Streamlined planning system in the Isle of Man announced
The UK government is set to introduce significant changes to planning rules for small buildings and home improvements, as part of the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill expected by late 2025. These reforms aim to reduce delays, simplify permission processes, and support smaller builders and self-builders to help address the housing shortage across England[1][4].
### Key Details of the Changes:
One of the key changes is the proposed increase in size limits for home extensions. Although the exact new size limits have not been explicitly stated, the reforms are designed to ease planning restrictions for smaller projects, implicitly allowing larger permitted extensions without the need for full planning applications[1][2].
The government is backing the smaller builder sector with a new £16 billion National Housing Bank. This financial support, together with streamlined planning permission processes, aims to empower more individuals and small builders to construct new homes or extend existing ones[1].
Another significant change is the proposed new planning threshold specifically for developments of 10 to 49 homes. This aims to create proportionate, clearer planning requirements with predictable timescales and costs, making it easier for smaller developers to navigate the system and bring more certainty to the construction sector[3].
Local authorities will also be better resourced with in-house environmental specialists to cut costs and delays in assessments, speeding up approvals[3]. The Bill proposes reforms allowing local determination of planning fees and improved planning committees to focus on significant developments rather than minor disputes such as extensions or fences. This both preserves effective local democracy and reduces unnecessary debates over small changes[4].
### Expected Impact:
These reforms are expected to lead to an increase in home-building applications and small construction projects due to reduced planning hurdles and financial support, particularly benefiting self-builders and smaller developers[1][3]. Faster approvals and less delay in construction projects should energize the building industry, help alleviate the housing shortage, and encourage more efficient delivery of homes and improvements[1][3][4].
The changes also aim to achieve a better balance between community input and streamlined development, focusing local democratic engagement on major projects while facilitating straightforward improvements like home extensions without cumbersome processes[4].
In summary, these reforms include raising size limits for extensions, supporting smaller builders financially and procedurally, imposing new planning thresholds for medium-sized developments, and improving both local authority capacity and the planning process. These changes collectively aim to speed up housing delivery, help fix the broken housing market, and increase the volume of home improvements and small builds across the UK[1][3][4].
It is important to note that these changes do not apply to councils in England, as the announcement of the new planning rules was made during the February sitting of Tynwald in the Isle of Man[5].
[1] Gov.uk. (2023). Planning reform: Proposals for reform. Retrieved from
- The reforms in the upcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill, aiming to streamline home-improvement and home-extension processes, are part of a broader lifestyle change initiative in the UK.
- The government's plan to establish a £16 billion National Housing Bank and its policy-and-legislation changes in home-improvement and planning rules falls under the category of general-news, as these actions are intended to stimulate the home-and-garden sector.
- Political debates surrounding the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which includes changes to planning rules for small buildings and home improvements, are influencing the housing shortage and construction sector across England, demonstrating the intersection of politics and legislative changes.
