​The United Kingdom's planning system is like Marmite—you either hate it or really, really hate it. Yet, with a new Labour government under Keir Starmer in charge, the planning system is poised to undergo significant changes, or so the promises go. Starmer and his team have made ambitious commitments to reform the planning system and address the chronic housing shortage that has plagued the UK for years. But before we get too carried away, it’s worth pausing to consider what’s actually likely to happen when promises meet the reality of governing.
In this article, we'll delve into the Labour Party’s promises, compare them with past efforts at reform, and attempt to make an educated guess about what lies ahead for the UK’s planning system and home building sector. Spoiler alert: it's going to be a wild ride, but whether it will be a smooth one for us and our clients remains to be seen.

The UK Planning system plays a crucial role in encouraging economic growth, promoting affordable homes, and creating high-quality spaces. However, public trust in the system is low, with 58% of the UK population distrusting their local government (OECD, 2022). Craig McWilliam of City Monitor stated, “The British public have lost faith in the planning system.” One reason for this distrust is the failure to meet statutory homebuilding targets of 300,000 new homes per annum set in the 1950s (Watling and Breach, 2023). This under-delivery impacts home ownership, a sense of belonging, and family planning decisions (House of Lords, 2016).

In 2020 Joe wrote an article targeting his view on the changes to the planning system which occurred through the government. This can make an impact on people wanting to make improvements on their homes.

To read the full article: ​https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:0b6d97c5-629b-4063-977e-71359d6658e1