The Planning & Infrastructure Bill – Vagueness Criticised

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Civic Voice has expressed its concerns for local communities over the Planning and Infrastructure Bill whilst criticising its vagueness – although acknowledging the need for a faster and more effective planning system.

The organisation has also raised an alarm call over the extensive powers given to the Secretary of State by the Bill.

Here we publish an executive summary of the full response from Civic Voice’s new Expert Panel. Key recommendations include: Preparation of a national spatial strategy and the establishment of a national advisory and consultative body with local group representation; objection to the removal of heritage protection for transport investment projects; the introduction of a statutory requirement for a qualified chief planning officer and professional staff in every planning authority; a government strategy for professional staffing and planning skills; the strengthening of community engagement provisions, including the establishment of local consultative bodies; the widespread use of strategic planning boards with membership from outside local government; the promotion of community involvement in environmental delivery plans; and support for compulsory purchase proposals but with concerns about local authority resource constraints.

 

Civic Voice executive summary

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill is mostly an exercise in promoting strategic planning and in facilitating investment through central intervention. Civic Voice accepts the case for a speedier and more effective planning system, yet is concerned that the Bill is often vague, leaving key decisions to the Secretary of State and that, in addition, it fails to recognise the implications for local communities and for public engagement.

 

Point two

The scale of discretionary and other powers given to the Secretary of State is such that the government needs to work out new forms of spatial co-ordination and accountability at a national level. Civic Voice proposes the preparation of a national spatial strategy; and the establishment of a new national advisory and consultative body, comprising representatives of local groups. 

 

Point three

Further, we object in Part 1 to the removal (disapplication in terms of the language of the Bill) of heritage protection for transport investment projects. 

Point four

The delegation of decisions to planning officers already covers well over 90% of all decisions, as is acknowledged in the published background papers. The provisions in Part 2, together with regulations made by the Secretary of State may introduce more consistency in local delegation practices. However, a further significant national increase in delegated decisions looks unrealistic and is also undesirable, given its potentially damaging implications for local democracy. 

Point five

The delegation provisions should, in any case, be accompanied by a statutory requirement that every planning authority has a designated independent and planning-qualified chief planning officer, with professional qualified staff, including staff trained or qualified in other specialist roles notably, heritage and conservation and minerals and waste management. Otherwise, the delegation of decisions does not result in decisions made by qualified persons. Any additional staffing costs should be recognised by the government, with continued financial support to councils. In addition, the government should work out contingency arrangements for those councils unable or unwilling to employ qualified staff. 

Point six

The creation of new spatial strategies and planning boards will further raise the demand for professionally qualified staff. The environmental delivery plans, proposed in Part 3, will also require additional technical staff. The government needs a strategy. No such strategy has been published.

 

Point seven

While the background papers to the Bill recognise that community engagement in plan preparation will be crucial to democratic legitimacy, the Bill is silent on the subject. For local planning, the Bill should refer to the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) and should strengthen the provisions in the SCI to allow for consistency and good quality practice. In this context, Civic Voice asks for the establishment of a local consultative body in each local planning authority area. The role of the consultative body would be to advise officers of the views of local communities, covering both plan making and the control of development. 

Point eight

For the new Spatial Development Strategies, the Bill recognises a need for the establishment of Strategic Planning Boards but does not say where or under which circumstances would justify this. Civic Voice is of the view that Strategic Planning Boards should be widely used for authorities that lack local ward councillors, such as the existing combined Mayoral authorities and that the Boards should include membership from outside local government, including representatives of the civic movement and other local non-governmental bodies. Further, the Bill should specify the preparation of a SCI for strategic as well as local planning 

Point nine

The provisions in Part 3, ‘Development and Nature Recovery’ and Part 4 ‘Development Corporations’ are about the provision of general enabling powers. The proposed Environmental Delivery Plan has the commendable aim of reconciling nature protection and development. It looks applicable only to large schemes. However, it is not possible to make further recommendations until detailed regulations or proposals are known. In relation to Part 3, Civic Voice wishes to promote, wherever practical, the potential for citizen science and community involvement, for example through the existing local Nature Recovery Plans. 

Point ten

Finally, in Part 5, Civic Voice welcomes the compulsory purchase proposals as a way of speeding up urban regeneration, enabling more sensitive local planning and in some cases, reducing the costs of social development. However, we are concerned that financial and staffing constraints in local authorities will continue to limit compulsory purchase to occasional ad hoc interventions. 

Picture: Civic Voice wants planning reform to build new homes quicker but says the Planning and Infrastructure Bill should be reworked.

www.civicvoice.org.uk

Article written by Cathryn Ellis
22nd April 2025

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