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What will a new Labour Government mean for planning in the UK?

Penn Commercial Managing Director, Vanessa Penn, shares her thoughts on what a new Government could mean for planning priorities in the UK... 

"The big headlines this week from Rachel Reeves, the new Chancellor, set out a mission for growth, boldly stating that Britain's planning system will be reformed to create hundreds of thousands of new homes across the country. 

"Other initiatives being looked at are relaxing planning rules on major infrastructure projects, such as new electricity pylons needed to link up wind and solar farms to the grid. 

"High Streets are also on the agenda, with ideas to reform the current business rates system to restore pride in our towns and cities, and stop the inevitable boarding up of empty shops.

"It will be interesting to see how quickly these ideas come forward. Clearly, there is a backlog of new homes to be built, but will this bring the Government into conflict with local communities and countryside campaigners, who feel that any development should be targeted towards brownfield sites, rather than greenfield?

"Today, we were pleased to join together with Ipswich Borough Council and other interested parties from across the region's diverse property sector to discuss the regeneration of Ipswich town centre, and how to harness the ever-growing buzz around Ipswich Town Football's Club's Premier League ambitions.

"Our local team's success has certainly acted as a catalyst for renewed interest in Ipswich, and we need to focus these manifest opportunities to drive footfall, increase dwell time, spend etc. in the heart of our town, which will in turn bring significant benefits for the rest of the area, and the wider region as a whole.

"We look forward to continuing these exciting regeneration discussions and welcoming a new positivity and enthusiasm in our hometown."