TheGovernment UK has published its Local Planning Authorities’ (LPA) ‘Planning Capacity and Capability Survey 2025’.
Government UK writes:
Local planning authorities are central to delivering the government’s ambitions to build homes and infrastructure and deliver economic growth, and Ministers recognise that a skilled workforce of planners and built environment professionals will be essential to achieving this.
This report presents the findings of the second national survey of local planning authorities undertaken by Verian on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Building on the 2023 baseline, it provides a refreshed snapshot of capacity in local planning authorities across England. While the survey shows signs of progress, it also highlights continued challenges. Recruitment difficulties remain widespread, with 79% of LPAs affected, and 93% continue to report skills gaps particularly in digital planning, developer contributions, viability and ecology. These issues continue to impact service delivery and readiness for reform.
Retention pressures have eased since 2023, and many councils are investing in their own talent pipelines through graduate and apprenticeship routes. However, senior development management roles remain among the hardest to fill, and with 48% of planning authorities feeling prepared to implement reform there is more to do.
The government has set a clear ambition to deliver 1.5 million homes in this Parliament underpinned by a modernised planning system. The government announced a £46 million package of investment in 2025-2026 to support capacity and capability in local planning authorities. This includes funding for the recruitment and training of 300 graduate and apprentice planners and the development of skills needed to implement reforms and unlock housing delivery. Some of this funding is going to recruitment schemes such as the Local Government Association’s Pathways to Planning, and Public Practice’s Associate Programme. The funding is also supporting sector-led improvement via the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) which provides tailored guidance, peer to peer learning and reviews and training to help councils strengthen planning services.
Practical on the ground support is also being provided. A team of built environment specialists now based in Homes England, are assisting councils unblocking large-scale complex sites, with additional grant funding available for site-specific work. Funding earlier in 2025 linked to the revised National Planning Policy Framework is helping authorities progress Local Plans and carry out Green Belt reviews, and more than £29 million has been provided for these activities.
From 1 April 2025 planning fees for householders increased and fees for certain minor applications were introduced. This is providing local planning authorities with much needed additional resource. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will also allow councils to set fees locally so they can better recover their costs.
Digital innovation is an important enabler, helping councils save time and improve accuracy. More than 100 authorities are working towards using modern software, data and tools that, for example, can reduce errors by over 20% and cut processing times by more than 30%. Greater digital capability will help free up officer time for strategic tasks and engagement with communities.
This is an important and exciting time for the planning profession. Planners and other built environmental professionals are leading the way in delivering the homes, infrastructure and places that communities need. I am grateful to everyone working in the sector for their commitment and hard work. There is more to do and continued collaboration across central government, local authorities, national parks, and new and emerging tiers of government will be essential if we are to maintain momentum and build a modern resilient planning system
