UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (pictured) has commissioned a review of the planning system to speed up consenting for offshore wind farms and large-scale solar projects in England.
Hunt, along with the Minister for Local Government and Building Safety Lee Rowley, has asked the National Infrastructure Commission to review the current approach to National Policy Statements (NPSs) and identify how the planning system could be accelerated.
The Commission will review whether the current process of reviewing NPSs every five years is proving effective, and how the strategic statements could provide more confidence in likely planning system outcomes.
The Commission’s report will set out recommendations for what could be done to address the speed of consenting to help deliver Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) such as offshore wind farms and 50MW plus solar farms.
It will also propose short and longer term actions that build on other reforms, drawing on insights from engagement with infrastructure operators, investors and representative bodies.
Current planning framework for NSIPs was introduced in the Planning Act 2008, with the Planning Inspectorate now responsible for the administration of NSIP applications on behalf of the Secretary of State, who makes the final decision on whether to grant or refuse the application.
The government said in its request that the regime initially helped speed up consenting, but it “has slowed in recent years, with the timespan for granting DCOs increasing by 65% between 2012 and 2021.”
“For example, offshore wind projects have been seen to take up to four years to get through the DCO process,” it added.
The independent advisory body said it will begin work immediately on the study, with a final report due to be published in spring this year.
The study will not consider housing or business and commercial projects, which sit outside the Commission’s remit, and recommendations will only cover England due to the devolved nature of planning, it added.