In a speech this morning, the Prime Minister has set out a number of milestones which the government aims to fulfil over this Parliament on housing, the NHS, policing, clean power and other policy areas. This includes a specific pledge to approve planning decisions on at least 150 major infrastructure projects (through the granting of development consent orders, or DCOs), a significant rise in the level of consents made over the previous parliament.

In response, National Infrastructure Commission Chair Sir John Armitt said:

“Signing off 150 development consent orders is a huge undertaking, but essential given the sheer magnitude of transformative infrastructure the country needs: at least 17 major electricity transmission projects to deliver clean power by 2030 and ramped up renewable generation; at least nine major water storage and transfer programmes to keep the taps running; and progress on major projects like East West Rail and Lower Thames Crossing to speed up the country’s transport networks.

“Government’s chances of success will depend on turning its early commitments into sustained action to jump start a lethargic planning system and ensure it becomes a tool for progress rather than an anchor on UK growth. For starters, that means giving the Planning Inspectorate the additional resources it will need to deal with the increased throughput of projects.”

The Commission’s second National Infrastructure Assessment published in October 2023 included a number of recommendations for action by government to speed up the planning system for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs), including five-yearly reviews of National Policy Statements, improved sharing of data on environmental mitigations, the development of a framework of direct benefits for local communities which host new infrastructure projects, and central coordination and oversight of the NSIPs process, with measurable targets for reducing consenting times.