Planning and development in the UK and Ireland

In the UK

The UK Government has recently unveiled a series of ambitious planning and development reforms aimed at accelerating economic growth, addressing the housing crisis and delivering clean energy by 2030. These reforms are part of the government’s broader “Plan for Change” initiative which seeks to deliver 1.5 million new homes and make 150 decisions on major infrastructure developments by the end of the current Parliament.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill, published 11th March 2025, will provide powers to accelerate the infrastructure and homes needed to deliver on the government’s ambitions – and fast track critical infrastructure such as windfarms, power plants, and major road and rail projects.

Proposed measures include making consultation requirements more proportionate, reconsidering statutory guidance, reforming planning committees and speeding up planning decisions by updating National Policy Statements for NSIPs every five years.

The government also plans to reform Environmental Impact Assessments and replace with Environmental Outcome Reports under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, which are thought to be simpler and clearer and save time and money for developers.

To support the building of Labour’s 1.5 million houses, developers will be able to pay into a Nature Restoration Fund which will “discharge relevant environmental obligations for protected sites and species and focus on building, safe in the knowledge that appropriate action will be taken to support nature’s recovery.”

In Ireland

The Planning and Development Act 2024 was passed by the Dáil in October 2024, and introduces several key changes for developers, particularly for offshore wind projects, repowering existing wind farms and grid connections in relation to habitats and species.

The Act aims to streamline the consenting process for offshore wind projects by improving coordination and engagement between agencies and stakeholders. It establishes a five-year leasing schedule for offshore wind, updated every two years, and requires federal agency engagement with potentially affected groups. This is expected to facilitate better planning, siting, permitting, and consultation processes.

The Act aims to streamline the consenting process for offshore wind projects by improving coordination and engagement between agencies and stakeholders. It establishes a five-year leasing schedule for offshore wind, updated every two years, and requires federal agency engagement with potentially affected groups. This is expected to facilitate better planning, siting, permitting, and consultation processes.

For repowering existing offshore wind projects, the Act includes provisions to support the modernisation and upgrading of infrastructure. This involves improving permitting processes and providing financial incentives through tax credits and federal financing mechanisms.

The Act also addresses grid connections, emphasising the need to minimise environmental impacts on habitats and species. It includes requirements for comprehensive impact studies and public consultations to evaluate the potential effects of offshore wind development on marine and coastal environments.

Over the next year, stakeholders will need to familiarise themselves with the nuances of the Act and identify key provisions that require immediate attention. Collaborative efforts will be essential to prioritise amendments and specific commencements. Given the complexity of the Act, it is anticipated that the consenting provisions may not be fully implemented until 2026.

Therefore, stakeholders should focus on carving out critical elements that can be addressed sooner to avoid delays in realising material benefits.

Things to look out for

• Planning and Infrastructure Bill published 11th March 2025 (England)
• Planning Reform Working Paper: Streamlining Infrastructure Planning (published February 2025) (England)
• 10-year Infrastructure Strategy to be published in June 2025 (UK)
• Nature Restoration Fund (UK) as part of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill
• Planning and Development Act 2024 – implementation over the next 2 years (Ireland)

If you have any questions regarding planning and development legislation in the UK and Ireland please contact us.

References:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-goes-further-and-faster-on-planning-reform-in-bid-for-growth

https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2024/act/34/enacted/en/html

https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3946