Radical planning changes that will divide opinions are expected in the next six months, according to leading property consultants Berrys, following a landslide victory by Labour in the General Election on the 4th July.

Berrys Chief Executive Officer and Head of Planning, Stuart Thomas, says he cannot recall a time when planning was so high up on the political agenda, with 'a flurry' of changes to policy and decision making expected in the coming months.

"In all my years of doing this job, I can't ever recall seeing planning being placed front and centre of government policy," he said.

"The changes will mean that Shropshire Council will need to rethink its current approach to development. Watch this space – change is coming, and not everyone will like it," Mr Thomas added.

In his first speech as prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer firmly focused on 'rebuilding' the country's 'infrastructure of opportunity', doing so 'brick by brick'.

And in her first speech as Chancellor, Rachel Reeves announced a series of planning reforms that she says will get Britain building the infrastructure it needs, including 1.5 million homes in five years and a clean power system, which the government committed to in its manifesto. 

Mr Thomas said: "Shropshire already has one of the best-performing local Councils for delivery of rural affordable housing, but we expect to see more positive planning reforms in this area and hopefully more homes built in the towns and villages where they are needed the most.”

"This means more investment in local infrastructure, with new housing in Shropshire subject to a development tax (community infrastructure levy). On average, every new home build in Shropshire would deliver £10,000 to be spent on local community projects and infrastructure," he said.

The government has also said it will publish a draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) before the August parliamentary recess.

Mr Thomas expects the framework to contain some drastic changes.

"We could see some radical changes proposed in the NPPF, which will undoubtedly influence how Shropshire makes decisions. There will likely be a strong emphasis on ensuring that Councils approve applications with tangible economic benefits, with such provisions previously being watered down in national policy," he added.

With the ban on on-shore turbines, which has been in place for the past decade, being lifted, a rise in applications is also expected for the area.

"Love or hate them, they are back, with the government having already changed planning policy to facilitate fresh applications. Some parts of Shropshire and Mid Wales have wind speeds and directions perfect for the effective operation of turbines, so I would expect to see applications in this area being revisited in the not-too-distant future," he said.

Other changes that are expected, include:

  • Review Of Green Belt Land - The green belt remains a fierce battleground in Shropshire and has come under intense scrutiny as part of Shropshire Council's current review of their local plan. "Done correctly the strategic release of green belt land would go a long way to solving the housing problems in areas which have clear potential to support development without any noticeable harm." The reality of land in the green belt is it is often poor quality, underused land that serves no useful purpose for anyone. In addition, the greenbelt land in Shropshire is in the eastern part of the county which is most appropriate strategically for growth given its interrelationship with the West Midlands and Birmingham.

"Labour have termed this type of land the ‘grey belt’ and they will shortly be writing to all councils seeking a review of their green belt land. Expect to see some radical changes in this area and support for strategic housing and employment being part of the pro-growth agenda." said Mr Thomas.

  • An Increase In The Number Of Planning Officers - This will likely lead to quicker decisions and more positive outcomes for Shropshire, which has the second-highest number of planning applications in the West Midlands.
  • Priority Given To Energy Projects—Mr Thomas said “There have previously been mixed results on solar farm applications. He expects this is about to change, with greater priority given to this area.”
  • Greater Weight Is Expected To Be Given To Planning Applications That Can Demonstrate Economic Benefit - This could lead to the approval of applications which would have previously been refused.
  • Infrastructure Projects—The government has announced that planning for key infrastructure projects of regional or national importance will now receive priority.  

"Planning makes things happen, and it should be at the heart of any government policy for growth and economic development. Planning can and should be a force for good. It was always a system put in place to facilitate growth in post war era, to get the country moving again. Somewhere along the way the profession lost its way and the system we have now is riddled with bureaucracy and negative, energy sapping mindsets that often easily find a way to say no rather than yes.” Mr Thomas added.

It does not have to be this way and maybe this is the time to rediscover the importance of positive planning in the UK.

"At Berrys, we are keeping abreast of all the information coming out of Westminster, so we are best placed to advise our clients and achieve the best outcomes" he added.