Rachel Reeves is \u200bpreparing to announce a planning shake-up \u200cthat would fast-track clean energy \u200band infrastructure projects by curbing judicial reviews, the \u200bTreasury said.<\/p>\n
The chancellor will propose that parliament should be able to designate and approve the most important clean energy projects as of \u201ccritical national importance\u201d, as part of a wider package seeking to blunt the impact of the Iran crisis.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat would reduce the exposure from judicial review on all but human rights grounds,\u201d the Treasury said.<\/p>\n
It comes as pressure grows on the government to accelerate its energy infrastructure development to meet its goal to build a virtually zero-carbon power system by 2030.<\/p>\n
Renewable energy developers have long bemoaned the difficulty in gaining planning permission for projects, from offshore windfarms to onshore solar and battery storage developments, and waiting times to connect to Great Britain\u2019s electricity grid.<\/p>\n
The Treasury says Rachel Reeves \u2018is clear that parliament must take back control\u2019. Photograph: Toby Melville\/Reuters<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for the Treasury said that vital infrastructure delivery had been \u201cdelayed by judicial reviews of projects the country needs\u201d.<\/p>\n
They added: \u201cThe chancellor won\u2019t stand for it any longer and is bringing forward bold changes to support delivery.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is clear that parliament must take back control \u2013 to get Britain building the power plants, windfarms and grid connections that will bring bills down, strengthen our energy security, and deliver growth in every part of our country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year a record number of renewable energy projects were given the go-ahead in Great Britain, according to analysis by the consultancy Cornwall Insight. It found that the energy capacity of new battery, wind, and solar projects that received approval climbed to 45GW, 96% higher than in 2024.<\/p>\n
However, it also found the pace of projects starting up lagged behind<\/a>, largely as a result of long construction timelines and grid connection delays.<\/p>\n For other infrastructure, such as transport and water projects, the government will introduce a fixed legal challenge window. When this ends, planning consent could be updated to address \u201cany legitimate issues\u201d, the Treasury said.<\/p>\n The proposal comes amid a series of policy moves by Reeves despite uncertainty around the future of Keir Starmer as prime minister.<\/p>\n On Tuesday it emerged that the government asked UK supermarkets to consider freezing the prices of some essential foodstuffs<\/a> to protect the public from inflation fuelled by the Middle East conflict.<\/p>\n