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Scotsman
25-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Planning bill will boost development but not without investment in skills
UK Government action is welcome, but additional pieces of the construction jigsaw must be put in place, writes Richard Whitehead Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The introduction of the UK Government's new Planning & Infrastructure Bill into parliament earlier this year came just days after figures showed British construction output has followed other areas of the economy in slowing down since the turn of the year. The bill itself – part of a broad package of measures designed by Labour to get Britain building and deliver growth through much-needed new infrastructure – aims to halve approval times for new roads, railways, and renewable energy installations to less than two years. The revamped National Planning Policy Framework that complements it will also enforce higher housing targets for local councils and make it easier for them to acquire land to help meet them. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This is of course only the first reading of the bill, and while the Government in Westminster should be commended for its leadership in attempting to reform a broken system, it will be some time before we begin to see its impact. If central government is serious about seeing meaningful progress within this parliament – and to support the ten-year infrastructure strategy currently in development – then additional pieces of the jigsaw need to be put in place while the bill progresses. Conntractors report that finding suitably skilled staff is a significant challenge (Picture: Chief among them is investment in planning departments to help progress the approval of new schemes at pace. It is no secret that the capacity of local teams has been a major block on development activity. Official statistics from the Scottish Government showed the number of local development applications – smaller applications for changes to homes and developments with up to 50 houses – was the lowest for five years last year. Meanwhile, the average decision time just to set out planning schedules between developers and the planning authority increased again to more than 11 weeks. Ultimately, these are the numbers that reduce confidence among private investors that the projects they are funding will get off the ground. With interest rates falling and funders generally more active than they have been in recent years, now is the opportune time to build that confidence – adding people power to make the most of the reduction in red tape. Of course, that remains easier said than done given the current state of the public purse. With the UK Government's Spending Review due in June, the IFS's view is that Scottish funding will grow annually at around 0.5 per cent in real terms – less than half the speed projected by Holyrood. Rachel Reeves' Spring Statement, and the scale of any cuts implemented, will give a good indication of whether all this will be possible. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Outside of planning departments, the other major inhibitor of future developments coming forward at pace is Britain's ability to build them. The Construction Industry Training Board has outlined that around 250,000 extra construction workers will be required by 2028 to meet the development pipeline. Recruitment in the sector is generally fast-moving but almost a third (31 per cent) of contractors report finding suitably skilled staff as their most significant challenge. In particular, there is an issue around older workers retiring and not being replaced, as well as the long-standing void created by the end of Freedom of Movement. Richard Whitehead, chief executive (Europe and India) at global infrastructure leader AECOM The introduction of Skills England and the inception of regional Homebuilding Skills Hubs since last year's general election shows positive intent. Further initiatives like this, part of a complementary skills strategy that includes planning professionals, will be key if we are to get Britain building again.
Wales Online
10-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
MP urges Government to protect live music venues from new neighbours' complaints
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Housebuilders should face having their plans blocked if they fail to protect live music venues, an MP has suggested. Dame Caroline Dinenage has proposed letting decision-makers take into account existing properties, when they grant or refuse permission for new projects. The Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee chairwoman warned that "live music's in crisis, the Government needs to be listening" as she proposed a new clause to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Dame Caroline, the Conservative MP for Gosport, told the Commons: "It isn't about venues versus developers. "It's about making sure we have a balance right between building enough good homes and making sure the places we're building keep the things that make life worth living. "In Westminster and our constituencies, everyone agrees that our high streets have been in decline, so it's vitally important that we protect the places that are special to us, our constituents and our communities, the places that provide a platform for our creators and our world-beating creative industries where we can make memories, celebrate and have fun." Dame Caroline called on the Government to let town halls and ministers rule on plans "subject to such conditions that would promote the integration of the proposed development of land with any existing use of land, including such conditions as may be necessary to mitigate the impact of noise on the proposed development". A similar principle already exists in national planning rules, known as the National Planning Policy Framework, to ease pressure on existing businesses which "should not have unreasonable restrictions placed on them as a result" of newer builds. But the Music Venue Trust's annual report last year warned that, in 2023, 22.4% of venues closed as a result of "operational issues", compared with 42.1% of its members reporting "financial issues". The Trust identified noise abatement orders or other neighbour disputes as being among the issues which have resulted in permanent closures. "Consistent application of the 'agent of change' principles will de-risk and speed up planning and development," Dame Caroline told MPs, and added that her proposal was "good for venues" and "good for developers and new neighbours". She said the law change could help authorities stop "expensive and often pointless bun fights" when neighbours complain about noise. She continued: "It'll make sure the needs of an existing cultural venue are considered from the start and it will save developers from late-stage objections and lengthy expensive legal disputes down the line." Dame Caroline said music venues "are the foundation of our world-beating creative industries and also very important for our local communities", and that they had been placed "under threat, including from our disruptive planning system and our onerous licensing regime". The Commons select committee recommended last year that the "agent of change" principle should be put on a statutory footing, to protect grassroots music venues.
