Parliament will have the authority to empower ministers to classify specific infrastructure projects as critically important to the nation, thereby accelerating their completion.
The Treasury stated that the new chancellor, John Healey, would “cut through the delays hindering growth, from supporting British businesses and empowering local leaders to removing obstacles that stall investment.”
It further explained: “The adjustments to the judicial review process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) announced today will address a system where every decision can be subjected to additional challenges, consultations, or reviews before any construction begins.”
According to the Treasury, judicial reviews “typically” postpone NSIPs by 1.5 years. “For instance, Sizewell C was delayed by two judicial reviews, both of which were ultimately dismissed by the courts, causing a delay in delivering clean energy to the equivalent of six million homes and 10,000 jobs during peak construction,” it added.
The Treasury also noted that the planning for East West Rail started in 2019 and has already undergone four rounds of public consultations, with the possibility of facing “more challenges before final approval.”
Officials have been informed that public consultations are not always mandatory, and departments have been encouraged to explore other methods to gather input from the public and experts when “formulating policies.