Planning & Infrastructure Bill: Could this finally unlock rural housing delivery?

The Government’s proposed Planning & Infrastructure Bill has the potential to reshape how homes and supporting infrastructure are delivered across the country – and for rural areas like the South West, the impact could be significant.

For years, developers, local authorities and communities have faced a planning system that is slow, complex and often disjointed. Even when housing is needed and land is suitable, projects can be delayed for months or years due to infrastructure agreements, appeals, and procedural bottlenecks.

We’ve seen this first-hand. Our proposed Co-op store at Bere Alston was stalled despite local support, purely because wider infrastructure and planning processes became gridlocked. These delays don’t just affect developers – they impact communities who miss out on new homes, services and investment.

Rural areas face unique challenges. Local authorities often have fewer resources. Infrastructure is more expensive to deliver. Outdated local plans create uncertainty. Smaller sites can fall behind large strategic allocations. And yet, the demand for high-quality, sustainable homes in rural locations has never been greater.

That’s why the Planning & Infrastructure Bill matters. If implemented well, it could:

For developers like Westcountry Land, this could mean more time spent building communities — and less time navigating unnecessary barriers. We are hopeful that the Bill will support a more efficient, future-focused planning system that recognises the realities of rural development.

Reform alone won’t solve everything – but it’s a step towards creating a planning framework that enables growth, supports local economies and delivers the homes our region needs.

We’ll be watching closely – and working with our partners to ensure rural voices are heard in the process.
Read the full article for a deeper dive into what the Bill could mean for the South West.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pro-growth-package-unshackling-britain-to-get-building?utm_campaign=3850818_Tuesday%20Industry%20News%20Summary%20-%2014%20October%202025&utm_medium=email&utm_source=DotDigtital&dm_i=7SYS,2AJB6,3DRA1H,4EJSH,1