Default yes: latest Government planning reform to provide automatic approval to planning applications for housing developments near train stations

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New planning measures have been announced as the Government aims to fulfil its commitment to build 1.5 million homes:¹

1. to provide a “default yes” to planning applications within a 15 minutes’ walk of well-connected stations;
2. to consider intervention if a local planning authority intends to reject a planning application for developments with 150 homes or more; and
3. to remove certain organisations from the list of statutory consultees in planning applications.

These efforts are part of the Government’s continued action towards boosting housebuilding, which follows recent progress on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

The “default yes” policy is to apply to land around both train and tram stations with a sufficient frequency of services. It also extends to greenbelt land. However, the greenbelt golden rules apply which are: ensuring higher levels of affordable housing, local infrastructure and green space are provided to local communities.

Further details on what is meant by “default yes” are yet to be confirmed. However, given the fact that this reform is likely to target brownfield sites, it is possible the criteria before a “default yes” will include a consideration of the following risks: contamination risks, flooding risks, transport and highways impacts and the impacts of noise.

It is expected that this detail will follow when a revised version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in December. These latest proposals, together with the Planning and Infrastructure Bill – which is coming to the end of its passage through Parliament – and the Government’s response to the Biodiversity Net Gain public consultation, expected before Christmas, mean that there will be much for the development industry to consider as they promote planning applications in the New Year.

We’ll be tracking these changes closely and sharing practical insights as they unfold. Sign up to our real estate mailing list to receive our latest planning and infrastructure updates and ensure you’re prepared for what’s ahead.

Footnotes:

1. Statement by Steve Reed: Next Phase of Planning Reform (18 November 2025) ↩︎