The government has just announced late-stage amendments to its flagship Planning and Infrastructure Bill, aimed at increasing housing delivery and speeding up infrastructure projects.

If approved, the changes would give ministers new powers to prevent local councils from rejecting planning applications while the government considers whether to 'call in' decisions.

It is understood that Prime minister Sir Kier Starmer ordered a 'last-minute rewrite' of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which was launched in March. The legislation seeks to help the government reach its target of 1.5 million new homes and, in doing so, raise an extra £3bn in tax revenue.

Currently at the report stage in the house of lords, the bill's passage into law was planned for November, a target which major changes may now risk delaying.

According to ministers, nearly 900 major housing developments were blocked by local authorities in the past year, contributing to delays in housing delivery.

The proposed amendments would also streamline the approval process for new reservoirs - the first in over 30 years - with the goal of boosting water supply and supporting future housing growth.

Other changes include provisions to support clean energy infrastructure such as onshore wind farms, which the government says could attract investment, limit energy bill increases, and create new jobs in local areas.

The government also plans to change the remit of Natural England, allowing the agency to prioritise advice on higher-impact planning applications and environmental recovery efforts. Officials argue this would help free up resources and accelerate decisions on housing and infrastructure.

Additional proposals include measures to prevent planning permissions from expiring while projects are tied up in legal proceedings. The aim is to reduce delays and avoid restarting planning processes on stalled developments.

The government maintains that these amendments will support its broader goals of building 1.5 million homes, achieving clean energy targets by 2030, and stimulating local economic growth.

Housing secretary Steve Reed said: "Britain's potential has been shackled by governments unwilling to overhaul the stubborn planning system that has erected barriers to building at every turn. It is simply not true that nature has to lose for economic growth to succeed.

"Sluggish planning has real world consequences. Every new house blocked deprives a family of a home. Every infrastructure project that gets delayed blocks someone from a much-needed job. This will now end.

"The changes we are making today will strengthen the seismic shift already underway through our landmark Bill. We will 'Build, baby, build' with 1.5 million new homes and communities that working people desperately want and need."

The government says key changes include:

+ Ministers will be able to issue 'holding directions' to stop councils refusing planning permission whilst they consider using their 'call-in' powers. Under existing rules, they can only issue these holds when council are set to approve applications. This will ensure ministers can properly use their call-in powers where necessary to boost growth and build more homes.

+ Speeding up the approvals for large reservoirs by enabling non-water sector companies to build reservoirs that are automatically considered as nationally significant infrastructure projects.

+ Unlocking more onshore windfarms, securing around 3GW of onshore wind and up to £2bn extra investment for UK-based businesses, whilst safeguarding UK defence and nuclear safety capabilities.

+ Stopping planning permissions from being timed out for approved major housing schemes facing lengthy judicial reviews, building on existing measures to cut back meritless legal challenges for major infrastructure projects from three to one and slashing a year off the statutory pre-consultation period.

+ Allowing the Nature Restoration Fund to support the delivery of marine development, securing better environmental outcomes for marine habitats whilst accelerating the construction of coastal projects.

+ Streamlining Natural England's role will speed up approvals for new homes and infrastructure by reducing duplication and allowing greater discretion to focus on applications that pose higher risks or present stronger opportunities for nature recovery, with standard guidance provided to local authorities for straightforward cases.

+ The new pro-growth reforms means the government remains firmly on track to make 150 planning decisions on major infrastructure projects, with a record breaking 21 decisions in the first year of any Parliament, and has already greenlit projects including hot-off-the-wheels Gatwick airport expansion and the long-awaited Lower Thames Crossing.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves commented: "The outdated planning system has been gummed up by burdensome bureaucracy and held to ransom by blockers for too long.

EYE NEWSFLASH: Government announces last-minute amendments to Planning and Infrastructure Bill - Property Industry Eye