The House of Commons Library has released an update on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill 2024–25.

The full report can be seen here, and in summary says:

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill, introduced on 11 March 2025, aims to reform the planning system and streamline processes for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs). It completed its committee stage on 22 May after 14 sittings, during which all government amendments and new clauses were adopted. No opposition amendments were successful.

Key Additions at Committee Stage

• NSIP Reforms:

  • Clause 4 removes the requirement for applicants to consult the public before submitting NSIP applications.

  • Clause 5 provides consequential amendments to support this change.

  • Clause 10 simplifies amendment processes for approved NSIP projects, removing the distinction between material and non-material changes.

• Survey Powers:

  • Clauses 9 and 76–83 introduce new rights of entry for environmental surveying by Natural England and the Secretary of State.

  • Clause 86 allows for functions and resources of Natural England to be transferred to other nominated bodies.

• Planning Fees:

  • Clause 48 permits additional charges on planning applications to fund statutory consultees’ participation.

• Crown Application:

  • Clause 90 clarifies that Part 3 of the Bill (covering development and nature recovery) applies to Crown land.

Stakeholder Reactions

• Environmental and Planning Groups:
  A number of stakeholders have raised concerns about the environmental implications of the bill:

  • The Better Planning Coalition criticised the lack of detail and called for improvements across five key areas.

  • The Hansard Society warned about the deferral of legislative detail, particularly in benefit schemes linked to energy projects.

  • Wildlife and Countryside Link, the RSPB, and The Wildlife Trusts argue that the bill could weaken nature protections and conflict with domestic and international environmental laws.

  • The Office for Environmental Protection is particularly concerned about the removal of the mitigation hierarchy from the Habitats Regulations 2017.

• Rural and Housing Advocates:

  • CPRE, the countryside charity, proposed a ‘use it or lose it’ approach to address unimplemented planning permissions.

  • The National Farmers’ Union raised objections to the bill’s provisions on compulsory purchase, citing risks to farmers’ trust and land security.

Focus on Part 3

Part 3 of the bill, covering development and environmental delivery, has attracted the most scrutiny. A joint statement from stakeholders, issued on 22 May, argued that the current version of the bill does not adequately support nature recovery, sustainable growth, or high-quality development. Conservation groups have suggested amendments to mitigate these concerns.