Richborough CEO Paul Campbell visits No 10 Downing Street

Richborough Chief Executive Paul Campbell was invited to attend a roundtable on the Planning & Infrastructure Bill at 10 Downing Street ahead of the introduction of the legislation.

Paul joined Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, and Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook MP alongside senior policy officials from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and fellow industry leaders.

Paul introduced himself as both a board member of the Land Planning and Development Federation and CEO of Richborough and made points including:

• The impressiveness of the Government’s ambitions and speed of action which have increased industry confidence
• Land promoters are responsible for over half of the major residential permissions and that a recent survey of LPDF members suggested they are looking to increase output by 160% this year. 
• Richborough more than doubled its team in 2024 to push growth predicated on Labour’s pro-growth stance in opposition and actions since it took office
• In 2023 Richborough submitted applications for less than 2,000 dwellings which increased to 7,300 in 2024 (over 400% increase) with aim to submit at least 12,000 plots in 2025 (a 700% increase from 2023)
• The proposed national scheme of delegation to reduce the amount of planning applications is essential to create the necessary bandwidth in the system to cope with the increase in planning applications and flow of consents
• That LPAs need to be made to publish data on the time taken to determine planning applications and in a manner which is not distorted by accounting for extensions of time which gives a false impression of better performance

Paul said: “Shaping government planning policy and delivering much needed places for people to live and work are key to my work for both the LPDF and Richborough, so it was a privilege to be invited to No 10 and hear first-hand the pro-growth ambitions and actions of Government.

“It was a great opportunity to share knowledge with politicians and industry experts, and to welcome the launch of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill which will speed up and simplify the planning system and increase the delivery of new homes and infrastructure.”

Paul was also delighted to meet Larry the cat, Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, on his way in!