For many years, politics and, in turn, planning have seen a period of relative stability. Yes, there have been fluctuations dependent on the prevailing political wind, but the two main parties (in a traditional sense at least) have had more in common than you may think.

Both parties share a broad commitment to delivering more homes at scale, alongside the need for a better, faster planning system. They also agree on the need for speedier infrastructure development to enable economic growth.

But with Reform and the Green Party making gains in both local elections and the House of Commons, should England be preparing for the new normal in a planning sense?

In this blog, we’ll take a look at the policies of these two parties at opposite ends of the political spectrum and discuss what that means for planning and development in the wider sense.

How is the current Labour Government approaching planning?

A huge part of Labour’s domestic policy centres on building new homes. To lubricate the planning system and allow faster decision-making on developments, a consultation was launched in December 2025 on the National Planning Policy Framework. You can read more about it here.

The consultation is now closed, but the Government hopes that its proposed changes will create a clearer, more prescriptive framework to reduce ambiguity in decision-making, speeding up approvals and getting the country building.

How would Reform approach planning?

Reform UK now has eight MPs in the House of Commons after gaining momentum on both a local and national scale.

It has not yet published any definitive policies on planning, but the party does reiterate consistent themes.

It places emphasis on economic and institutional reform, which frames planning as a handbrake on national productivity.

The party has strong appeal in post‑industrial regions, where planning reform linked to housebuilding and jobs is likely to resonate.

Based on public party positioning and commentary, from Reform we can expect:

• Looser planning controls to accelerate housebuilding, infrastructure and industrial development
• A shift from environmental constraints toward economic priorities
• A focus on energy independence, potentially relaxing rules around domestic fossil fuel extraction and infrastructure

With Reform also resisting Net-Zero and turning its back largely on renewables, under the party’s leadership, we could see more permissive planning and a push to reduce the influence of environmental tests in development.

Elsewhere, developers in post-industrial northern and Midlands towns may benefit from political support for rapid growth.

Essentially, Reform UK sees development and the economy as being intrinsically linked (as do Labour and the Conservatives), but the party is far more willing to compromise on or even scrap policies which hold up the planning system.

How would the Green Party approach planning?

The Green Party has seen something of a surge recently, winning a recent by-election to appoint its fifth MP.

Popular particularly among under‑30s, the party brings a contrasting approach to planning and development.

Its policies, as you would expect, place a greater emphasis on protecting the UK’s natural environment, which would have inevitable consequences for the planning system and the possibility of more constraints for developers.

With its climate-first approach, the Green Party also seeks to advance clean energy (particularly wind), which could see it fast-tracking renewable infrastructure applications, with consequences for those who hold up the system

The party says it wants to also create 150,000 new council homes and places emphasis on public ownership in infrastructure including railways, water and energy.

Overall, with the Green Party, you could expect stricter environmental tests (beyond the current Biodiversity Net Gain standards), scepticism towards Green Belt relaxation (especially around transport hubs, contrasting with current Government proposals) and tighter environmental scrutiny on large‑scale housing, industrial and energy projects.

Conclusion

Reform and the Green Party offer contrasting futures for planning. Reform would prioritise rapid growth, loosening controls, lowering environmental requirements and fast‑tracking housing, energy and industrial schemes.

Conversely, the Green Party would tighten environmental tests, resist Green Belt release and steer development toward renewables and nature recovery.

In practice, Reform’s approach accelerates delivery by reducing barriers, while the Greens increase scrutiny to protect the environment.

Our take

“Planning has always been something of a political football over the years. It will never be the case that we have a system that suits everyone – developers, environmentalists, business owners and the general public.

“What is essential though is clarity and certainty. Developers and businesses need to be able to look ahead with confidence. They need to be able to prepare schemes for submission in line with clearly defined policies to give them the best chance of success.

“Most people agree that housing and infrastructure are vital to us as a nation and our future prosperity, so ensuring clear policies that enable growth in the right way will be key. We’ll be keeping a very close eye on all parties in the run-up to the 2029 election, or even earlier should that be the case!”

Andrew Metcalfe, Managing Director

Explore more with Terrapin Group

Our friends at Terrapin Group have taken a deeper dive into the political landscape, particularly surrounding the upcoming London Borough Elections.

Head over to their website to find out more.

Unsure about party policies and planning?

If you would like to discuss any aspect of the planning system to give your scheme a better chance of success, our informed and experienced team are here to help.

Squires Planning and our network of experts can help you assess the viability of your proposals and prepare for what may lie ahead, however the political wind prevails.

Contact us today for more information.