This paper explores infrastructure development and planning in England, with a specific focus on the electricity network sector. Infrastructure systems, including transport, energy, water and telecommunications, underpin economic growth, and planning frameworks play a vital role in their delivery. Influenced by neoliberalisation and administrative decentralisation, England’s planning system is spatially oriented and market‑oriented, with the National Infrastructure Plan serving as a key policy strategy rather than a traditional urban plan. However, infrastructure planning faces four major challenges: digital transformation and system integration, decarbonisation toward the 2050 net‑zero target, improved resilience against climate and disaster risks, and unequal funding under fiscal austerity. The study analyses the structure, privatisation, regulation and investment of the UK electricity network, highlighting ongoing reforms such as smart grid development, renewable integration, energy storage and microgrid applications. To achieve sustainable development, future grid planning will emphasise smart operation, flexible distribution, decarbonisation and enhanced system resilience. Overall, effective infrastructure planning must balance digital transition, climate goals, system robustness and financial sustainability to support long‑term national development.