Find out about Planning & Infrastructure Bill & Sussex MPs’ views on it

The government claims that its Planning and Infrastructure Bill aims to speed up and streamline the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure as part of their commitment to ‘get Britain building’. The Bill could be a significant opportunity to create a planning system that delivers for people and the planet – but as it’s currently written it is likely to make things worse.

What CPRE wants from the Bill

The Bill should enhance the role of the planning system which is key to getting critical infrastructure and new, genuinely affordable homes built in the right place. It should strengthen environmental protections and boost opportunities for community engagement.

Here’s what CPRE wants the new bill to do:

– Keep local people at the heart of planning decisions

– Make sure planning departments have the resources they need

– Incentivise brownfield development

– Set clear targets for affordable and social housing

– Redefine ‘affordable’ housing

– Abolish ‘hope value’

– Reform viability assessments

– Strengthen environmental protections in infrastructure planning

– Introduce planning controls on short-term lets and second homes

– Ensure communities benefit from infrastructure development

By incorporating these ten key points, the government can ensure that development truly works for communities while protecting and enhancing the countryside.

Read more about these points at:  www.cpre.org.uk/explainer/ten-things-we-want-to-see-from-the-planning-and-infrastructure-bill-pib/

How CPRE has responded to the published Bill

CPRE is disappointed with much of the published Bill, and has identified many changes that need to be made. You can read more at www.cpre.org.uk/news/our-response-to-the-new-planning-and-infrastructure-bill/”

CPRE Sussex is alarmed about the valuable Sussex habitats under threat from the  Bill. It will potentially allow developers to ignore many onsite environmental issues and scrap onsite wildlife surveys. We refute the underlying assumption that protections provided by environmental laws must be either removed or weakened because they are obstacles to economic growth.

Read more about CPRE Sussex views: www.cpresussex.org.uk/news/cpre-sussex-directors-column-written-for-west-sussex-gazette-march-2025/

Sussex MPs views on the Bill

MPs debated the Bill on 24 March 2025.

See who took part in the debate and what they said: P & I Bill SUSSEX MPs Commons Debate 24th Mar How they voted What they said 1 1

This is posted as a record of the debate and votes, as drawn from Hansard. No  CPRE Sussex view on any party or MP is implied as a result.

Next steps

As deliberations continue in the coming months, CPRE will continue to advocate for a planning system that balances necessary development with environmental protection and genuine community involvement.