“National policy statements will be reviewed and updated at least every five years,” ministers confirmed as Whitehall set the start dates for the next wave of planning reforms. For the North, that means clearer rules for big energy, transport and regeneration schemes from February, with parts already live before Christmas.

Made on 18 December 2025, the Levelling‑up and Regeneration Act 2023 (Commencement No. 9) and Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2025 fix 18 February 2026 for most changes, while several provisions began on 19 December 2025. The instrument is listed on legislation.gov.uk and summarised by sector trackers.

Compulsory purchase is being tidied up. From 18 February, authorities can secure ‘conditional confirmation’ of CPOs-switching powers on once specified tests are met-tackling stalled sites without losing momentum. Newspaper notices are simplified and general vesting declarations can be sped up or brought forward by agreement, easing land assembly for brownfield regeneration across the North.

There are safeguards for ongoing cases. The order says the new rules don’t cut across CPOs already publicised or acquisitions already authorised-avoiding mid‑stream changes for councils and landowners.

Development corporations also get a reset. From 18 February, all models-New Town, Urban and Mayoral-carry standard duties on sustainable development, climate change and good design, plus a common set of infrastructure powers (including heat networks). Overlaps between different corporation types are clarified, giving mayors and councils cleaner options to deliver new districts.

Stockport shows what this can mean in practice. The town’s Mayoral Development Corporation says it has 1,200 homes complete or on site, £600m of private investment and 170,000 sq ft of Grade A offices delivered, with plans to expand across the town centre to enable up to 8,000 homes subject to approvals.

Liverpool City Region is lining up an MDC for the North Docks-174 hectares from the waterfront into Pumpfields-aiming for around 17,500 homes and 5m sq ft of commercial space over 15 years. The scheme has been billed locally as a “once‑in‑a‑generation” chance to stitch the area back into the city’s economy.

On Teesside, South Tees Development Corporation-Britain’s first Mayoral Development Corporation outside London-has already used CPO to assemble land at the former Redcar steelworks. The new conditional‑confirmation tool should help similar complex clean‑up and remediation phases move sooner elsewhere in the region.

For nationally significant infrastructure, the Act locks in a rolling five‑year review cycle for National Policy Statements-crucial for projects like grid upgrades, hydrogen and carbon capture along the Humber and Teesside. Energy NPSs EN‑1 to EN‑5 were refreshed in 2024, with further updates laid in 2025, and the new nuclear EN‑7 took effect on 18 December 2025.

Ministers also promise to curb “meritless” repeat challenges to consents for major schemes, while keeping access to the courts for substantive claims-an attempt to cut delays that have dogged grid and energy projects. Expect faster timetables around Development Consent Orders from spring.

Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) are now getting underway. From 19 December 2025, Natural England can prepare EDPs that identify sensitive features, set conservation measures and attach a nature restoration levy-under which paying developers may see certain site‑specific obligations modified or discharged in defined circumstances.

Campaigners are wary. Professional bodies and NGOs have warned that a poorly‑set levy could weaken the ‘avoid, minimise, compensate’ discipline and risk lower protection on some sites; government says outcomes must still show overall improvement. Expect test‑bed plans to be watched closely in the North’s protected landscapes and estuaries.

What to do now in the North? Councils should line up CPO strategies and site assembly so they can use conditional confirmation from 18 February. Promoters of energy and transport schemes should map their cases to the updated NPSs. Developers should engage early with Natural England on any EDP coverage and levy schedules, and plan for new annual reporting by Natural England from 1 April 2026.