Secondary navigation

Planning Bill 2007-08

Type of Bill:
Government Bill
Sponsors:
Hazel Blears
Department for Communities and Local Government
Baroness Andrews
Communities and Local Government

Progress of the Bill

Bill started in the House of Commons

  1. House of Commons
    1. 1st reading
    2. 2nd reading
    3. Committee stage
    4. Report stage
    5. 3rd reading
  2. House of Lords
    1. 1st reading
    2. 2nd reading
    3. Committee stage
    4. Report stage
    5. 3rd reading
  3. Consideration of Amendments
  4. Royal Assent

Last event

Act of Parliament

This Act is being prepared for publication.

Summary of the Bill

Planning Bill

The Bill introduces a new system for approving major infrastructure of national importance, such as harbours and waste facilities, and replaces current regimes under several pieces of legislation. The objective is to streamline these decisions and avoid long public inquiries.

Key areas

  • Decisions would be taken by a new Infrastructure Planning Commission 
  • Decisions would be based on new national policy statements
  • The hearing and decision-making process by the Commission would be timetabled
  • The new regime would be used for energy developments like nuclear power
  • The Secretary of State would no longer have the final say on major infrastructure decisions
  • There would be a new Community Infrastructure Levy on developments to finance infrastructure. The idea of this would be to raise money from developers to pay for facilities needed as a consequence of new developments, such as schools, hospitals and sewage plants.
  • Planning appeals for minor developments would be heard by a panel of local councillors rather than by a planning inspector.

Stay up to date

Keep up to date with the progress of Bills going through Parliament. Sign up for email alerts or use our RSS feeds.

Related information

Public Bill workshops

Want to learn more about engaging with Parliament’s scrutiny of legislation? The Houses of Parliament’s Outreach Service holds free regular workshops open to anyone interested in engaging with Public Bills.

Guide to the passage of a Bill

Find out what happens at each stage of a Public Bill’s journey through Parliament with the Passage of a Bill guide.

When does a Bill become law?

Explanation of what happens after Bills have been passed, and when laws may change.

Human rights

Do you have expertise or a special interest in human rights? The Joint Committee on Human Rights scrutinises the human rights implications of Government Bills.