A new fast-track planning route announced by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will speed up major infrastructure projects such as road improvements and wind farms
Secretary of State for Levelling Up Greg Clark has announced a new fast-track planning route to support economic growth, improve transport links and enhance energy security by setting shorter deadlines for examinations.
The government will make the changes to the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects process through amendments to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.
The changes aim to deliver large-scale infrastructure projects such as road improvements and offshore wind farms faster
New powers will mean shorter deadlines can be set for examinations of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) – speeding up decisions and getting projects built more quickly.
The relevant Secretary of the State – for example for Energy, Transport, Environment or Levelling Up – will decide whether to put the shorter deadline in place.
This also means decisions on smaller (non-material) changes to projects that have already been approved can be made much more quickly.
The announcement hopes to build on the government’s Energy Security Strategy
More than £750,000 has also been awarded to 10 council-led projects that may benefit from the new fast-track planning route, to support innovation in ensuring the needs of local communities are reflected in the process.
The funding will go to councils in Somerset, Cumbria, Essex, Suffolk, Leicestershire, North Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire, West Sussex and Norfolk.
Norfolk County Council are building a virtual system that will log information about local NSIPs including timelines, deadlines, contacts and meetings for other local authorities and applicants to see.
Selby District Council and North Yorkshire County Council are collaborating to develop a multi-disciplinary environmental framework which sets out the local authority requirements for submitting an NSIP application. These will be around landscape, biodiversity, environmental health and heritage. This framework will help to bring forward multiple NSIPs in one place and could be used by applicants, the council and the Planning Inspectorate at application and examination stages.
Levelling Up secretary Greg Clark said:
“Particularly in a time of high inflation, things need to be done more quickly or costs of major infrastructure projects will rise. These changes will help deliver new infrastructure more quickly, by speeding up the planning process often moves too slowly.”
Councils and local communities will continue to play a key role in the planning process, including by producing local impact reports that represent the views of residents and must be considered. Only suitable projects will go through the new fast track process.
Stephen Marcos Jones, ACE CEO welcomed the move, commenting: “This week’s announcement comes at the right moment. Anything which brings additional clarity and speed to a lengthy planning process around significant infrastructure should be warmly welcomed.
“A swifter planning process will ensure that environmental, social and economic benefits are realised sooner. This is also important if infrastructure investment is to realise its full potential in supporting the economy through the increasingly challenging times ahead.
“We look forward to engaging with the government on the action plan and supporting its implementation soon.”
