The government is banking on faster planning and stripped‑back regulation to reignite construction to hit its building ambitions, but will these measures translate into deliverable projects?

The government’s building ambitions could, on paper, open the door to a new wave of opportunities for property investors. Alongside its pledge to deliver 1.5 million homes this parliament, it is also banking on major investment in clean energy, data centres, health, education, transport infrastructure and airport expansion to drive growth.

But can these homes and projects be delivered at a pace and cost that stack up commercially for investors? 

Unblocking the planning system
The planning system has long been viewed by stakeholders as an inhibitor of development, rather than an enabler. The government is aiming to unblock this by digitising casework, deploying AI tools to cut administrative time, streamlining decision‑making so more applications are determined by officers – with funding for an additional 350 planners across the country – and simplifying approvals for nationally significant schemes.

Early signs are encouraging: councils report large reductions in officer hours on routine tasks, and application volumes are rising. For investors, that should mean quicker visibility on consent risk and, over time, more predictable programmes.