Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 and the 1.5 million homes target

« Plan for Change »: milestone of 1.5 million homes in England this Parliament[18]

Presented to Parliament by the Prime Minister, with a second milestone of fast-tracking planning decisions on at least 150 major economic infrastructure projects. Progress is measured by net additional dwellings in England.

First working paper for a Planning and Infrastructure Bill, alongside the revised planning framework[19]

Revised National Planning Policy Framework: mandatory local housing targets totalling 370,000 homes a year[19]

A policy change outside the Act, which the Act is meant to support: councils must review green belt boundaries and prioritise lower-quality « grey belt » land.

Bill introduced in the House of Commons[20][21]

Government impact assessment of the Bill published[22]

Net present social value over 2026-2035 estimated at £3.2bn (central), up to £7.5bn in the high range, in 2025 prices.

Government amendments to the Nature Restoration Fund after advice from the Office for Environmental Protection[23][24]

Tabled for the House of Lords committee stage; the environmental watchdog replied the same day that they « substantially allay » its concerns.

Royal Assent: the Bill becomes the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025[1][2][25]

Some provisions (reservoirs as nationally significant projects, grid connection reform, power for councils to set planning fees by regulations, bill discounts near pylons) came into force on the day of Royal Assent.

First commencement regulations: the framework of environmental delivery plans comes into force[12][13]

Regulations made on the day of Royal Assent bring sections 59 to 63 into force the next day and set 18 February 2026 for the rest of Part 3.

Main wave of provisions in force, two months after Royal Assent[2][12][15][17]

Partially in force: the Nature Restoration Fund (Part 3), legal-challenge limits, development corporations and part of the compulsory purchase reform apply from 18 February 2026; other provisions follow by commencement regulations (infrastructure consent July 2026, strategic planning November 2026).

Permit-based street works for electric vehicle charge point operators in force[13]

Ramsar wetlands in England get the same protection as European sites in habitats assessments[14][17]

Infrastructure consent reform in force: statutory pre-application consultation removed[15]

Sections 4 to 9 and 11 apply to nationally significant infrastructure projects, including the new power to disapply the requirement for development consent.

Nature Restoration Levy Regulations 2026 in force[16]

Made on 10 September 2026 after approval by both Houses; they set liability, payment, appeals and use of the levy.

First draft environmental delivery plan (Norfolk) put to consultation[26]

Drafted by Natural England against nutrient pollution in the Wensum, Bure and Yare catchments; it is meant to support up to 15,780 homes, with a flat-rate levy paid by developers.