UK confirms planning reforms for major infrastructure approvals

The UK government has confirmed new planning reforms to speed up approval of major infrastructure projects, including wind, solar, nuclear, reservoirs, transport links, and data centers.

• The reforms will remove mandatory pre-application consultation for NSIPs, potentially cutting up to 12 months from the process and saving industry £1 billion this Parliament.
• The government says the changes could help deliver at least 150 major infrastructure decisions this Parliament, with projects already set to create 82,000 jobs and up to £7.5 billion injected into the UK economy over the next decade.
• The article also says three data center proposals have already been directed into the NSIP regime: Wapseys Wood in Buckinghamshire, Ampthill Road in Bedford, and New Barn Lane in Dartford.
• Additional funding includes £2.2 million provided since 2024, building on £48 million committed last year, and local authorities can bid for up to £1 million through Round 3 of the Innovation and Capacity Fund.