The recent announcement by Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, regarding the reform of planning rules has sparked significant interest within the real estate sector. Amit Sharma, a Real Estate Partner at Excello Law, shared his insights on the potential impact of these changes in Edward Fennell’s Legal Diary.
Amit acknowledges that many in the real estate industry are likely to welcome a reform of the planning system. However, he urges caution, citing past examples of rushed legislation, such as the recent Building Safety Act, which have resulted in poorly drafted laws that create more issues than they resolve.
“Planning has become too political at the local level,” Amit notes. “There needs to be a clear balance between competing interests in residential development. While the United Kingdom has ample space for development, the real question is whether the existing infrastructure can support further growth. These considerations need to be properly balanced.”
Sharma emphasises the need for planning to evolve to meet modern demands. “Planning now has to be brought into the 21st century in terms of ease and speed to meet the demands society is placing on various uses and developments in the country.”
