The UK Government has set out a new process intended to accelerate planning decisions for nationally significant infrastructure projects, according to Cambrian News. The reforms are aimed at cutting determination times for large schemes such as energy, transport and water projects, which currently face multi‑year consenting periods under the Development Consent Order (DCO) regime.
Under the new approach, promoters will be expected to front‑load more technical work before submission, including environmental assessment, design development and stakeholder engagement. In return, the Planning Inspectorate and relevant departments are expected to work to tighter statutory timetables, with clearer milestones for examination, recommendation and ministerial decision.
The process is expected to place greater emphasis on standardised documentation and data, enabling faster review of environmental statements, transport assessments and design codes. For contractors and consultants, this is likely to mean earlier mobilisation of planning, engineering and environmental teams, with more design frozen at pre‑application stage to avoid delay during examination.
While detailed guidance and secondary legislation are still to be finalised, the direction of travel is towards a more programmatic consenting model for repeat infrastructure types, such as grid reinforcement and renewable generation. The construction supply chain will need to align procurement, land assembly and technical due diligence with the compressed planning timetable to ensure projects can move rapidly from consent to start on site once the new process is in force.
