Government set to decide locations of new homes

MORE than 9,300 homes could be built in Somerset and be signed off by central government rather than local people following a recent act of Parliament.

- DANIEL MUMBY

The Planning and Infrastructure Act, which received royal assent in December 2025, forms the linchpin of the Labour government's pledge to deliver 1.5 million new homes across the UK by 2029.

In a bid to streamline the planning process, any planned development of 150 homes or more which councillors or planning officers are minded to refuse will be referred to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

MHCLG will decide in each case whether to appoint an inspector to examine the proposals and make a recommendation to housing secretary Steve Reed MP, who will make the final decision.