In March 2025, the Government is expected to present their Planning and Infrastructure Bill (the Bill). The Government intends for the Bill to play a key role in unlocking more housing and infrastructure across the country and supporting sustained economic growth. Ahead of the publication of the Bill, the RTPI wishes to set out some key legislative asks of Government on behalf of the planning profession as our first phase of engagement with the reform.

This thinkpiece will include a number of suggestions for bill drafting principles, specific legislative asks, and suggested strategies to implement the intended outcomes of legislation.

Given the severe resourcing issues currently being experienced by local authority planning departments, no legislative proposals will achieve the Government’s growth ambition without resolution. Our thinkpiece proposes a comprehensive and long-term skills and resourcing strategy to be published alongside the Bill. We are also calling for no new and additional unfunded legislative duties.

We also have some specific legislative proposals which we are setting out for the Government on behalf of the profession. You can read more details below including our priority areas for consideration and specific asks.