Local Plan Watch Autumn 2025

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There has been a radical shift in the scale and geography of planning opportunity in 2025, driven by reforms that are now delivering tangible results on the ground.

Planning has been placed at the centre of the Government’s mission to kick-start economic growth and boost housing supply. The December 2024 NPPF has raised housing delivery expectations by around 20% nationwide and, for the first time in decades, created new possibilities for sustainable development on land designated as Green Belt on a widespread basis.

Local Planning Authorities are responding quickly. Our intelligence shows many are accelerating plan preparation timetables to try and keep pace with requirements and reconcile local priorities with rising housing and infrastructure needs. Yet, as more authorities fall into five-year housing land supply deficits, a growing number are taking a pragmatic stance on proposals for unallocated sites - including, increasingly, land designated as Green Belt. Others remain shielded, at least temporarily, by Local Plans adopted under earlier national policy or progressed under transitional provisions.

The picture is complex and fast-moving - but Local Plan Watch is here to help you make sense of it. Explore our interactive map to understand the latest position for every Local Planning Authority across our region and identify where the next wave of opportunity is emerging. Each entry is backed by intelligence from our specialist local teams, who stand ready to help interpret the opportunities in more detail.

Related insights explore in more depth the scale of the prospects now presented in the London grey belt, the implications of emerging proposals for Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation and whether the market can deliver the Government’s objective to “build, baby, build” once the planning permissions have been granted. Toggle through the links below to find out more.

Bidwells Local Plan Watch – your essential guide to where change, and opportunity, are happening next.

Contributors:

Mike Derbyshire

Partner, Head of Planning

Related Insights

The UK land and development market remains steady as developers adapt to a ‘higher for longer’ environment.

Steven Butler explores how devolution and reorganisation could reshape planning and development opportunities.

London is entering one of the most profound shifts in housing delivery anywhere in the country.

Get in touch with the team

Mike Derbyshire

Partner, Head of Planning

Mike leads Bidwells’ planning practice. He is a passionate and vastly experienced advocate for thoughtful, well-designed development and a thought leader on the future of planning in England.

Chris Pattison

Deputy Head of Planning

Chris has been delivering challenging client briefs across the UK for more than 20 years.

Sam Metson

Partner, Planning

Sam delivers practical solutions to his clients, balancing competing demands between the need for development and its impact upon the environment.

Hannah Beamish

Partner, Head of Land & Development (Eastern)

Hannah leads our eastern region, having nearly 20 years’ of experience of working in the land and development industry.

Guy Kaddish

Partner, Planning

Guy is head of one of the largest planning teams in Cambridge, and planning representative in our science and technology leaders group.

Mike Jones

Partner, Planning

Mike is a Chartered Town Planner with 19+ years’ experience and knowledge across an array of sectors.

Iain Hill

Partner, Planning

Iain is a planning expert who uses his extensive master planning experience to contribute to the creation of award-winning developments.

Jamie Sullivan

Partner, Planning

Jamie brings extensive industry experience of greenfield Local Plan promotion as well as securing planning permission for large scale complex brownfield regeneration proposals.

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