Last week, at UKREiiF and across the headlines, a clear message was delivered from the government to housebuilders: Get on and build.
Keir Starmer has now doubled down on this with a new announcement urging developers to "play their part" in delivering 1.5 million homes - and hinted that the onus has now shifted squarely onto the industry.
In short? The planning reforms are (mostly) in - now it’s your move.
What's actually new here?
Alongside the headline-grabbing rhetoric, there’s now a policy paper to match:
➡️ Planning Reform Working Paper: Speeding up Build Out
It outlines proposals to:
- Give councils new powers to act when development stalls
- Increase transparency around delivery pipelines
- Require build-out plans as part of the planning application process
The goal? To crack down on so-called 'landbanking' (despite all evidence, including from the Letwin Review and the Barker Review, this accusation won't seem to disappear) and give local authorities more leverage when delivery lags.
We’ve also seen new working papers covering Committee Reform and Application Thresholds - and both are good news for developers.
Committee Reform
The Committee Reform proposals will see more applications being decided by officers. This will lead to more certainty of outcome for the majority of planning applications. Only the largest or most contentious schemes will need to go before local members. So yes, that could mean no more full committee hearings for every Reserved Matters application.
And in a much-welcomed move, planning committee members will also need to be properly trained - including on what can and can’t be considered in planning decisions. That’s a win for faster, more consistent outcomes.
Application Thresholds
A new working paper on the size of application thresholds has also been released, which proposes a new ‘medium’ sized application to sit between non-major (<10 houses) and Major (currently 10+ houses but proposed to be increased to 50+). These new medium sized applications may be subject to reduced application requirements and streamlined BNG assessment requirements.
All of this is designed to work in tandem with the upcoming National Decision Making Policies, which are still expected later this year. Together, these changes could go a long way towards helping SME developers get sites over the line - and get spades in the ground, faster.
So why the tough talk?
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There’s a political dimension here. The government wants to show it’s tackling the housing crisis head-on. And after years of planning being branded as the blocker, ministers are now pivoting:
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"We’ve fixed the planning system (sort of)… so what’s stopping you?"
At UKREiiF, this was echoed across several sessions. There’s a clear shift in narrative - from unlocking land to accelerating delivery.
But here’s the thing: planning reform alone won’t magically deliver 1.5 million homes.
Land supply, local opposition, financing challenges, infrastructure constraints… none of these are solved by a strongly worded press release. And no one understands that better than the developers and consultants on the ground.
What does this mean for you?
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Well, it could mean:
- More certainty of outcome with less involvement from Committees; and
- Streamlined assessments for BNG on small and medium sites.
But also:
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- Tighter scrutiny on when and how fast your sites come forward;
- A bigger role for build-out plans in decision-making;
- A need to clearly evidence your delivery track record and capacity;
And if you’re working with councils, you may start seeing new conditions or expectations baked into local plans or S106 agreements.
How LandTech can help
At LandTech, we’ve always believed that unlocking sites is just the start. That’s why our tools go beyond simple site-finding, helping you:
- Assess viability upfront - so you don’t lose time on unworkable sites
- Track progress and pipeline data - to stay ahead of regulatory scrutiny
- Build compelling planning cases - backed by clear evidence and local insight
In other words: we’re here to help you get on and build with confidence.
Final thoughts
This latest announcement might feel like developers are being put on notice. But it also offers an opportunity: to show that the sector is ready to deliver - if the system gives it the right tools, support, and certainty.
The pressure is on. But with the right strategy (and a little help from LandTech), it’s possible to turn that pressure into progress.
