Planning & Infrastructure Bill Will “Push Sector to Limits” Says Experts

Utilities & Infrastructure experts from national chartered surveyor, Bruton Knowles has warned the Government’s Planning & Infrastructure Bill will push the sector to its limits, as a result of accelerating the transition to renewable energy.

The Bill has been hailed as a significant step toward decarbonising the UK’s energy grid by 2030, but the scale of the challenge facing the sector is unprecedented, according to Gillian Froud, Head of Utilities & Infrastructure South at Bruton Knowles.

Gillian has cautioned that, while the Bill sets ambitious targets to accelerate the transition to renewable energy, the infrastructure requirements to meet these goals will push the sector further than its ever been pushed before, and called for further expansion of the country’s infrastructure, in order to cope.

Gillian said: “The Planning & Infrastructure Bill introduces positive changes, but the scale of what is required to double transmission infrastructure by 2030 is an enormous challenge for the sector.

“We are looking at delivering more transmission capacity in the next six years than was built in the past decade – a task that will demand substantial investment, workforce mobilisation, and streamlined processes.”

To ‘unleash an era of building’, Labour also recently announced that it will strip back green regulations to unlock much needed housing and infrastructure whilst supporting nature recovery. The news follows a review of the regulations which found that the current ‘outdated and highly complex’ system wasn’t delivering for nature or growth.

Nigel Billingsley, Head of Utilities & Infrastructure North comments: “This is generally to be welcomed as it will promote growth and reduce development costs, but we should also have regard to proper protection of the environment. Although most developers will adopt a responsible approach to environmental protection, legal provisions must remain to ensure a proper regard for the environmental and heritage issues experiences by developers.”

The Planning & Infrastructure Bill’s key reforms aim to overhaul the grid and prioritise clean energy projects by shifting from a ‘first come, first served’ system to a ‘first ready, first connected’ approach.

The change is designed to reduce the backlog of renewable projects, some of which currently face decade-long delays, and unlock up to £200 billion in investment. The Bill also introduces several measures aimed at facilitating this transition, including the prioritisation of renewable energy projects to accelerate grid connections, the expansion of grid infrastructure to support increasing energy demands, and the implementation of faster approvals for clean energy projects to ensure they can come online quickly.

These changes are designed to streamline processes and reduce delays, but the scale and speed required to deliver on these objectives will place immense pressure on the sector to adapt and innovate.

However, with wind and solar projects being fast-tracked for Grid connections, the sheer volume of infrastructure required poses a major challenge. The sector will need to navigate complex planning processes, secure land rights, and overcome supply chain constraints – all while ensuring minimal disruption to existing energy supplies.

Gillian added: “Grid expansion of this magnitude will require a coordinated effort between government, industry, and local authorities.

“Even with the Bill’s efforts to remove planning roadblocks and prioritise renewable energy, the pace and scale required to deliver on these targets will test the sector’s capacity like never before.”

The sector faces a tight timeline and must address potential skill shortages, rising costs, and the need for new technology to meet growing demand, with Gillian concluding: “While the Bill is a vital catalyst for positive change, the sector must now rise to the challenge of delivering the necessary infrastructure at an unprecedented scale.

“If these challenges are not effectively managed, the UK risks falling short of its clean energy ambitions.”

Bruton Knowles, one of the UK’s most well-known chartered surveyor brands, brings extensive expertise to the Utilities & Infrastructure sector. With its National Teams – Valuation, Commercial, Utilities & Infrastructure – supported by Building Consultancy, Land and Development, and Rural Service Teams, Bruton Knowles offers a seamless, high-standard approach to delivering complex client projects.