Aisling Byrne is Senior Public Affairs Officer at the Royal Town Planning Institute
There can be no denying that this has been a long, intense and jam-packed parliamentary session. The 2024 – 2026 parliamentary session has been a bumper programme, heavy with reforms across sectors and several new pieces of legislation. As we come to the end of this extended session, we’ve been taking stock of stand-out moments for the RTPI’s policy and public affairs team.
Rural representation within the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act (EDCEA)
Earlier this week, we were delighted to see the Government accept the House of Lords amendment to the EDCEA which placed ‘rural affairs’ as an area of competence in Clause 2. Throughout the legislative process we have been advocating for rural representation in this programme of devolution, highlighting the often urban-centric approach to devolution and noting that particular consideration needs to be made for the application of ‘strategic’ in rural contexts. Working with Peers across the House to champion the issue, the House of Lords backed the need for rural communities to be better represented within the Act and agreed to add ‘rural affairs’ as an area of competence. After a quick back-and-forth between the Houses during ‘ping-pong’, this topic was one of the first that saw the Government make concessions. Recognising and acknowledging the strong support for our rural communities across both Houses, they agreed to the amendment, adding ‘rural affairs and coastal communities’ as a new stand-alone area of competence for strategic authorities. Receiving Royal Assent yesterday, the Act became one of the final pieces of legislation to pass in this session.
A mammoth National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) consultation response
Just before Christmas 2025, we received an early present in the form of a new proposed NPPF sitting alongside a 225-question long consultation. The team thoroughly engaged members across the English regions as part of our work around the consultation and we hosted five meetings with our English Policy Committee to finalise our response. What resulted was a significant and thorough assessment of the proposed NPPF.
We were particularly pleased to see the inclusion of a ‘purpose of the planning system’ which stated that “the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, by managing the use and development of land in the long-term public interest”. We had been championing a clear purpose of the planning system throughout the passage of the Planning and Infrastructure Act and it was a welcome addition to the new proposed NPPF.
Royal Assent of the Planning and Infrastructure Act (PIA)
The PIA was a key feature of 2025 for our team, as we proposed new clauses throughout its passage and supported MPs and Peers in debates around a National Spatial Framework, the online availability of planning committee meetings, the purpose of the planning system and statutory chief planning officers. The Bill became an Act of Parliament shortly before Christmas 2025 and we’ve started to see regulations being consulted on and introduced.
The implementation of this Act continues to keep the team busy as we respond to consultations emerging from provisions in the PIA. We look forward to continuing to support the implementation and delivery of this key piece of reform for the planning system.
Autumn Budget 2025
With the never-ending stream of consultations and updates, it feels like the Autumn Budget 2025 was a lifetime ago, but it was a significant day for us at the RTPI. Amidst a challenging fiscal environment, the Government pledged a £48 million additional funding boost for capacity and capability within the planning system. Our own submission to HM Treasury highlighted the critical need for investment in planning capacity, and we recognised this funding announcement as an acknowledgement of the critical role planners play in driving the Government’s growth agenda.
What next?
As this session ends, there’s only time for a quick breather before the political sphere starts heating up again. We’ve got national elections in Wales and Scotland to look forward to, as well as locals in England – all taking place on the 7 May. In Westminster, we’ll be eagerly anticipating the King’s Speech on 13 May and the direction of the 2026/27 legislative programme.
