The UK government has signalled its renewed commitment to tackling housing shortages, unlocking private investment, and modernising infrastructure delivery with the appointment of leading planning lawyer Catherine Howard as Infrastructure and Planning Adviser to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves.
Howard’s expertise in major infrastructure projects, planning reform, and development consent orders (DCOs) will play a central role in shaping the next phase of the government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill. With a clear message to “do what it takes to get Britain building,” this appointment highlights the importance of creating the right legal and regulatory frameworks to attract long-term investment, reduce barriers to delivery, and accelerate the construction of vital housing and infrastructure.
Who is Catherine Howard?
- Current role: Partner at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
Specialism:
- Development Consent Orders (DCOs) for nationally significant infrastructure projects
- Environmental regulation and compliance
- Judicial reviews and planning law challenges
- Experience: Advising on complex, large-scale infrastructure schemes including transport, energy, and housing.
Howard brings a deep understanding of how regulatory frameworks can both enable and hinder the delivery of infrastructure projects. Her appointment is expected to strengthen the government’s capacity to streamline planning systems while ensuring robust environmental and legal safeguards.
Government priorities: Planning reform and infrastructure investment
The appointment comes as part of a wider government growth strategy aimed at building an economy that “works for working people – and rewards working people.” The Chancellor has confirmed that the Autumn Budget 2025 will prioritise measures to:
- Reduce inflation while maintaining fiscal discipline.
- Unlock private sector investment into housing and infrastructure.
- Deliver planning reform to accelerate the approval of nationally significant infrastructure projects.
- Support economic growth through construction-led recovery.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill
Central to this agenda is the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, currently making its way through Parliament. The Bill aims to:
- Simplify the planning process for nationally significant projects.
- Reduce bureaucratic barriers to private sector investment.
- Improve decision-making timelines and accountability.
- Support major housing delivery alongside infrastructure development.
This legislative framework will be pivotal in shaping the conditions under which digital construction technologies—such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), data-driven planning tools, and AI-powered project management platforms—are deployed at scale.
Implications for the digital construction sector
The combination of policy reform and high-level legal expertise provides a significant opportunity for the digital construction sector to accelerate adoption across major UK infrastructure projects.
Key opportunities for digital construction
- Streamlined planning processes:
Digital tools like BIM and geospatial data platforms can support faster, evidence-based decision-making for development consent.
- Transparency and stakeholder engagement:
Interactive digital models enable stakeholders, from local communities to policymakers, to better understand project impacts and benefits.
- Risk management and compliance:
AI-driven monitoring systems can help meet new regulatory requirements while reducing risks of judicial review.
- Sustainability and environmental performance:
Digital twins and lifecycle analysis can ensure projects align with environmental regulations and the government’s Growth Mission.
- Investor confidence:
A clearer, more predictable planning framework supported by digital data strengthens the case for long-term private sector investment.
Significant milestone
The appointment of Catherine Howard as the Chancellor’s Infrastructure and Planning Adviser represents a significant milestone in the UK’s efforts to modernise planning and deliver critical infrastructure at pace. For the digital construction sector, it signals a more supportive policy and regulatory environment where innovation, data-driven planning, and new technologies will be central to accelerating project delivery.
Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “I am determined we do what it takes to get Britain building, unlock private investment and deliver an economy that works for working people – and rewards working people. I look forward to working with Catherine to deliver this.”
Catherine Howard added: “It is a privilege to take on this position as the Chancellor’s Infrastructure and Planning Adviser, helping the government to achieve a step-change in how we deliver major infrastructure and housing. With the right framework in place, good decision-making can enable swift progress—improving our natural environment and supporting the government’s Growth Mission.”
As the Planning and Infrastructure Bill advances through Parliament and the Autumn Budget 2025 approaches, construction leaders, investors, and digital technology providers will be watching closely. The success of these reforms could unlock billions in private sector investment and ensure that the UK’s infrastructure and housing ambitions are not only achievable but also sustainable, efficient, and future-proof.
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