Welcome to the Autumn 2025 edition of the Planning Insights Bulletin where we discuss:
- Unlocking housing delivery – Section 106 agreements
- New homes 2.0 – Vision for Britain’s next wave of new towns
- Scotland planning updates
- MOD launches new Defence Housing Strategy
- Planning team updates
To keep you ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving UK development landscape, we have selected three key reads from JLL. This collection examines the future of large-scale development through the government's new towns initiative, offering a glimpse into where major growth is being targeted. It also provides practical guidance on navigating development viability, presenting flexible approaches to Section 106 agreements that could be key to unlocking stalled housing projects. Finally, a dedicated update on the latest planning reforms in Scotland will equip you with essential knowledge for navigating its distinct regulatory environment. Together, these articles provide a comprehensive overview of the strategic challenges and opportunities facing the property sector.
Should any of the matters covered in this Bulletin be of interest, please contact a member of our Planning team.
Unlocking housing delivery – Section 106 agreements
With rising costs and inflexible Section 106 agreements stalling viable housing projects, how can developers get schemes moving again? This insight explores a crucial solution: building "cascade mechanisms" directly into planning agreements. Discover how this innovative approach can de-risk development, adapt to economic shifts, and ultimately unlock the delivery of much-needed housing across the UK.
To read more, view the full article here.
New homes 2.0 – Vision for Britain’s next wave of new towns
The UK government is officially reviving the New Towns concept for the first time in over half a century, a landmark decision poised to reshape the nation's development map. With twelve locations already shortlisted for this ambitious "New Towns 2.0" programme, a new wave of large-scale investment and opportunity is on the horizon. These sites are set to become the next major growth hubs in the effort to tackle the housing crisis, but what will this initiative look like in practice?
To read more, view the full article here.
Scotland planning updates
With Scotland's planning system undergoing its most significant overhaul in years, are you positioned to navigate the changes? The full adoption of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) is now reshaping everything from housing delivery targets to biodiversity net gain requirements.
To read more, view the full article here.
To explore how these updates could impact your projects, please reach out to our Planning team for a discussion.
MOD launches new Defence Housing Strategy
The UK Ministry of Defence recently launched its new Defence Housing Strategy – which will see £9bn invested to improve over 40,000 military homes.
This new government strategy represents the biggest upgrade to armed forces housing for more than 50 years and unlocks one of Britain’s most ambitious housebuilding programmes in decades, with potential to deliver over 100,000 new homes for civilian and military families on surplus Defence land.
JLL provided real estate advice to the Ministry of Defence in the production of its strategy providing expert support around information management, data and financial modelling as well as valuation, planning, research, management consulting, stock condition surveys and strategic asset management advice, in order to assist and inform the review. JLL also advised the government on its landmark Annington Homes deal earlier this year, which brought 36,000 properties back into public ownership, saving the taxpayer £600,000 per day, and has been fundamental to this renewal.
JLL will continue to support the Ministry of Defence to deliver its strategy.
Planning team updates
JLL is pleased to welcome this year’s graduate intake of Sophie Lanczak to our Manchester team, Daniel Hayes to Bristol and Harriet Lax to London. Owen Brown also joined as a Graduate Planner in our Scottish team based in Edinburgh, earlier in the year.
We are also delighted to share that Hannah Wainwright in the Bristol team and Cecily Joseland in the London team both passed the RTPI Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) this year and have been elected Chartered Members of the RTPI. Congratulations Hannah and Cecily.