Through the beginning of 2025 the Government has continued to reaffirm its commitment to planning reform to accelerate housing delivery and infrastructure development. In our Q1 news update, we review the progress of local plans and recent and forthcoming planning decisions: National Planning On 11 March 2025, the Government introduced the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to Parliament. This bill aims to speed up planning decisions to boost housebuilding and remove unnecessary blockers to the delivery of vital developments like roads, railway lines, and windfarms. The bill is part of the Government's plan to build 1.5 million homes and make Britain a clean energy superpower. Green Belt guidance including the development of Grey Belt land was updated in the National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) at the end of February 2025. This aims to provide clearer guidance on the use and assessment of Grey Belt land, potentially making it easier to [...]

Central Bedfordshire are progressing a Full Local Plan Review in accordance with the Local Development Scheme (LDS)  updated in January 2025.  The LDS sets out the high-level timeframe for the development of an updated Local Plan. Community Engagement Over the past 12 months, Central Bedfordshire Council has been working closely with residents, town and parish councils, ward councillors, and other key stakeholders to help shape the new Local Plan. The feedback received is now being used to inform the next stage of plan-making. The first formal consultation stage—known as Regulation 18 (‘Issues and Options’)—is scheduled to take place in early 2026. To share the outcomes of this engagement, a series of summary reports have been prepared, highlighting the main themes and issues raised. These reports are available to download from the Central Bedfordshire website. Call for Sites As part of the Local Plan process, the Council recently invited landowners, developers, [...]

In April, Anglian Water hosted a developer webinar focused on ‘Delivering Sustainable Growth’. Despite limited attendance, the key message was clear: following an internal review, Anglian Water (AW) has identified capacity issues at their wastewater recycling centres, formerly known as sewage treatment works. AW manages approximately 1,100 facilities across the Anglian region. Each facility has been RAG rated based on its capacity to handle additional sewage flows from new developments: Red: No additional capacity until at least 2030. AW will object to both local plan allocations and planning applications, regardless of existing allocations. Amber: Planned ongoing investments. AW will request local planning authorities to impose a pre-occupation condition, preventing the occupation of new dwellings until the recycling centre is upgraded. Green: No capacity issues. The Cambridge growth area remains a primary focus for ongoing investment. However, AW’s policy has significant implications for planned and allocated developments, as well as [...]

Since March 2017, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority has been established as a Mayoral Combined Authority for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area. The Combined Authority works with the local councils, the Business Board (Local Enterprise Partnership), local public services, Government departments and agencies, universities and businesses to grow the local and national economy. Local government is divided between Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, which is a separate unitary authority. Under the county council, there are five district councils, Cambridge City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and Fenland District Council. The current Strategic Planning position in Cambridgeshire is as follows: Peterborough City Council The Peterborough Local Plan was adopted on 24 July 2019. This is a statutory Local Plan which sets out the overall approach to development in Peterborough to 2036 and beyond. The Council have now launched a draft of the new Local Plan (2024-2044) and opened public consultation until [...]

Planning in Buckinghamshire offers great opportunities due to its location with Greater London to the south-east, Berkshire to the south, Oxfordshire to the west, Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-east and Hertfordshire to the east, together with its position in the Oxford  Cambridge (OxCam) Arc. Buckinghamshire is one of the home counties with towns such as High Wycombe, Amersham, Chesham and the Chalfonts in the east and southeast of the county forming some of the most densely populated parts of the county. Development in this region is restricted by the Metropolitan Green Belt and the Chilterns AONB. Other large settlements include the county town of Aylesbury, Marlow in the south near the Thames and Princes Risborough in the west near Oxford. The areas around the old county town of Buckingham and near Olney in the northeast, are much less populous. The largest town is Milton Keynes in [...]

The Greensand Ridge offers sweeping vistas over the Forest of Marston Vale, a community forest in Bedfordshire. Once a brickmaking hub, the area now features lakes formed from old clay pits. The Rookery South Energy Recovery Facility processes waste and generates electricity. In addition Universal Studios is set to open its first European theme park in Bedfordshire, on the site of the former Kempston Hardwick brickworks beside the A421. Scheduled to open in 2031, this major development is expected to create around 28,000 jobs and bring significant economic benefits to the region. This will complement the picturesque views of Marston Vale, enhancing the area's appeal to both locals and visitors. Planning in Bedfordshire is administered by three unitary authorities: Borough of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Borough of Luton, after Bedfordshire County Council was abolished in 2009. The current Strategic Planning position in Bedfordshire is as follows: Bedford Borough The Local Plan 2030 was adopted in January 2020 [...]