The Labour government is considering radical planning reforms that could fast-track the approval of major infrastructure projects such as power stations, railways, and housing developments, in a move aimed at jumpstarting economic growth.
The proposed approach, inspired by Canada’s recently passed One Canadian Economy Act – developed by former Bank of England governor and now Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney – would enable the UK Parliament to approve nationally significant projects through legislation.
This would reduce the role of the courts and limit legal challenges, potentially cutting years off the current planning process.
At present, infrastructure projects are judged against national policy statements and assessed by the Planning Inspectorate, often leading to long delays.
BYPASS SCRUTINY
The Times reports that under the new proposals, certain developments could bypass much of this scrutiny, with ministers granted powers to fast-track planning decisions.
The initiative is being championed by Labour Together, a think tank with close ties to senior government figures including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The Centre for British Progress has also contributed to the proposals.
The government hopes this approach could unlock the £113 billion in capital investment announced by Reeves amid fears that many projects may not break ground before 2029 unless systemic change occurs.
HOUSING DELIVERY
Morgan Wild, Labour Together’s chief policy adviser, said the reforms are essential to delivering Labour’s promises on housing, transport and airport capacity: “If we don’t build, we can’t deliver cheaper rents, better jobs, or more affordable holidays.”
Dan Tomlinson, the government’s growth champion, added: “We now have a system where doing nothing is safer than doing something. We must build more — and we must do it faster.”
Government sources confirmed the policy is under active discussion, with faster growth an “absolute priority.”
