Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to confirm a series of changes to the government's planning and infrastructure bill on Tuesday, aimed at reducing 'burdensome bureaucracy' and making it easier to build windfarms, reservoirs, and housing. The amendments, first revealed by the Guardian, are part of a pre-budget push to underline the government's commitment to economic growth.
The changes include reducing the role of Natural England in deciding on minor applications and allowing developers to build turbines near seismic sensors in southern Scotland. Officials say the amendments were necessary after the government damaged investor confidence by watering down the bill earlier in the summer.
Reeves hopes the bill will pass the Lords in time to be factored into growth forecasts by the Office for Budget Responsibility, potentially giving her about £3bn extra breathing room against her debt rules. She stated: 'The outdated planning system has been gummed up by burdensome bureaucracy and held to ransom by blockers for too long.'
Housing Secretary Steve Reed added: 'Britain's potential has been shackled by governments unwilling to overhaul the stubborn planning system. It is simply not true that nature has to lose for economic growth to succeed.'
Key amendments include allowing ministers to stop councils refusing planning permission if the application is being considered for 'calling in' at a national level, and specifically enabling wind turbine development near the Eskdalemuir seismic array, which monitors nuclear tests. Another amendment limits when Natural England should be involved in planning decisions.
Reeves is keen to go further with a nature bill later in the parliament, abandoning EU rules on protected species. However, ministers disagree on the need for a separate second planning bill to ease construction of large infrastructure projects like a third runway at Heathrow, with some viewing it as a politically damaging distraction.
