancellor on the 8 July last year to update relevant NPSs within the next 12 months.

The government also committed itself to legislate to ensure that all NPSs are updated at least every five years. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes a transitional period for older NPSs. To comply with the legislation, any NPS which is more than five years old at the time the Bill receives Royal Assent, will be required to be updated within two years.

Found: Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Bill 110 of 2024–25

Found: The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will speed up and streamline the planning process to build more

Found:

Found: class="govuk-table__cell">2025-03-10

Found: We’ve introduced the Planning and Infrastructure Bill – the biggest reform of planning in a generation

Found: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee regarding planning policy changes, including the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: New powers in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, currently before parliament, could also allow the

Found: New powers in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, currently before parliament, could also allow the

Found: The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will also provide the powers to accelerate the infrastructure and

Found: The Planning and Infrastructure Bill is also continuing its passage through Parliament, including measures

Found: 35Ease, speed, and long-term stability for business• T aking forward new powers in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: − N ew powers in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, currently before Parliament, to amend regulatory

Found: forward the most ambitious planning reforms in a generation, including via the flagship Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: forward the most ambitious planning reforms in a generation, including via the flagship Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: Introducing the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to Parliament; c.

Found: Introducing the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to Parliament; c.

Found: Delivery Plans and the Nature Restoration Fund, which would come into effect if the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: Planning reform On the 11 March 2025 the government published a Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Found: 35Ease, speed, and long-term stability for business• T aking forward new powers in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: New powers in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, currently before parliament, could also allow the

Found: local transport as Chancellor vows the 'Renewal of Britain' - GOV.UK 12 (a) The Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: Our Planning and Infrastructure Bill going through Parliament right now is a real game-changer.

Found: The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will also provide the powers to accelerate the infrastructure and

Found: local transport as Chancellor vows the 'Renewal of Britain' - GOV.UK 12 (a) The Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: forward the most ambitious planning reforms in a generation, including via the flagship Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: forward the most ambitious planning reforms in a generation, including via the flagship Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: Vapes Bill • Employment Rights Bill • Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill • Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: -25, 36th Report, 2025 (Session 6) 5• Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill • Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: Planning and Infrastructure Bill 51. as Great British Energy and place it on a statutory footing.

Found: Legislative Consent Memorandum: delegated powers exercisable within devolved competence in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: Neighbourhoods ......................................................................... 22 The Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: These were then included in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which is currently making its way

Found: l Working with the UK Government to reform the consenting process through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: reform and the National Planning Policy Framework (including legislation such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps have been taken to ensure that consultations with communities on Skye regarding the expansion of renewable energy projects are conducted in a transparent, inclusive and comprehensive manner.

Answered by Allan, Alasdair - Acting Minister for Climate Action

The Scottish Government has set out instructions for developers to follow regarding pre-application consultation in our Good Practice Guidance document, which is available online, alongside other guidance documents: https://www.gov.scot/policies/energy-infrastructure/energy-consents/.

In addition, the Scottish Government have been working with the UK Government on strengthening community consultation for electricity infrastructure consenting in Scotland as part of the UK Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill. The proposed reforms will make pre-application consultation for electricity infrastructure projects a statutory requirement. It will also introduce an Acceptance Stage where Scottish Ministers can decline to accept applications which have not fulfilled the necessary requirements, thereby increasing local input into project proposals.

Found: reform white paper (for England) and further changes are proposed in this area via the UK Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: provisions, with the Scottish Government “still to reach a position on consent” on others) Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: 1 LEGISLATIVE CONSENT MEMORANDUM Planning and Infrastructure Bill 1.

Found: 1 SUPPLEMENTARY LEGISLATIVE CONSENT MEMORANDUM (MEMORANDUM NO 2) Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: consider and report on the Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (No.2) on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: Constitution Committee to consider and report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: Constitution Committee The Welsh Government’s Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: 1 SUPPLEMENTARY LEGISLATIVE CONSENT MEMORANDUM (MEMORANDUM NO 3) Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: Government’s Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 2) on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: consider and report on the Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (No.3) on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: ................................................................... 3 Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: ................................................................... 4 Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Bill