From protest to power: What could Reform’s local gains mean for the built environment?

Following Reform UK’s stunning local election performance on 1 May, party leader Nigel Farage promised a “new dawn” in British politics. The party secured 677 council seats, took control of 10 councils, won a parliamentary by-election, and claimed two mayoralties – a dramatic shift that has sent shockwaves through the political establishment. What began as a Brexit protest party is evolving into a serious electoral force, regularly topping national opinion polls. But with this growth comes greater scrutiny, and pressure both within and from outside the party to develop a more comprehensive policy offer and move beyond being a single-issue protest party.

While there has been much attention on the wider political implications of this rise, there has been less focus on Reform’s policy agenda. With the current popularity of the party in the polls, where Reform stand on some of the key issues facing the built environment, such as housing, planning and infrastructure, is becoming more important.

Governing with Little Track Record

A large number of Reform’s councillors are newcomers to politics, and how effectively they will govern remains to be seen. Early indications suggest a focus on cutting what the party sees as wasteful public spending, having already sent their first ‘Doge’ team – a group of experts modelled after Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency – to conduct a thorough audit of Kent County Council’s finances. This sweeps in scrapping net zero policies, and opposing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives in councils. But when it comes to the built environment, their approach is less obvious.

While it is nearly a year ago, a key piece of evidence is Reform’s 2024 general election manifesto which provides some – although not many – insights.

What Reform’s Manifesto Says

On Housing:

• A commitment to fast-track planning decisions (and offer tax incentives) for developments on brownfield sites and a “loose fit planning” approach for large-scale housing schemes.
• Reforms to prioritise social housing for “local people” and those who have “paid into the system.”
• Clear disclosure of all potential costs for leasehold/freehold residents.
• Incentivising innovation in housebuilding such as modular construction and adopting digital technology.

On Infrastructure:

• Scrap HS2, which the party describes as a “vanity project.”
• Ban Ultra Low Emission Zones, Clean Air Zones, and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods.
• Accelerate transport infrastructure, particularly in coastal regions, the North, the Midlands, and Wales.
• New model for national infrastructure ownership, including tighter regulation.
• Single infrastructure funding stream to reduce bureaucracy.

What is clear is that Reform is not opposed to development in principle – but some of their messaging (which is discussed below) suggests a preference for local control, rural protection, and scepticism toward top-down targets.

Net Zero Under Fire

Where Reform has been most vocal on the built environment is on energy policy. In February, the party announced their plans to scrap net zero targets, introduce taxes on renewables, and ban new pylons, instead mandating that energy cables be buried underground. After May’s local elections, Reform MP for Boston and Skegness, Richard Tice, escalated his rhetoric, writing to potential developers in Lincolnshire to steer clear of net zero-driven countryside developments, describing it as a “war.”

This confrontational stance has the potential to lead to uncertainty which may stall or reshape sustainable infrastructure projects, particularly those tied to renewable energy.

A Closer Look at Reform in Local Government

While Reform now control 10 councils, their direct influence over development decisions is mixed. Of these, only three – Durham County Council and the two Northamptonshire unitary authorities – have powers to determine individual planning applications. The remaining councils hold more strategic planning responsibilities, particularly around transport, and minerals and waste planning.

Similarly, while the two mayoralties won by Reform lack call-in powers like those held by the Mayor of London, they are not without planning influence. These new mayors will be able to produce statutory strategic plans – akin to the London Plan – which will guide growth, development priorities, and infrastructure investment across their regions. Though indirect, these powers give Reform opportunities to shape planning policy at a regional level.

This may soon become particularly significant in Kent, where Reform now controls the county council. A large portion of London’s Metropolitan Green Belt lies within Kent’s boundaries – and if Reform councillors adopt a protective stance, it could set up a direct policy clash with the Labour Government. It is also worth noting that Mayor of London Sadiq Khan recently announced plans to explore releasing green belt land for development as part of his ‘Towards a New London Plan’ document. How this interplays with neighbouring Kent’s approach will be one to watch closely.

There are also early signs of how Reform leaders intend to approach the built environment. At UKREiiF last month, newly elected Greater Lincolnshire Mayor (and former Conservative MP) Andrea Jenkyns spoke about boosting rural transport and said that 17 development sites had been identified in Lincolnshire for schemes including housing. A party spokesperson also came across as being pro-housing, telling Planning Resource that “we are in a national emergency when it comes to housing” and that “we must build more homes”, but stressed this should not be “at the expense of the countryside.”

There is clear hostility to top-down housing targets, with Farage questioning the impact on public services for pre-existing local populations.  Tice has also criticised Labour’s proposed ‘Golden Rules’ for development on the green belt, warning that overly ambitious affordability requirements risk making schemes unviable.

These positions suggest Reform-led councils may soon face difficult decisions. While they don’t set national planning policy, they are required to comply with it. The updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published by the Government in December 2024, may become a flashpoint. It reintroduced mandatory housing targets, required green belt reviews, and introduced a new ‘grey belt’ designation aimed at unlocking land for housing. Will Reform councils comply – or push back against national mandates they may disagree with?

Uncertain Future

There’s another complicating factor: under the Government’s English Devolution White Paper proposals, potentially some of the local authorities Reform now control could be abolished and restructured into unitary authorities within the next three years. This could result in shifting powers, and even loss of control for Reform in some areas, injecting further uncertainty into the party’s long-term strategy for the built environment.

Final Thoughts

Reform UK’s dramatic local election gains mark a striking shift in Britain’s political landscape – but what this means for the built environment remains largely untested. With limited experience in office and only partial influence over development decisions, the party’s real impact is still uncertain.

That said, many (including LCA) will be paying close attention to how Reform uses the platform of local government – and whether its bold promises can be matched by credible policy and competent delivery. Much will depend on whether Reform councillors can navigate the complexities of local government and move beyond headline-grabbing statements.

As attention turns to the 2026 local elections, where more councils with direct powers on planning applications will be up for election, in addition to several metro mayors, and the next general election further down the line, the key question is whether this marks the beginning of a long-term political presence or a momentary disruption that fades just as quickly as it arrived.