Planning news – 2 May 2025

RTPI raises concerns over environmental proposals in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill 

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill, currently at the committee stage in the House of Commons, proposes the introduction of a centralised ‘nature restoration fund’- a levy paid by developers to support environmental improvements. 

Under the proposed model, responsibility for delivering environmental benefits would shift from individual developments to broader, strategic environmental delivery plans prepared by Natural England. This represents a move away from site-specific mitigation towards nationally coordinated efforts to enhance biodiversity and restore nature. 

While the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) supports the scheme in principle, it has raised concerns over Natural England’s capacity to deliver on its expanded role. Speaking at the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Select Committee on Tuesday (29 April), RTPI Chief Executive Victoria Hills emphasised that the effectiveness of the scheme hinges on sufficient resourcing for Natural England. She warned that “the risk is in the early years of the scheme,” before the new levy becomes firmly established. 

You can read more on Planning Resource. 

Doubling biodiversity net gain has ‘marginal’ impact on development viability, study finds 

A new report commissioned by Essex County Council and the Essex Local Nature Partnership has found that increasing biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements from 10% to 20% would have only a minimal impact on development viability. 

Since February 2024, developers in England have been required to deliver at least a 10% biodiversity net gain under the Environment Act 2021. However, local planning authorities (LPAs) can set higher thresholds where appropriate. 

The SQW Viability Study, undertaken to explore the cost implications of doubling the baseline requirement, found that the bulk of costs are associated with achieving the initial 10% uplift. The additional investment required to deliver a 20% gain was described as marginal, with limited effect on the overall viability of development projects. 

Essex County Council says the findings will help inform future policy decisions and local plan development.  

The full report is available on the Essex Design Guide website. 

Housing Secretary to be able to impose ‘surcharge’ for planning application fees 

The government is amending the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to give the Housing Secretary the power to impose a surcharge on planning application fees. This surcharge would cover the costs incurred by statutory consultees—bodies that provide advice during the planning process. 

Introduced by Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook, the surcharge would be calculated based on the costs these advisory bodies face, particularly in providing consultation responses. The Housing Secretary would set the surcharge as a percentage of the application fee, with flexibility for different circumstances or types of applications. 

This amendment follows long-standing concerns about the under-resourcing of statutory consultees. In February 2025, the government allocated £1 million to these agencies to help speed up planning approvals. The surcharge aims to ease this pressure and ensure that consultees are adequately funded for their role in the planning process. 

While the move could improve the efficiency of planning, it raises questions about the financial impact on applicants and local authorities, and will likely be a focal point for discussion as the Bill progresses through Parliament.