James Browne

Ministers have agreed to amend the Planning and Development Act 2024 to extend provisions relating to judicial reviews to decisions made or acts done under the previous Planning and Development Act 2000.

These include measures removing the requirement to apply for leave to apply for judicial review proceedings, enabling a case to be remitted back to the point at which a procedural breach may have occurred instead of a decision being quashed in full, and sending appeals straight to the Supreme Court.

Other measures in the bill will seek to “focus resources and capacity across the planning system in the short term on the move to plan-making and expedite these processes”.

These include removing the need for full review of the regional spatial and economic strategies; allowing planning authorities to extend the development plans that are currently in force; and ensuring that future development plan reviews are carried out only under the 2024 Act.

The bill will also amends the criteria for the designation of a “key town” to include towns with a population of 10,000 or more, in addition to the current criteria set out in the 2024 Act.

Housing, local government and heritage minister James Browne said: “I am determined to do everything in my power to speed up planning and cut down on any unnecessary delays.

“Today’s important decision by the Government will pave the way for primary legislation to be brought forward as early as possible in 2026 that will remove barriers in the planning process and, ultimately, speed up housing delivery.

“We want a robust and fair system, a transparent system, and ultimately a system that works to deliver homes.

“This work will run in parallel with the on-going implementation and commencement of the 2024 Act, which has continued throughout this year, with a further Commencement Order, the 5th this year, to be operational before the end of 2025.”

John Cummins, minister of state for local government and planning, added: “By bringing forward these reform measures, we are taking decisive action to reduce unnecessary delays and accelerate the delivery of critical decisions.

“This decision will shorten timelines, improve certainty and ensure essential projects are not unduly held back by procedural obstacles.”