Planning matters

As someone very involved in the life sciences planning and development sector, I was pleased to join Charles Russell Speechlys for a recent podcast exploring how planning intersects with the UK Government’s recently published Industrial Strategy and associated Life Sciences Sector Plan. This conversation followed on from my blog published last year and offered an opportunity to reflect on the ambitions of the Plan and the role planning must play in helping the UK become a global leader in life sciences. I have provided a summary of the key discussion points below.

The government’s Life Sciences Sector Plan sets out a bold vision: to position the UK among the top three life sciences economies globally by 2035. Backed by £2 billion in funding, the plan is built around three core pillars:

1. Enabling world-class research and development;
2. Making the UK an outstanding place to start, grow, scale and invest; and
3. Driving health innovation and NHS reform.

From a planning perspective, the government acknowledges the need to fast-track development of critical infrastructure - including labs, gigafactories, and data centres – through the planning system by allowing them to be categorised as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP’s). While this could offer speed and certainty, it’s not without challenges. The NSIP process, as it stands, involves extensive consultation and may not suit every project so it is unclear whether it offers any real advantage.

One of the most exciting elements of the Plan is the creation of Regional Health Innovation Zones. These zones aim to harness the economic potential of existing and emerging clusters, with initial ‘trailblazer’ regions to be announced. This approach could offer much-needed certainty for investors and developers, particularly in high-growth corridors like the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.

At Lichfields, we’re already seeing this clustering in action. Our work with Oxford Airport on its R&D Tech Park is a prime example - adjacent to Oxford Technology Park, 19,000 sqm of high-value employment space designed to meet Oxford’s growing demand for dry lab R&D accommodation as well as for aviation-related tenants. The flexibility built into the design, including multi-tenant configurations and airside access, reflects the sector’s unique needs.

Historically, planning has generally been seen as a barrier to growth, perceived as slow, costly, and complex. But if the Government is keen to lead in life sciences globally, planning must become a strategic enabler. The sector plan rightly identifies this, but more detail is needed. For example, whilst the plan references infrastructure projects like HS2 and East West Rail, there is little detail on how these will be delivered and integrated with life sciences growth.

We also need to see planning policy evolve to support flexible, mixed-use developments. Life sciences facilities often have specific industry-driven requirements compared to typical office developments, but enabling multiple tenants to share high-spec lab space is also key to viability. National planning policy will need to reflect this reality.

The Sector Plan will be updated in 2030, but the real test lies in implementation. Will national planning reforms - such as the delayed National Development Management Policies (NDMPs) - incorporate the sector’s needs? Will local authorities and regional governments align with the plan’s ambitions?

One area I’m particularly interested in is the potential role of AI in planning. Could it help streamline public consultations or accelerate decision-making? It’s early days, but it could make a real difference.

The Government’s commitment to life sciences is clear, and the Sector Plan is a step in the right direction. However, coordinated action will be critical across multiple parties including local Councils, infrastructure and utility companies and other key industry stakeholders. Planning will have a major role in supporting the innovation and growth of the industry in the future.

 

As we continue to work with key clients in the industry, our focus at Lichfields will be to help them navigate the evolving planning landscape and unlock opportunities in this dynamic sector.

If you’d like to discuss any of the themes raised here or explore how Lichfields can support your life sciences project, please do get in touch.

For further information listen to the full podcast recording below

You can also find the podcast on Podbean, Apple podcasts and Spotify. 

 

Image credit: GSK Ware, Simons Design