The government has now released its Impact Assessment for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, highlighting potential economic benefits of up to £7.5 billion over the coming decade.
This figure represents the high-end estimate of the Bill’s economic contribution. The central projection stands at £3.2 billion, with a more cautious lower estimate of £1.3 billion over the same 10-year period.

The Bill proposes a series of reforms aimed at cutting bureaucracy and expediting decision-making across the planning system. Its objectives include enabling the delivery of 1.5 million homes and accelerating large-scale infrastructure developments — such as road and rail upgrades and new renewable energy projects — all of which are often delayed by complex approval processes.

Why this matters for small businesses
Big headline numbers like £7.5 billion are attention-grabbing, but for smaller businesses, the potential ripple effects of accelerated construction could be just as impactful. Here’s what could be coming down the line:

  • More work for local trades and contractors: Increased housebuilding and infrastructure projects are likely to generate demand across the construction ecosystem — including roles in groundworks, plumbing, electrical, joinery and more.

  • Growth in demand for professional services: Architects, planning consultants, legal experts, and environmental assessors may find increased workloads as more projects move through the system.

  • Increased activity for suppliers: Plant hire firms, builders’ merchants and local material suppliers could benefit from faster project cycles and higher demand.

  • Stronger regional economies: With decisions potentially made more quickly, local regeneration efforts could progress sooner — boosting hospitality, retail and local service industries along the way.

Looking ahead
The Bill is still under parliamentary review, so the reforms aren’t in place yet. However, the government has made its direction of travel clear: the aim is to make 150 significant infrastructure decisions during this Parliament — 17 of which have already been completed.

Tempered optimism
Although the forecasted benefits are promising, their delivery depends heavily on how well the reforms are put into practice — and how soon they begin to influence real-world projects. Businesses in sectors such as construction, transportation, energy and consultancy may wish to monitor developments closely, particularly any activity led by local authorities or regional development plans.

As always, if you’d like tailored advice on how policy changes could affect your operations — or want to get ahead of potential opportunities — we’re here to help.

More information: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/reforms-to-get-britain-building-will-boost-economy-by-billions