The government has proposed a pro-growth package to support the landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

If voted through, ministers will be able to hold new ‘call-in’ powers to decide whether or not applications should be rejected by local councils

The government estimates nearly 900 major housing schemes have been blocked in the past year alone.

The proposed measures would also greenlight reservoirs faster and unlock opportunities for housebuilding.

They aim to prevent planning permission from being timed out on vital housing projects and accelerate and unlock stalled schemes so money can be better spent on getting spades in the ground rather than returning to square one.

If passed, these pro-growth changes will accelerate the government’s Plan for Change to build 1.5 million homes and achieve clean power by 2030.

Housing secretary, Steve Reed said: “Britain’s potential has been shackled by governments unwilling to overhaul the stubborn planning system that has erected barriers to building at every turn. It is simply not true that nature has to lose for economic growth to succeed.

“Sluggish planning has real world consequences. Every new house blocked deprives a family of a home. Every infrastructure project that gets delayed blocks someone from a much-needed job. This will now end.

“The changes we are making today will strengthen the seismic shift already underway through our landmark Bill. We will ‘Build, baby, build’ with 1.5 million homes and communities that working people desperately want and need.”

Chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “The outdated planning system has been gummed up by burdensome bureaucracy and held to ransom by blockers for too long.

“Our pro-growth planning bill shows we are serious about cutting red tape to get Britain building again, backing the builders not the blockers to speed up projects and show investors that we are a country that gets spades in the ground and our economy growing.”

John Foster, chief policy and campaigns officer, said: “The CBI welcomes the latest amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill as an important signal that the government wants to go further and faster in reforming our inefficient planning system.

“Action that cuts delays to planning processes and simplifies environmental approvals is critical to getting projects moving faster and unlocking the economic growth the country needs.

“Allowing ministers to act decisively on major applications, streamlining Natural England oversight, and broadening investment to key assets like reservoirs will unlock significant investment across the country.”

Vicky Evans, cities, planning and design leader, Arup, said: “Investing in critical infrastructure, such as housing, clean energy, and water security, is crucial to unlocking economic growth and building a sustainable, low-carbon future.

“The amendments put down by the government today are an important step forward in streamlining the planning system which will help significantly to speed up the delivery of water and energy infrastructure, and new homes.”

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