{"id":54509,"date":"2025-11-06T15:51:04","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T15:51:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.systra.com\/uk\/?post_type=expert_insights&p=54509"},"modified":"2025-11-19T16:51:57","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T16:51:57","slug":"planning-and-consenting-for-long-standing-design","status":"publish","type":"expert_insights","link":"https:\/\/www.systra.com\/uk\/expert_insights\/planning-and-consenting-for-long-standing-design\/","title":{"rendered":"Planning and\u00a0consenting for long-standing design"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

World Town Planning Day is celebrated to highlight how good planning can support the creation of long-lasting high quality, creative infrastructure that delivers sustainable urban places for communities.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The current planning system aims to create healthy, sustainable, long-lasting communities supported by the infrastructure they need. However, is this system going far enough to help deliver the full potential of new projects as efficiently as possible?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Planning is dynamic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The UK planning system aims to follow a straightforward process from start to finish on any project. However, the heavily regulated and rules-based nature of the current system often means it is influenced by the changing nature of government policies and objectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This planning system is highly reactive to the policies and wishes of those in government. Almost all governments make changes to the planning system to deliver economic development and to improve our urban places, communities and infrastructure through a faster and simplified planning system. The current Labour Government\u2019s stated aim is to overhaul the planning system primarily to help deliver and improve major infrastructure \u201cby simplifying consents for major projects with an aim to remove longstanding bureaucratic hurdles<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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But given the long timescales associated with major infrastructure projects, they remain vulnerable to wider changes throughout their lifetime. This can delay delivery or ultimately lead to the scrapping or downsizing of schemes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Simplified consenting of major projects<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Major projects are currently at the forefront of the UK planning agenda, with restrictions having lifted on onshore windfarms, the green light for Heathrow\u2019s third runway, and the commitment to delivering HS2, among many other projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The proposed reforms to the consenting of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) have been designed to provide a clearer and faster path to project approval and a more predictable investment landscape. Allowing simplification of the planning process ensures projects are more efficient. They incorporate a fair bureaucratic process but also one that produces long-lasting infrastructure which can enhance the existing framework. However, this \u2018new\u2019 streamlined planning system will only come into force once the Planning and Infrastructure Bill 2024-25 achieves Royal Assent. The impact of any changes will become apparent over the next few years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For planners, the simplified system of NSIPs for major infrastructure projects allows for a holistic approach. It helps formulate unique consenting strategies alongside a better understanding of the specific context of a project. This will further ensure that good design is incorporated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Consenting to design<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Good design and well-designed buildings and infrastructure are essential parts of a project which are required by national planning policy; clearly outlined in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which was most recently updated in December 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The NPPF outlines the key and strategy of any planning project to deliver better design. The creation of successful places and infrastructure, however, is highly influenced by the skills of designers and their vision and commitment. Good design stems from understanding the consenting process and knowing what planning approach is most appropriate to the project being presented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At SYSTRA, planners review each individual project to ensure the consenting process is appropriate to the scale of the project. Specialists work with the wider team to ensure good design is clearly integrated into the infrastructure, building or place that is being developed. The depth and detail of consents depends on the size and intricacy of the project being put forward for planning approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Any new project needs to be carefully planned and designed to ensure it delivers its intended outcomes. Whether a project is underpinned by environmental, construction, rail, energy or waste principles, planners can understand the context of each application to establish what consent is required. At SYSTRA, we are focused on providing consenting and planning expertise through a multi-disciplinary team to deliver and simplify the consenting process for our clients. We ensure the planning process is followed to implement good, long-lasting infrastructure design. Delivering consents for several projects at different scales and complexities is evidenced through our current work on HS2 consents, Wicklow Rail Capacity Enhancement and Viridor Runcorn, as we aim to fulfil the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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