Planning Reforms: Energy and Housing Costs

Debate between Lord Kennedy of Southwark and Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho

Thursday 15th May 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho (CB)]

My Lords—

[Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms and Chief Whip (Lord Kennedy of Southwark) (Lab Co-op)]

We will hear from the Cross Benches.

[Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho (CB)]

My Lords, the Minister herself referred to the sclerotic system. I declare my interest as president of the British Chambers of Commerce. One contributor to that system is the chronic lack of planners themselves. We are working on a project with Aviva to try to help build that capacity, but it will only ever deliver a fraction of the Government’s ambition. Is the Minister aware of the project, and what other creative plans do she and her department have to turbocharge the number of planners in the country?