The pledge to drive through planning on infrastructure and house building during this Parliament were laid out today as one of the Government’s six new milestones in a new national Plan for Change.
Keir Starmer set out a blueprint for ‘mission-led Government’ that includes reform of the planning system so that it is pro-growth and pro-infrastructure.
If achieved, his ambitious milestone would almost triple decisions of previous Parliament.
He warned the step change in new home building would not be seen until the third year of this Parliament while also admitting the Government’s 1.5m new homes target was ambitious.
The commitment to infrastructure raises hopes among contractors that the delayed decision on whether to go-ahead with the flagship £9bn Lower Thames Crossing transport project may not be far off.
Starmer said the Government would publish ten-year strategies for housing and infrastructure next spring, with clear priorities, plans to deliver, and a pipeline of projects for investors and supply chains.
In the document he states: “This is an ambitious milestone for change. It will require a rate of housebuilding and infrastructure construction not seen in over 50 years. In all these areas, we are taking swift action – but it will take time before that translates into delivery.
“Lead times in planning, infrastructure and construction mean we are already constrained by the decisions we have inherited, but we expect the number of new homes to start rising significantly in the third year of the Parliament once our reforms take effect.”
In response to the Government statement of intent, National Infrastructure Commission Chair Sir John Armitt said: “Signing off 150 development consent orders is a huge undertaking, but essential given the sheer magnitude of transformative infrastructure the country needs.”
He said that a scores of critical projects were in the country’s pipeline.
These include 17 major electricity transmission projects to deliver clean power by 2030 and at least nine major water storage and transfer programmes to keep the taps running. In the transport sector, East West Rail and Lower Thames Crossing would speed up the country’s transport networks.
Armitt said: “Government’s chances of success will depend on turning its early commitments into sustained action to jump-start a lethargic planning system and ensure it becomes a tool for progress rather than an anchor on UK growth.
“For starters, that means giving the Planning Inspectorate the additional resources it will need to deal with the increased throughput of projects.”
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