Things are getting hot as ReformUK run more Councils.

On the back of ReformUK’s election results, only a fool will ignore them. Our colleague James Mills provides us with a summary of their emerging policies on Planning.

A Reform government would “aggressively” reform the planning system and will make a policy announcement on planning “very soon”. Matthew MacKinnon, the party’s director of external affairs, told an event that planning was “a massive issue” that Reform was “looking at intensely” and would “aggressively approach” in its first term in government. He revealed that Reform had two people in its policy team “who are focusing heavily on this policy” and it would be “announcing something” on planning “very soon”.

There is no doubt ReformUK is a pro-development capitalist Party that is increasingly an alternative to not only the Conservatives in the Soth but also Labour in the North.

Richard Tice ReformUK deputy leader called the planning system “dysfunctional” and called for a “reset”.  Richard Tice said at Reiif in Leeds last week that “Everybody’s whinged and moaned for the last 30 years about the cost of getting planning, the delays, the quality of planners. I think we’ve got to take a reset.” He said the planning system was “dysfunctional”, adding: “You can’t just tinker around the edges.”

What that means remains to be seen but from our experience, where Reform is in control of Planning, they have been pragmatic. They are very focussed on infrastructure but is sympathetic to the fact that developers need to be able to build to make money to drive the economy forward.

Reform councils will oppose solar farms on agricultural land. Reform warned developers seeking planning permission to install solar farms on agricultural land that Reform councils “will oppose that because we pragmatically think that is not the good thing to do”. However, he added that “if you have got a warehouse … and you want to put solar panels on your roof, of course, our council's going to give you planning permission.”

However, British sunshine should make British electricity for British homes… it just needs to be in the right places.

Richard Tice also said efforts to decarbonise housing were undermining project viability.  He said the market should be left to decide whether or not to install certain technologies in new homes, including heat pumps. He said: “If someone wants to put in a heat pump, more power to your elbow, but that should be your choice. It shouldn’t be a forced government decision.”

Reform is still open to fracking. Jake Berry, the former Conservative Party chairman who defected to Reform last year, said that the UK should look at fracking and North Sea oil to reduce its dependence on the international energy market.

Energy prices drive up the cost of living and inflation and no one wants that.

The picture that is emerging is that Reform is not NIMBYs but very pragmatic but you will have to put in the work to take them with you.