伊人直播

Clean energy projects, public transport links, and other major infrastructure will on average be delivered at least a year faster, as the government accelerates planning reforms to unleash growth and restore Britain鈥檚 rightful place as a world leader in building.

Burdensome聽statutory consultation requirements unique to major infrastructure projects will be scrapped, through amendments to the pro-growth Planning and Infrastructure Bill, cutting down the average two-year statutory pre-consultation period by half and paving the way for new roads, railways, and windfarms that will bolster the country鈥檚 connectivity and energy security.

Developers currently spend significant time and money on long, technical documents resulting in communities feeling fatigued and confused, which is a direct result of overly complex planning rules that are leaving working people deprived of the things their areas need to thrive. It also disincentivises developers making improvements to projects for fear of having to re-consult, even if in the community鈥檚 best interest.

Recognising community voices remain vital, the government will bring this process in line with planning applications for major housing schemes, and set out new statutory guidance to promote meaningful local engagement without repeating these flaws. This will allow changes to be made dynamically based on community feedback, reducing delays and potentially saving over 拢1 billion for industry and taxpayers this Parliament. These changes will help ensure Britain is open for business, attracting billions of pounds of new private investment.

This will go even further in streamlining infrastructure delivery through the government鈥檚 landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill, as part of the Plan for Change to power and heat homes with clean energy, raise living standards, create well-paying jobs, and put more money into the pockets of working people and families. The reforms will also boost the government鈥檚 efforts to build 1.5 million homes by making it easier to deliver the roads, reservoirs and energy generation needed so we can restore the dream of homeownership to families across the country.

Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said:聽

鈥淐ritical national infrastructure is key to Britain鈥檚 future and security 鈥� so we can鈥檛 afford to have projects held up by tiresome requirements and uncertainty, caused by a system that is not working for communities or developers and holding back our true potential.

鈥淲e are strengthening the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to make sure we can lead the world again with new roads, railways, and energy infrastructure as part of the Plan for Change, whilst ensuring local people still have a say in our journey to get Britain building.鈥�

Alongside statutory guidance for developers on applications, the Planning Inspectorate will maintain high standards for accepting projects 鈥� informed by community engagement. Local authorities will also be made aware of proposed applications so that they can continue to play an important role informing and advising on developments, as well as advocating for local interests.

As a result, local people can still object and share their views but in a more effective way, with developers given the flexibility to adapt their schemes as needed without restarting the process: reducing delays and costs for projects, including datacentres, reservoirs, and solar farms, while ensuring local people鈥檚 voices are heard.

Meanwhile the government is already taking action - consenting more nationally significant solar projects since the start of the Parliament compared to the whole of the previous one, including the Mallard Pass Solar Project in Lincolnshire, and making the largest ever investment in offshore wind, as we deliver our Plan for Change milestone of 150 decisions on major infrastructure projects by the end of the Parliament.

Examples of delays under current system:聽聽聽

• Fens Reservoir:鈥疧ver 1,000 days in pre-application due to a number of issues including around consultation requirements, expected submission in December 2026, supplying 250,000 homes with water.聽聽聽
• National Grid - Bramford to Twinstead:鈥�717 days in pre-application for 29km of overhead lines and underground cables.聽聽聽
• Hinkley Point C:鈥疶hree years in pre-application consultation; Sizewell C spent around seven-and-a-half years at this stage.聽聽

Wider reforms in the Bill will streamline and speed up planning decisions, remove blockers to major infrastructure and housing delivery, and support environmental goals through the new Nature Restoration Fund to achieve win-win outcomes for both nature and the economy.

These changes build on the recent OBR forecast confirming the government鈥檚 planning overhaul, through an updated National Planning Policy Framework, will drive UK housebuilding to its highest level in over 40 years and boost the economy by 拢6.8 billion by 2029/30.

Notes to editors:

Carl Trowell, President of Strategic Infrastructure, National Grid, said:

鈥淐onsulting with communities and stakeholders will always be a fundamental part of the way we at National Grid develop and shape our projects. We welcome the Government鈥檚 proposal today which will ensure that consultation and engagement can be more effective and targeted. This will accelerate the path to delivering critical infrastructure while continuing to ensure the views of local communities are heard.鈥�

Benj Sykes, UK Country Manager, 脴rsted said:

鈥溍榬sted welcomes the ongoing work of the Government to reform the planning system, including these changes to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.聽Engaging and working with communities and other stakeholders in the pre-application stage has always been central to our work developing new energy projects and will remain so; the changes being introduced will allow everyone involved in these engagements to focus on the issues that matter to stakeholders and local communities, and to our developments.鈥�

James Robottom, Head of Policy, Renewable UK said:

鈥淭his announcement represents a significant step forward for the renewable energy industry, as it will enable us to speed up the delivery of vital infrastructure projects to boost the UK鈥檚 energy security, grow the economy and help us to reach the Government鈥檚 target of clean power by 2030.聽 The industry has a long track record of engaging early and closely with local communities and a wide range of environmental stakeholders, and this will continue as we want to carry on building projects with local support by giving communities a clear voice in the decision-making process. We look forward to feeding into the new guidance that will enable us to spend more time engaging with key stakeholders on the most important issues for each new project on a case by case basis and lead to even higher quality engagement and positive outcomes for nature.鈥澛�

Sam Richards, CEO of pro-growth campaign group Britain Remade, said:

鈥淭oday鈥檚 bold reforms to cut red tape and get vital infrastructure delivered faster are a big step toward unlocking clean energy, better transport, and the homes Britain desperately needs. Too often consultation is a long and expensive box ticking exercise. By slashing delays and encouraging real community engagement, the government is backing growth, investment, and the kind of national renewal we all want to see.鈥�

Adam Berman,聽Director of Policy and Advocacy, Energy UK said:

鈥淓nergy UK is fully behind the Government鈥檚 mission to speed up the planning system, unlocking the investment in clean energy we need to secure our future power needs. More targeted engagement with statutory consultees will result in faster and more appropriate applications, allowing relevant public bodies to focus on planning applications that matter most to them.鈥�

Richard Greer, Fellow, Climate & Sustainability Services, Arup:

鈥淏uilding on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill with further legislative improvements will be essential to delivering the Government鈥檚 ten-year Infrastructure Strategy and its pipeline of projects across transport, energy, water, and the new economy sector (such as data centres). 聽A step-change in infrastructure delivery requires a comprehensive package of reforms that streamlines the entire project lifecycle.鈥�

John Foster, Chief Policy and Campaigns Officer, Confederation of British Industry said:

鈥淎ccess to energy, water, and transport connectivity remain major barriers to growth which if left untouched will hinder the government鈥檚 commitment to deliver the ambitious new homes and major infrastructure targets before the end of this parliament.聽

鈥淏y reducing the excess bureaucracy currently experienced by developers along with cutting down the decision-making time for infrastructure projects, the government is forging ahead with much needed reform to transform the planning system from an investment blocker into an enabler of growth.鈥�

Kate DaSilva, Group General Counsel, Cornish Lithium Plc.聽said:

鈥淭he changes in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will help the UK build the nationally significant projects we desperately need, while ensuring that voices within local communities are still heard. At Cornish Lithium we are proud of putting the local community and environment first 鈥� listening to what is needed, answering questions and delivering for the communities near our projects. With the Government鈥檚 proposed changes Cornish Lithium will be able to maintain our approach, accelerate project delivery, build a domestic source of critical minerals, create jobs and grow the economy for Cornwall, the south west and the whole country.鈥