Reaction: Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Published: 13 March 2025

Labour have introduced their Planning and Infrastructure Bill, a major piece of Westminster legislation proposing sweeping reforms to the planning process, housebuilding and environmental regulations in both England and Wales. 

Unsurprisingly this could have huge implications for National Parks. 

Robust planning protections sit at the very heart of National Park designation, ensuring that the unique character and natural beauty of these iconic landscapes is protected for future generations, while allowing appropriate development to proceed where suitable.  

As the party which founded the National Parks 75 years ago, Labour are custodians of these landscapes and have a special responsibility to ensure their planning reforms take full account of the additional protections already in place for National Parks and National Landscapes. This is particularly important considering the vital role National Parks should be playing in tackling the nature and climate crisis, as identified in our recent Health Check report. An ill-thought-out Planning Bill could seriously undermine the Government’s commitment to ensuring National Parks become wilder and greener for nature and cause irreparable damage to the UK’s most treasured landscapes.  

The immediate takeaway from reading the Planning and Infrastructure Bill is that National Parks have been spared any large-scale removal of their existing protections, however there still could be some nasty surprises as the legislation passes through Parliament. That’s why we’re working closely with MPs and Peers – as well as public supporters – to ensure that the bill delivers four key outcomes for protected landscapes and the health of the nation: 

1. No regression on existing planning protections for National Parks and National Landscapes 

The bill proposes a variety of changes and additions to the planning process which could affect National Parks in a number of ways. This includes reforms to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) and the introduction of Strategic Development Strategies to join up development needs and infrastructure planning. It’s essential that the existing safeguards for protected landscapes remain intact and that wider planning and housebuilding proposals don’t undermine them.  

2. Recognise the unique role of planning committees in National Parks 

The bill includes measures to modernise planning committees and it’s important that this part of the new legislation takes account of the unique role National Park Authorities (NPAs) play as local planning authorities. NPA planning committees must balance both national and local interests when making decisions in the best interests of the parks, and so it’s crucial that any legislative reforms look to support and enhance their capabilities. 

3. Bring forward reforms to revitalize National Park purposes and governance 

In December 2024 the Government committed to take forward reform of National Park purposes and governance as a priority and this bill offers the perfect opportunity to fulfil that commitment. We want to see a new nature recovery purpose for protected landscapes as well as ensuring that National Park Authority Boards are more efficient, more skills-based and more representative of the general population. Purposes and governance reform was two of the key recommendations from our Health Check report which sets out the changes needed to ensure wildlife can thrive in our National Parks. 

4. Ensure that National Parks are thriving landscapes for nature and climate 

The bill should ensure that all planning decisions are compatible with nature and climate targets, with stronger protections for vulnerable habitats like chalk streams and peatlands, as well as more nature-friendly building regulation. Any planning decisions that affect Protected Landscapes should also comply with the legal duty in England on all public bodies to seek to further the conservation and enhancement of these areas. With large areas of forestry land in National Parks, we want to see the Forestry Commission given a new nature duty and a Ministerial requirement for consent on any energy infrastructure proposals on forestry land in protected landscapes.