The UK government has announced a series of planning reforms designed to reduce the time required to deliver major infrastructure projects by at least a year, in a move aimed at boosting clean energy, housing, and transport developments.
The changes, introduced under amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, will eliminate specific statutory consultation requirements that currently apply to large-scale developments. Officials say the reforms will halve the average two-year pre-application process, removing obstacles that have delayed nationally significant infrastructure projects.
“Critical national infrastructure is key to Britain’s future and security – so we can’t afford to have projects held up by tiresome requirements and uncertainty,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner. “We 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.”
Under the revised framework, developers will still be required to consult with local communities. However, updated statutory guidance will encourage more focused and efficient engagement, reducing duplication and easing the administrative burden on applicants. Local authorities and the Planning Inspectorate will continue to play a key role in the decision-making process, assessing projects against established standards.
The government estimates the reforms could result in over £1 billion in savings during the current parliamentary term and unlock billions more in private investment. Examples of delays under the existing system include the Fens Reservoir, which has spent over 1,000 days in pre-application, and the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant, which required three years of consultations before approval.
Industry groups welcomed the reforms. Carl Trowell of National Grid said the changes would “enable more effective and targeted consultation.” Benj Sykes of Ørsted noted that the streamlined approach would allow stakeholders to “focus on the issues that matter to stakeholders and local communities.”
James Robottom of RenewableUK described the reforms as a measure that will “speed up the delivery of vital infrastructure projects to boost the UK’s energy security, grow the economy and help us to reach the Government’s target of clean power by 2030.”
The reforms support broader government objectives, including the construction of 1.5 million new homes and the expansion of clean energy infrastructure. A recent forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility predicted that planning changes could raise housebuilding to its highest level in over four decades and contribute £6.8 billion to the economy by 2029/30.
Sam Richards of advocacy group Britain Remade called the reforms a “big step toward unlocking clean energy, better transport, and the homes Britain desperately needs,” while Energy UK’s Adam Berman added that a more targeted planning process would improve the quality and speed of infrastructure development.
