18 COMMENT
Mark Mirams, Chief Operations Offi cer at Studio Charrette
What does planning reform mean for you
With the benefi t of 20 years of experience navigating planning policy, Mark Mirams, chief operations offi cer at Studio Charrette, gives readers a no-nonsense view of the practical changes brought by the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
PULL QUOTE (NOT TOO LONG)
LOREM IPSUM DOLOR
LET’S BE HONEST, PLANNING IN THE UK HAS BEEN PAINFUL
WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK
t Studio Charrette, we know how frustrating the UK planning system can be. Whether you’re trying to build a home extension, open a cafe, or develop a housing scheme, the process often feels slow, confusing, and inconsistent. That’s why the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill is such a big deal it promises the most signifi cant reform in decades. But what does that really mean for you?
A
Let’s be honest, planning in the UK has been painful. Councils are overwhelmed, phone calls go unanswered, and even simple applications can drag on for months. With this Bill, the Government is saying, “Enough is enough.” The goal is to modernise the system, speed up decision-making, and help the country “get building again.”
One of the headline changes focuses on
large infrastructure projects (think transport routes and power stations). Right now, these can take four years or more to get planning approval. The new bill aims to cut that in half. Key updates to the consultation and national policy statement rules should make those approvals much faster and more consistent.
That might sound distant from your everyday project, but it’s part of a bigger picture. Faster infrastructure approvals can unlock development land, ease pressure on local services, and support small builders trying to bring forward much-needed housing. The Bill also makes important changes to how local authorities operate. Councils will be allowed to set their own planning fees, but those funds must be ringfenced to improve planning services. If that’s
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