What can we expect to see in the budget about the planning regime?

In her pre-budget speech, Rachel Reeves mentioned:

• The initial package of planning reforms made under Parliament will add an additional £6.8 billion to the economy over the next five years, and the follow up package will be introduced under the Planning & Infrastructure Bill. This has just finished its passage through the House of Lords and royal assent is expected later this year or early next, and following that a further planning bill is anticipated;
• The key investment sectors are road, rail, housing and nuclear. This ties in with the work currently being done by the New Towns Taskforce and the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce;
• Efficiency will be driven through AI. There is an open call for evidence until 2 January 2026 on an AI growth lab.

Commentary also suggests that Reeves may announce an additional £48 million for local authorities to recruit 350 new planners to allow the Government to deliver its promise to build 1.5 million homes in England during this Parliament. She may also confirm the creation of a Planning Careers Hub to offer training programmes to support retention and open new routes to planning.

We will provide more details as they emerge tomorrow but please do reach out to Alex Minhinick, Matt Tucker or I if you have any queries.