PwC comments on the Government’s Planning & Infrastructure Bill

Chris Scudamore, UK Leader for Capital Projects & Infrastructure at PwC, said:

“The Bill signals a 21st century overhaul of planning and infrastructure, and a recognition that the planned developments are on a scale and built at a pace not seen in recent decades in the UK; that will require prioritisation, significant support and different perspectives and delivery methods.  

“The measures in the Bill are an overdue step in removing obstacles and accelerating the planning stage of infrastructure projects, which will bring far-reaching benefits to communities, investors and the economy. To realise these benefits and the ambitions set out in the Bill, the Government must now impact assess the proposed changes on the entire planning and infrastructure delivery system, and treat this package of measures as an industry wide transformation.” 

Vicky Parker, Energy, Utilities and Resources Leader at PwC, said:

“The measures are important steps to speeding up planning in support of the Clean Power 2030 action plan, and importantly, a move to ‘first ready, first connected’. To ensure efficient delivery, these measures must be accompanied by the right level of support for the scale of such major infrastructure projects. That includes making sure the right workforce can be accessed at the right time, with the mix of skills (both for build and operation) and supply chains to enable delivery, alongside a supportive regulatory environment. Planning is a critical part of the puzzle, but all aspects to support delivery must now progress at the same pace to provide confidence to unlock future investment.  

“Industrial sites and datacentre requirements have been called out specifically for needing new grid connections. PwC’s recent 2025 Energy Survey also identified the need for new demand, with 83% of organisations surveyed stating their energy demand would increase over the next 12 months. It is essential that future strategic plans take account of both replacement fossil fuel energy requirements but also increased power demand driven by technology, AI and electrification from UK businesses alongside consumer needs.” 

PwC’s housing lead, James Bailey, said:

“These measures are a continued reinforcement of the Government’s intent to streamline the planning process to unlock and accelerate the delivery of 1.5 million new homes. However, to realise these ambitions it will require a holistic approach to challenges around labour, skills and productivity and the intersection between the Bill and the emerging Industrial Strategy is a critical success factor to delivery of homes and broader economic growth. 

“The Nature Restoration Fund has the potential to be a real game-changer. Aligning the often competing interests of the environment with the impacts of new development will open up exciting opportunities for innovation between the public and private sector.  

“Reforms to compensation arrangements in relation to Compulsory Purchase have the potential to provide government with greater scope to lead on land assembly for larger regeneration and strategic sites.  Capturing more of the potential planning gain and using it creatively to facilitate wider investment into the delivery of essential enabling and supporting infrastructure is critical to creating successful places. 

“Strengthened Development Corporations will be able to benefit from these reforms, subject to further clarity on the sources of capital and wider resources they will have available to draw upon. Equipping Development Corporations with the powers and funding needed to create effective partnerships with other public and private sector partners will be key to their success.”