Getting the UK building will need bold thinking

The Labour government's array of announcements on planning reform has been dizzying, but more ambitious action must follow if we are to see real change during this parliament

Russell Curtis is a founding director of RCKa architects, founder of the London Practice Forum and chair of Barnet’s quality review panel. His work on spatial mapping and planning policy has gained national media attention and led to TV and radio appearances. Credit: rcka.co.uk

Since taking power last summer, the government’s barrage of announcements around tackling Britain’s sclerotic planning system, and how it intends to ‘back the builders, not the blockers’, has been head-spinning to say the least.

Bold changes to the National Planning Policy Framework were adopted, as promised, in December; there has been no let-up during the post-festive fug. Since the beginning of 2025, we have witnessed a flurry of striking reforms, including changes to planning committees, reforms to judicial reviews, brownfield passports, development around stations, and a slew of individual approvals for data centres, solar farms and power lines.

There can be no doubt that, when it comes to critical national infrastructure, the current way of doing things doesn’t really work. We have failed to complete a single new reservoir in more than 30 years, yet water scarcity is often a justification for refusing new homes.

Planning is not solely responsible, but doubtless the delay and uncertainty of Britain’s discretionary system is a contributing factor: the cost of the Lower Thames Crossing application alone has exceeded £300 million; you could build a mile-long tunnel for roughly the same amount.

The cost of the Lower Thames Crossing application alone has exceeded £300 million; you could build a mile-long tunnel for roughly the same amount

RCKa’s speculative proposals for a new settlement in Hertfordshire, proposing 3,000 homes and social infrastructure centred on a rural station. The Labour government has identified development around commuter stations as a primary location for new homes. Credit: rcka.co.uk

Change is necessary: we need renewable energy, and we need pylons to move it around. We need water piped to where people live. This will involve negotiations and compromises – but finally it’s a matter of how, not if, it happens.

Despite this, things aren’t so straightforward when it comes to housing. New towns, with the best will in the world, are 10 to 15 years away. Green belt will be tangled up for the next half-decade.

The immediate opportunity is the rapid intensification of our towns and cities, but we’ll need an equally ambitious approach. Perhaps pre-approved design codes for suburban corners? Minimum building heights close to stations? A national policy that recognises character is not immutable, and change is both inevitable and necessary? Such bold thinking is required. After all, housing is infrastructure too.

The next parliament is not that far away. It’s time to get building.