Irwin Mitchell’s Planning & Environment Blog

Each month, we will be bringing together the latest articles written by our team covering key developments, legal insights, and practical guidance across the planning and environmental law landscape. Whether it's new legislation, landmark cases, or upcoming policy changes, our aim is to keep you informed about what is happening in the planning and environmental world.

In this edition, we are highlighting the articles we have published during August. We hope you find them insightful and useful in your work.

Explore the highlights below:

Better late than never? Government publishes long awaited Housing Delivery Test: 2025 Measurement

By Chyna Fairclough-Jones

Published 19 Aug 2026

This article considers the Government’s long-awaited publication of the Housing Delivery Test 2025 Measurement. It compares the latest results with the previous 2023 measurement and examines the immediate implications for local planning authorities that have failed to meet their housing delivery requirements, including the application of action plans, buffers and the presumption in favour of sustainable development.

New NPPF Published: Key Changes from the December 2025 Consultation and What Comes Next

By Elizabeth Mutter

Published 18 Aug 2026

This article summarises the principal changes introduced by the revised NPPF and compares the final text with the proposals consulted on in December 2025. Key topics include plan-making, viability, the presumptions in favour of development, transport-oriented development, Green Belt and grey belt policy, affordable housing and settlement gaps. It also considers the further guidance and reforms expected as the Government’s wider planning reform programme progresses.

Planning reform: implications for Living sector investors and developers

By Claire Petricca-Riding, Pamela Chesterman

Published 12 Aug 2026

This article considers the implications of the Government’s planning reform programme for investors and developers operating across the living sector. It examines changes arising from the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, the revised NPPF, greater devolution and the New Towns programme. The article identifies opportunities arising from faster and more predictable decision-making, while highlighting increased regulatory requirements, front-loaded risk and the importance of affordable housing, infrastructure readiness and long-term community outcomes.

Renewable Energy, Energy Security and the New Cyber Risk Conversation

By Andrew Evans, Claire Petricca-Riding

Published 31 Jul 2026

This article considers the growing importance of cyber security and operational resilience in renewable energy infrastructure and sustainable development. As buildings and energy systems become increasingly connected and reliant on digital technology, developers must look beyond energy performance and consider potential cyber and operational risks. The article highlights the need for these risks, together with the associated contractual allocation of responsibility, to be addressed from the outset of a project.