The Queen's Speech ' Infrastructure, Planning And The Environment

• Published date: 31 August 2021
• Law Firm: Winckworth Sherwood
• Author: Alex Dillistone and Samantha Woods

On 11 May 2021, the Queen gave the Queen's Speech to mark the State Opening of Parliament and outline the government's legislative programme for the new parliamentary session. It must have felt like a world away from her last Queen's Speech, given all the way back in December 2019. A lot has happened since then. Foremost in the government's sights is dealing with the global pandemic and addressing the social and economic impacts it is having on the UK.

The Prime Minister has put levelling up and building back better at the forefront of the government agenda. The UK is also keen to be seen as leading the way on the environment and combatting climate change ahead of COP26, which the UK is scheduled to host for the first time this year. It should be no surprise therefore that this year's Queen's Speech would cover issues of infrastructure, planning and the environment. The Speech was light on specifics and details will need to be fleshed out over the coming weeks. What it does do is set out overarching commitments and an overview of proposed legislation.

Infrastructure

The executive summary of the Speech includes a commitment to "transform UK infrastructure" and cites the High Speed Rail (Crewe -Manchester) Bill as "a key component to levelling up". Nothing new here: rail has been a big part of the government's infrastructure plan for some time, and that High Speed Rail Bill is otherwise known as HS2 Phase 2b (Western Leg) which has been part of the plans for HS2 for a number of years.

The notes accompanying the Speech set out some further detail on the main elements of the Bill including powers to acquire land, construct and operate the railway as well as deemed planning permission. As well as the commitment to bring forth the...