Reaction: Planning and Infrastructure Bill
Published: 13 March 2025
This week saw the introduction of Labour’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill, a major piece of legislation proposing sweeping reforms to the planning process, housebuilding and environmental regulations in both England and Wales.
Unsurprisingly this could have huge implications for National Parks.
Robust planning protections sit at the very heart of National Park designation, ensuring that the unique character and natural beauty of these iconic landscapes is protected for future generations, while allowing appropriate development to proceed where suitable.
As the governing party which founded the National Parks 75 years ago, Labour are custodians of these landscapes and have a special responsibility to ensure their planning reforms take full account of the additional protections already in place for National Parks and National Landscapes. This is particularly important considering the vital role National Parks must play in tackling the nature and climate crisis, as identified in our recent Health Check report. An ill-thought-out Planning Bill could seriously undermine the Government’s commitment to ensuring National Parks become wilder and greener for nature and cause irreparable damage to the UK’s most treasured landscapes.
The immediate takeaway from reading the Planning and Infrastructure Bill is that National Parks have been spared any large-scale removal of their existing protections. This is thanks largely to Campaign for National Parks mounting a strong defense of the existing planning system as soon as Labour came to power last July. However there still could be some nasty surprises as the new legislation passes through Parliament. That’s why we’re working closely with MPs and Peers to ensure that the Bill delivers four key outcomes for protected landscapes and the health of the nation:
1. No regression on existing planning protections for National Parks and National Landscapes
The Bill proposes a variety of reforms to the planning process which could affect National Parks in a number of direct or indirect ways. It’s therefore essential that the existing safeguards for protected landscapes remain intact and that wider planning and housebuilding changes don’t undermine them.
2. Recognise the unique role of planning committees in National Parks
The Bill includes measures to modernise planning committees and it’s important that this part of the new legislation takes account of the unique role National Park Authorities play as local planning authorities. NPA planning committees must balance both national and local interests when making decisions in the best interests of the parks, and so it’s crucial that any legislative reforms look to support and enhance their capabilities.
3. Bring forward reforms to revitalize National Park governance
The Bill offers a huge opportunity to modernise governance arrangements in National Parks, ensuring that National Park Authority Boards are more efficient, more skills-based and more representative of the general population. National Park governance was also one of the key recommendations from our Health Check Report which sets out the changes needed to ensure wildlife can thrive in our National Parks. In December 2024 the Government committed to take forward NPA governance reform as a priority and this Bill offers the perfect opportunity for them to fulfil that commitment.
4. Ensure that National Parks are thriving landscapes for nature and climate
The Bill must ensure that all planning decisions are compatible with nature and climate targets and those that affect Protected Landscapes also comply with the legal duty on all public bodies to seek to further the conservation and enhancement of these areas.