South Wales Guardian
10-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
MP urges Government to protect live music venues from new neighbours' complaints
Dame Caroline Dinenage has proposed letting decision-makers take into account existing properties, when they grant or refuse permission for new projects. The Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee chairwoman warned that 'live music's in crisis, the Government needs to be listening' as she proposed a new clause to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Dame Caroline, the Conservative MP for Gosport, told the Commons: 'It isn't about venues versus developers. 'It's about making sure we have a balance right between building enough good homes and making sure the places we're building keep the things that make life worth living. 'In Westminster and our constituencies, everyone agrees that our high streets have been in decline, so it's vitally important that we protect the places that are special to us, our constituents and our communities, the places that provide a platform for our creators and our world-beating creative industries where we can make memories, celebrate and have fun.' Dame Caroline called on the Government to let town halls and ministers rule on plans 'subject to such conditions that would promote the integration of the proposed development of land with any existing use of land, including such conditions as may be necessary to mitigate the impact of noise on the proposed development'. A similar principle already exists in national planning rules, known as the National Planning Policy Framework, to ease pressure on existing businesses which 'should not have unreasonable restrictions placed on them as a result' of newer builds. But the Music Venue Trust's annual report last year warned that, in 2023, 22.4% of venues closed as a result of 'operational issues', compared with 42.1% of its members reporting 'financial issues'. The Trust identified noise abatement orders or other neighbour disputes as being among the issues which have resulted in permanent closures. 'Consistent application of the 'agent of change' principles will de-risk and speed up planning and development,' Dame Caroline told MPs, and added that her proposal was 'good for venues' and 'good for developers and new neighbours'. She said the law change could help authorities stop 'expensive and often pointless bun fights' when neighbours complain about noise. She continued: 'It'll make sure the needs of an existing cultural venue are considered from the start and it will save developers from late-stage objections and lengthy expensive legal disputes down the line.' Dame Caroline said music venues 'are the foundation of our world-beating creative industries and also very important for our local communities', and that they had been placed 'under threat, including from our disruptive planning system and our onerous licensing regime'. The Commons select committee recommended last year that the 'agent of change' principle should be put on a statutory footing, to protect grassroots music venues.
Rhyl Journal
09-06-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
MP urges Government to protect live music venues from new neighbours' complaints
Dame Caroline Dinenage has proposed letting decision-makers take into account existing properties, when they grant or refuse permission for new projects. The Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee chairwoman warned that 'live music's in crisis, the Government needs to be listening' as she proposed a new clause to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Dame Caroline, the Conservative MP for Gosport, told the Commons: 'It isn't about venues versus developers. 'It's about making sure we have a balance right between building enough good homes and making sure the places we're building keep the things that make life worth living. 'In Westminster and our constituencies, everyone agrees that our high streets have been in decline, so it's vitally important that we protect the places that are special to us, our constituents and our communities, the places that provide a platform for our creators and our world-beating creative industries where we can make memories, celebrate and have fun.' Dame Caroline called on the Government to let town halls and ministers rule on plans 'subject to such conditions that would promote the integration of the proposed development of land with any existing use of land, including such conditions as may be necessary to mitigate the impact of noise on the proposed development'. A similar principle already exists in national planning rules, known as the National Planning Policy Framework, to ease pressure on existing businesses which 'should not have unreasonable restrictions placed on them as a result' of newer builds. But the Music Venue Trust's annual report last year warned that, in 2023, 22.4% of venues closed as a result of 'operational issues', compared with 42.1% of its members reporting 'financial issues'. The Trust identified noise abatement orders or other neighbour disputes as being among the issues which have resulted in permanent closures. 'Consistent application of the 'agent of change' principles will de-risk and speed up planning and development,' Dame Caroline told MPs, and added that her proposal was 'good for venues' and 'good for developers and new neighbours'. She said the law change could help authorities stop 'expensive and often pointless bun fights' when neighbours complain about noise. She continued: 'It'll make sure the needs of an existing cultural venue are considered from the start and it will save developers from late-stage objections and lengthy expensive legal disputes down the line.' Dame Caroline said music venues 'are the foundation of our world-beating creative industries and also very important for our local communities', and that they had been placed 'under threat, including from our disruptive planning system and our onerous licensing regime'. The Commons select committee recommended last year that the 'agent of change' principle should be put on a statutory footing, to protect grassroots music venues.
Leader Live
09-06-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
MP urges Government to protect live music venues from new neighbours' complaints
Dame Caroline Dinenage has proposed letting decision-makers take into account existing properties, when they grant or refuse permission for new projects. The Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee chairwoman warned that 'live music's in crisis, the Government needs to be listening' as she proposed a new clause to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Dame Caroline, the Conservative MP for Gosport, told the Commons: 'It isn't about venues versus developers. 'It's about making sure we have a balance right between building enough good homes and making sure the places we're building keep the things that make life worth living. 'In Westminster and our constituencies, everyone agrees that our high streets have been in decline, so it's vitally important that we protect the places that are special to us, our constituents and our communities, the places that provide a platform for our creators and our world-beating creative industries where we can make memories, celebrate and have fun.' Dame Caroline called on the Government to let town halls and ministers rule on plans 'subject to such conditions that would promote the integration of the proposed development of land with any existing use of land, including such conditions as may be necessary to mitigate the impact of noise on the proposed development'. A similar principle already exists in national planning rules, known as the National Planning Policy Framework, to ease pressure on existing businesses which 'should not have unreasonable restrictions placed on them as a result' of newer builds. But the Music Venue Trust's annual report last year warned that, in 2023, 22.4% of venues closed as a result of 'operational issues', compared with 42.1% of its members reporting 'financial issues'. The Trust identified noise abatement orders or other neighbour disputes as being among the issues which have resulted in permanent closures. 'Consistent application of the 'agent of change' principles will de-risk and speed up planning and development,' Dame Caroline told MPs, and added that her proposal was 'good for venues' and 'good for developers and new neighbours'. She said the law change could help authorities stop 'expensive and often pointless bun fights' when neighbours complain about noise. She continued: 'It'll make sure the needs of an existing cultural venue are considered from the start and it will save developers from late-stage objections and lengthy expensive legal disputes down the line.' Dame Caroline said music venues 'are the foundation of our world-beating creative industries and also very important for our local communities', and that they had been placed 'under threat, including from our disruptive planning system and our onerous licensing regime'. The Commons select committee recommended last year that the 'agent of change' principle should be put on a statutory footing, to protect grassroots music venues.
