The Labour government is on course to miss its flagship pledge of approving 150 major infrastructure projects this parliament by a significant margin, according to a damning new analysis which blames ministerial 'dithering and delay'.
Mounting Delays Threaten Key Pledge
Research from the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) think tank indicates that, based on the current rate of decision-making, the government will approve just 107 Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) instead of its target of 150. This would represent a shortfall of almost a third.
The analysis highlights that more than half of the planning decisions on 27 major projects expected in 2025 were delayed beyond the statutory three-month decision period for ministers. This ministerial inaction has, according to the CPS, contributed to an astonishing 1,333 days of cumulative holdup across 14 delayed projects in this year alone.
Legal Challenges Compound the Problem
The situation is further exacerbated by legal challenges, which threaten to slow progress even more. The think tank notes that approximately one in every six approved projects faces a legal challenge, a process that can add a year or more of additional delay.
Ben Hopkinson, head of housing and infrastructure at the CPS, was scathing in his assessment: "When half of all infrastructure decisions are delayed by ministerial dithering, you can't blame the planning system - you have to blame the people making the decisions." He added, "Unless the Government gets a grip, they're on track to miss their own infrastructure target by a third."
Government Insists It Is On Track
Despite the critical analysis, the government has pushed back, insisting it remains on course to meet its ambitious target. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government stated: "We will build the homes and infrastructure this country needs and are on track to make 150 major infrastructure project decisions in this Parliament."
The spokesperson pointed to the government's new Planning and Infrastructure Act, which aims to streamline the system, and added that 33 decisions on major projects have already been made during this parliamentary term.
The 150-project target, a key pledge originally made by former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, was designed to fast-track vital infrastructure like new roads and railway lines. It formed part of Labour's broader promise to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029.
However, separate figures suggest the government is also struggling with its housebuilding goals. Data indicates that just 204,000 homes were built in England in 2025, falling short of the 300,000 needed annually to stay on track for the 1.5 million target, pointing to a potential overall shortfall of 500,000 homes.
