Earlier this month, I joined industry experts in speaking to Property Week on the outcomes of the King’s Speech - the next piece of the jigsaw in understanding the priorities of the new Government. 

In planning terms, our 5 key takeaways are:
1) More new legislation - the "Planning and Infrastructure Bill" - but no reference to mandatory housing targets… yet!
2) Increasing LPA capacity and improving local decision making. Emphasis on "predictable" decision making, but also reference to the "modernisation" of planning committees - if those two go hand in hand that could genuinely be a game changer.
3) Key improvements to bus/train infrastructure which (in conjunction with the National Wealth Fund targeting key objectives in the Government's industrial strategy) could unlock vast swathes of the country for redevelopment.
4) Devolution - and aggressively so. Will this be a meaningful version of "localism", or the end of it? Will the post-election goodwill between Westminster and the elected Mayors hold and provide the necessary impetus?
5) A national underground asset register - slightly niche but this could genuinely be very helpful, particularly in the context of providing certainty when scoping out sites, and determining where key services are located.

There are 40 pieces of legislation proposed which cover a vast array of topics - there is a lot of work to be done. My colleagues have helpfully summarised plans for the Private Rental Sector and Leasehold Reform.  

Please get in touch if you want to understand more.