The public want a greater say in planning

Public engagement is crucial in maintaining a fair and reasoned planning system. The Planner reports¹ that three in five adults in Britain think more opportunities should be available for public involvement throughout the planning process. 

A poll by YouGov for the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment focusing on public involvement in the planning process found that 63% of respondents thought there should be more public involvement in new housing developments. The thought was mirrored with respect to major infrastructure projects, where 59% agreed. 

Ahead of today's general election, these results suggest improving planning participation could be a key way for the next government to engage individuals in the planning process and their local communities.

Read our in-depth manifesto analysis to find out more about what the main parties are saying on planning and building.

Housebuilders promise wildlife measures in newbuilds

Twenty housebuilders, who between them are responsible for the building of around 90,000 new home as a year, have pledged to help wildlife on all new developments by signing up to the Homes for Nature initiative, The Planner reported on Monday.²

The initiative, developed by On Site Nature Measures Working Group and Future Homes Hub, will see:

‘a bird-nesting brick or box installed for every new home built. Hedgehog highways will be created as standard on every new development taken through planning from September 2024 for participating companies.’

Companies involved are also obliged to incorporate sustainable drainage systems and ‘pollinator-friendly’ landscaping.

The firms involved are encouraged to take further steps to help nature flourish, including incorporating features such as bat roosts and insect bricks.

For more information on the scheme, including a full list of firms already signed up, head over to The Planner³ to read the full article.

Keen to learn more about sustainability initiatives within the built environment? Head over to our Sustainability Hub today.

Many renewable energy projects are not progressing

According to a Cornwall Insight report⁴, 63% of renewable energy projects failed to advance past the planning stage between 2018 and 2023.

The article emphasises that although these types of applications are on the rise, approval rate ‘remains low’.

Centrica identifies⁵ a surge in 'phantom projects', a process in which developers file multiple speculative applications, expecting few to succeed. This practice has expanded the connections queue, complicating project progress and casting doubt on the UK's renewable energy commitments for achieving net zero and beyond.

Planning Portal are striving to develop a more sustainable, efficient, and digitally native planning system to streamline the process and support the UK's net-zero goals.

1. https://www.theplanner.co.uk/2024/07/01/public-want-more-say-planning-system-poll-finds
2. https://www.theplanner.co.uk/2024/07/01/housebuilders-sign-nature-initiative
3. https://www.theplanner.co.uk/2024/07/01/housebuilders-sign-nature-initiative
4. https://www.cornwall-insight.com/press/two-thirds-of-renewables-applications-fail-to-get-through-planning-stage/
5. https://www.centrica.com/media-centre/news/2023/phantom-power-projects-are-holding-back-the-uk-s-energy-security-centrica-report/