53. The cost to local authorities of administering the existing planning system in England i s estimated to be £1 billion. The 2021 Spending Review demonstrates the Government’s commitment to investing in safe and affordable housing by confirming a settlement of nearly £24 billion for housing, up to 2025-26. As part of this, the settlement provides an additional £65 million investment to improve the planning regime, through a new digital system which will ensure more certainty and better outcomes for the environment, growth and quality of design.