No evidence for extending planning reforms, Law Society warns
Summary
The Law Society of England and Wales has warned against extending judicial review reforms beyond Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects without stronger evidence. It argues that any wider changes to planning regimes, including housing, should be based on published data and must preserve access to justice and public participation.
Why it matters
Planning reform can affect the pace and certainty of development decisions that surveyors encounter in valuation, development appraisal and due diligence. The position taken here is relevant because it signals potential future changes to the challenge process for planning consents, especially in housing-related schemes.
Key points
- The Law Society says existing evidence does not justify extending NSIP judicial review reforms to other planning regimes.
- It stresses that judicial review is a constitutional safeguard focused on legality, not the merits of a planning decision.
- The response warns that housing cases may be disproportionately affected because residents and community groups often have limited resources.
- The Society says any reform should be evidence-led, proportionate and supported by published data.
- The consultation is linked to reforms introduced through the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025.
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