Rachel Reeves is set to unveil a significant overhaul of planning regulations aimed at expediting clean energy and infrastructure initiatives by limiting judicial reviews, according to the Treasury.
The Chancellor intends for Parliament to have the authority to classify and endorse key clean energy projects as “critical national importance” as part of a broader strategy to mitigate the repercussions of the ongoing crisis in Iran.
The Treasury indicated that this change would lessen the impact of judicial reviews, except in cases concerning human rights.
This development comes as the government faces mounting pressure to accelerate its energy infrastructure projects to achieve the ambitious target of establishing a nearly zero-carbon power system by 2030.
Renewable energy developers have frequently expressed frustration over the challenges associated with obtaining planning permissions for various projects, including offshore wind farms, onshore solar installations, and battery storage facilities, as well as lengthy delays in connecting to Great Britain’s electricity grid.
A Treasury spokesperson noted that essential infrastructure projects have been “held up by judicial reviews of initiatives that the country requires.” They emphasized that “the Chancellor will not tolerate this any longer and is initiating bold reforms to facilitate progress.”
Furthermore, they asserted, “It is imperative that Parliament reclaims control to enable the construction of power plants, wind farms, and grid connections that will reduce costs, bolster energy security, and drive growth across the nation.”
According to recent analysis by Cornwall Insight, last year saw an unprecedented number of renewable energy projects approved in Great Britain, with the energy capacity from new battery, wind, and solar initiatives reaching 45GW, representing a 96% increase compared to 2024.
However, the same analysis highlighted that the pace of project commencement has not kept up, primarily due to extended construction timelines and delays in grid connections.
For other types of infrastructure projects, including transportation and water, the government plans to implement a fixed legal challenge period. Once this period concludes, planning approvals could be revised to tackle “any legitimate concerns,” stated the Treasury.
This proposal is part of a series of policy initiatives by Reeves, even amid ongoing uncertainty regarding Keir Starmer’s position as Prime Minister.
On Tuesday, it was revealed that the government had urged UK supermarkets to consider freezing prices on essential food items to shield the public from inflation exacerbated by the conflict in the Middle East.
Reeves is anticipated to announce additional measures to assist households with living costs on Thursday, which will also include plans to cancel a scheduled increase in fuel duty.
