Policy Three

Property, Planning & Zoning

Proposed Legislation for the Liberation of Development: Breaking the cartel of scarcity to build homes, energy, and industry.

United Kingdom Parliament

Planning and Infrastructure Acceleration Bill

A BILL TO establish a presumption of consent for development; to introduce national zoning overrides for strategic projects; to remove the veto power of local authorities over national infrastructure; to mandate transparency in land ownership; and for connected purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Part 1: The National Zoning Override

Establishment of Development Zones

(1) The Secretary of State shall designate National Growth Zones comprising:

(a)All land within 800 metres of a passenger railway station;

(b)Designated industrial and logistics corridors; and

(c)Urban brownfield sites exceeding 1 hectare.

(2) Within such Zones, development rights for residential and mixed-use buildings up to 6 storeys shall be "As-of-Right," requiring only technical safety compliance rather than planning permission.

Removal of Local Veto

(1) Local Planning Authorities shall have no power to reject applications that comply with the National Design Code within a Growth Zone.

(2) Any attempt to impose "Character of Area" restrictions or "Visual Impact" assessments on such applications is hereby unlawful.

Part 2: Procedural Reform

The Silence Procedure

(1) All planning applications must be determined within 60 days of validation.

(2) If a Local Planning Authority fails to issue a decision within 60 days, Consent is Deemed Granted automatically.

(3) No fee shall be payable for deeming consent under this section.

Limitations on Judicial Challenge

(1) Following the grant of planning permission (whether explicit or deemed), the window for Judicial Review is reduced to 6 weeks.

(2) Courts may not issue injunctions stopping construction unless there is an immediate threat to human life.

Part 3: Strategic Restrictions

Protected Categories

(1) The provisions of Part 1 do not apply to:

(a)National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty;

(b)Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI); or

(c)Grade I and II* listed heritage assets (excluding Grade II).

(2) "Green Belt" designation is hereby abolished effective immediately, replaced by specific environmental protections based on scientific value, not aesthetic location.

Part 4: Land Ownership & Anti-Hoarding

The "Use It or Lose It" Rule

(1) Planning permission expires after 18 months if material commencement of works has not occurred.

(2) Developers holding land with planning permission who fail to build for 3 consecutive years shall face a Land Banking Levy equivalent to 10% of the land's market value annually.

Foreign Ownership Restrictions

(1) Foreign state-owned enterprises are prohibited from acquiring land designated as Critical National Infrastructure (energy, ports, defence).

(2) All other foreign acquisitions of land exceeding 50 hectares require clearance from the National Security Investment Unit.

Part 5: Final Provisions

Short Title

This Act may be cited as the Planning and Infrastructure Acceleration Act 2026.