This Insight summarises the Planning aspirations of the Conservative, Labour and the Liberal Democrat manifestos for the UK’s 2024 election. Their shared focus is on housing, energy infrastructure and battling climate change. The Conservatives remain committed to the Green Belt and maximising brownfield and densification. Labour proposes new towns and increased use of compulsory purchase, with release of ‘grey’ belt. The Lib Dems focus on more localised strategies. Labour and the Conservatives both propose increases in offshore wind, nuclear and carbon capture, use and storage. Both resist fracking. Labour proposes new Government energy investment institutions. The Conservatives remain wary of onshore wind. The Lib Dems support nature-based solutions to the energy crisis given the imperative to tackle global warming.

In the second Insight in our series on the planning changes in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill (the first was on the proposed changes to local plans), we examine the proposed new Infrastructure Levy that will eventually replace the Community Infrastructure Levy, how the two levies compare and how it is expected to work in practice. 

In episode 7 of the podcast Planning Life Insights of Bryan, BCLP explore with London First guest Sarah Bevan and Chris Whall from Air Quality Consultants Ltd the challenges and opportunities for developers bringing forward major schemes in London following the adoption of the new London Plan.

In episode 6 of the podcast Planning Life Insights of Bryan, BCLP explore with Quod guest Matthew Sharpe top tips on amending planning permissions for major regeneration proposals enabling them to move with the market (including the implications of the recent Hillside Parks case).

In episode 5 of the podcast Planning Life Insights of Bryan, BCLP explore with guests John Sayer of CBRE and Sarah Bevan of London First, what opportunities the changes to the Use Classes Order open up for landlords with high street portfolios, tenant unit operators and developers trying to deliver new mixed use schemes. To some, the Use Classes are an incomprehensible alphabet soup of statist planning control. But could grouping a range of uses into one giant commercial, business and services Use Class revitalise Britain’s high streets and out of town frontages?

Episode 4 of the podcast Planning Life Insights of Bryan looks at “Planning for the future”, a Government consultation paper which moots a complete overhaul of the planning regime in favour of US-style zoning and a total revamp of CIL and S106. Could this help developers deliver major schemes in the 21st Century?

Joined by Rachele Pacifici of Cast Consultancy and Verity Waington of BCLP Real Estate, Sheridan Treger, Mike Dempsey and Jemma Green explore structuring planning permissions and agreements for major mixed-use schemes so that they are marketable and fundable assets throughout their transactional lives.