The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed infrastructure planning reforms with Steve Reed and Michael Shanks to cut up to 12 months from approvals for major projects.
The reforms were announced on 2 July 2026 and are due to come into effect later this month. They apply to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, including energy, transport, reservoir and other large-scale schemes.
The announcement was issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government alongside named ministers from housing and energy. It sets out changes under the Planning and Infrastructure Act, with the Planning Inspectorate taking a larger role before applications are submitted.
Infrastructure Planning Rules Overhauled
The reforms are being delivered through the Planning and Infrastructure Act and are intended to shorten approval times for major infrastructure schemes. They apply to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, including energy, transport, reservoir and other large-scale developments.
The changes apply to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, known as NSIPs. These are large projects where decisions are taken through a national planning route rather than only through local planning processes.
- Department: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
- Named ministers: Steve Reed and Michael Shanks
- Planning route: Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects
- Start date: Changes due later this month
Pre-Application Rules Set To Change
Mandatory pre-application consultation requirements for NSIPs will be removed under the reforms. The government said the change could cut up to 12 months from the planning process and potentially save industry £1 billion this Parliament.
Developers will instead receive earlier technical support and advice from the Planning Inspectorate before applications are submitted. Examinations will be streamlined to focus on the main issues relevant to each project.
Faster Pipeline Targets Major Projects
The government said it has made 41 decisions on major infrastructure projects since taking office. It said this is double the previous Parliament’s tally at the same stage.
Ministers said approved projects are already expected to create more than 82,000 jobs and generate more clean energy each year for homes and businesses. The government said it is on track to exceed its target of at least 150 major infrastructure decisions this Parliament.
Major Infrastructure Figures
| Indicator | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Process reduction | Up to 12 months | Government estimate |
| Industry savings | £1 billion | This Parliament |
| Decisions made | 41 projects | Since taking office |
| Jobs expected | 82,000+ | From green-lit projects |
| Decision target | 150 projects | This Parliament |
Clean Energy And Transport Projects Cited
The announcement named wind farms, solar farms, nuclear plants, reservoirs and transport links among the infrastructure covered by the reforms. The government said these projects are part of the wider pipeline intended to support clean energy, transport connectivity and economic growth.
Projects cited in the announcement include Mona Offshore Wind Farm, Gate Burton Energy Park and the Lower Thames Crossing. The government said decisions already made under the current Parliament show faster progress compared with the same point in the previous Parliament.
- Energy projects: Wind, solar and nuclear schemes are included in the infrastructure pipeline
- Water projects: Reservoirs are named among planned infrastructure categories
- Transport projects: New links are included in the reform scope
- Clean power: Approved schemes are expected to generate more energy annually
Legal Challenges And Data Centre Planning
The government said wider reforms under the Planning and Infrastructure Act are already affecting major project delivery. It cited new limits on totally without merit legal challenges, including the Stonestreet Green Solar case.
The announcement said that case was rapidly dismissed by the court, avoiding months of delay for a solar project expected to power around 42,000 homes. It also said data centres can now opt in to the NSIP regime where allowed, using fixed timeframes rather than facing local delays.
Projects And Planning Routes
| Project Or Type | Route | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Stonestreet Green Solar | Legal challenge limit | Claim dismissed |
| Wapseys Wood | NSIP regime | Ministerial direction |
| Ampthill Road | NSIP regime | Ministerial direction |
| New Barn Lane | NSIP regime | Ministerial direction |
| Onshore wind | Local planning route | Consultation rule removed |
Planning Inspectorate Support Expanded
The Planning Inspectorate is providing earlier technical input and advice to developers before applications are submitted. The government said more than 80 prospective applicants have already used the new pre-application service.
East West Rail was named as one of the first NSIP projects to benefit from more structured pre-application support. The government said the ambition is to deliver a more targeted examination process and reduce overall timescales.
Local Authorities And Capacity Funding
Local authorities can now set their own fees to recover costs for NSIP-related work. They were also able to bid for up to £1 million through Round 3 of the Innovation and Capacity Fund, with applications now being assessed.
The government said more inspectors have been recruited with £2.2 million in additional funding provided since 2024. This builds on £48 million committed last year to strengthen planning capacity across the public sector, with around 1,400 new recruitments planned this Parliament.
Stakeholder Comments
Steve Reed, Housing Secretary said;
“This government is determined to make the UK a world leader in building infrastructure.
Our reforms will get work started quicker on wind farms, solar panels and transport links to connect our communities and grow our economy.”
Michael Shanks, Energy Minister said;
“Britain cannot afford to wait years for the clean energy infrastructure needed to strengthen our energy security and grow the economy.
Every turbine, every solar panel, every cable we connect helps protect families from volatile fossil fuel markets and paves the way for a new era of clean energy for our country.”
David Price, Head of Infrastructure Decisions and Applications Service at the Planning Inspectorate said;
“The Infrastructure Service at the Planning Inspectorate has worked closely with MHCLG throughout the development of the Planning and Infrastructure Act and is ready to support its successful implementation. We are committed to working collaboratively with applicants, stakeholders and delivery partners to help realise the ambitions of the legislation and support a more targeted infrastructure consenting process.”
The reforms set out a faster route for major infrastructure approvals, with changes to pre-application rules, technical support and examination processes. The announcement places clean energy, transport, reservoirs and data centres within a wider project pipeline. Ministers said the changes are intended to reduce delay, support delivery and help meet the government’s target for major infrastructure decisions.
Sources: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Michael Shanks MP and The Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News, an independent news organisation delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analysed research with human-edited accuracy and context.
