England

Built environment professionals have welcomed Rishi Sunak's Budget speech and its promise of infrastructure investments, calling it a ‘credible’ start to the ‘levelling up’ agenda – but many have expressed environmental concerns.

A 'changed mindset' that will see a greater focus on the UK's nations, towns and cities beyond London and England is behind pledges of new deals and growth funding in the Budget.

Gladman Development Limited has branded the presumption in favour of sustainable development ‘substantially weaker’ than when the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was first introduced.

The government has been urged to use tomorrow’s Budget to invest in ‘priority cities’ to tackle congestion, which is holding back productivity.