Ministers and mayors should encourage bold design, as well as the protection of nature

The planning and infrastructure bill published on Tuesday is both a declaration of intent and a show of strength by the government. Rightly recognising how much is at stake politically, particularly with regard to younger voters frustrated by high housing costs, ministers have made up their minds to help them. Decision-making will be streamlined and development corporations empowered. Once the law is changed, councils and landowners will find it harder to stand in the way of what ministers regard as progress.

How this scheme pans out will be one of the big tests of Sir Keir Starmer’s government. It is right that compulsory land purchases will be made easier and cheaper, and steps taken to speed up clean energy projects. Reforms of the leasehold system must soon follow, to ensure that buyers of new homes are not ripped off by freeholders.

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