The Conservative Party has released its 2024 General Election manifesto, outlining plans to deliver 1.6 million homes in the next parliament, faster infrastructure delivery and naming some parts of the country where they’d like to see more development and urban regeneration.
On housing delivery:
Commitments to new locally-led development corporations and support for brownfield development would help to unleash planning’s proactive role in housing delivery. However, we believe that effectively freezing the green belt around many of the cities mentioned would make it harder to drive urban regeneration. The sector also needs a clear understanding of how reforms to Section 106 and any new Infrastructure Levy will work to avoid holding up projects further.
On infrastructure
It is promising that the Conservative Party has outlined plans to ensure National Policy Statements are regularly updated, which our Planifesto called for.
On energy and Net Zero
We called on the next Government to plan for net zero, however, it is unlikely that the Conservative Party’s “pragmatic and proportionate approach” will adequately support planning services to effectively encourage aspiration in communities. For example, it is disappointing that unnecessary policy barriers preventing new onshore wind projects have not been removed.
On devolution
It is positive to see that the manifesto outlines plans to empower communities through devolution. However, we believe devolution must come with planning powers to strengthen collaboration across housing market areas and to make it easier for these areas to take collective decisions.
Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the RTPI
The RTPI will provide more detailed responses to all of the political parties’ manifestos on our elections hub following their release.
