The new Planning and Infrastructure Bill contains measures aimed at reducing delays and achieve faster development.

The Bill grants powers to Secretary of State that could stop councils rejecting planning permissions and override courts as the Government attempts to accelerate house building, reservoirs and windfarms.

If voted through, builders will also receive a helping hand to stop planning permissions from being timed out on vital housing projects tied up in the courts, accelerating and unlocking stalled schemes and accelerate the Government’s Plan for Change to build 1.5 million homes, achieve clean power by 2030.

Changes, if passed, could also allow onshore windfarms, securing around 3GW of onshore wind and allow the Nature Restoration Fund to support the delivery of marine development.

Responding to the Government’s announcement, RenewableUK’s Director of Policy and Engagement Ana Musat said: “We have ambitious targets across various clean technologies and our grid infrastructure to ensure we deliver the Government’s Clean Power 2030 mission, and the measures outlined today represent a vital step towards realising these whilst protecting our environment and enabling local businesses and billpayers to directly feel the benefits.”

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