Planning and Infrastructure Act becomes law

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill received Royal Assent (Landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill becomes law – GOV.UK) on 18 December. The Act aims to remove blockages and delays in the planning system, accelerating the construction of new roads, railway lines, wind farms and other nationally significant infrastructure – something Logistics UK has long championed.

During the Bill’s passage, assurances were given by ministers at the despatch box that logistics should be considered strategically vital within the planning system, particularly in spatial development strategies.

Coinciding with the Act becoming law, the government published a consultation (National Planning Policy Framework: proposed reforms and other changes to the planning system – GOV.UK) on revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework on 16 December, running until 10 March 2026.

The consultation includes a new policy on freight and logistics (Planning small print must not ignore the big picture for logistics, says Logistics UK | Logistics UK), recognising the sector’s importance to economic growth (p54 of the consultation document).