The government has announced plans to overhaul its flagship fast-track infrastructure consenting process, after confirming that not a single applicant has used the route since it was introduced in September 2024.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said the current system, designed by the previous administration to speed up development consent decisions, was “overly restrictive and inflexible”.
Ministers now intend to rework the policy to better support their economic growth agenda and the delivery of 150 major infrastructure projects within this Parliament.
Despite being marketed as a route to decisions within 12 months, the fast-track process has so far failed to attract applicants.
Officials cited concerns among developers over the mandatory enhanced pre-application process and the high evidential burden required to qualify. The department also noted that the shorter examination timetables relied heavily on timely cooperation from statutory consultees, which has proven difficult to guarantee in practice.
An MHCLG consultation document acknowledged that, while some aspects of the fast-track approach have started to inform wider improvements to examination timelines, the formal policy had not delivered on its intended purpose.
Revised proposals now under consultation would make the fast-track route more flexible and widen eligibility criteria.
Under the changes, projects could qualify for fast-tracking based on their alignment with national priorities, even if they do not meet all technical requirements.
Ministers would also be able to direct projects into the fast-track system, removing the existing restriction that applicants must opt in.
The updated process would no longer mandate use of the Planning Inspectorate’s enhanced pre-application service, although this would remain an option.
The government also plans to play a more proactive coordination role across agencies to ensure rapid progress for qualifying schemes.
The move forms part of wider reforms to the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime, aimed at reducing consenting delays and attracting investment into sectors such as energy, transport and water.
Average examination and reporting times across all NSIP applications have already begun to fall, the government said, helped by digital reforms and updated national policy statements.
Officials are now seeking industry views on how to determine project priority, whether to reduce applicant choice in favour of government direction, and what tools are needed to ensure faster decision-making throughout the consenting process.
The consultation is open until 23 October.
What are the main proposals in the government’s consultation on streamlining infrastructure planning?
Regular Reviews of National Policy Statements (NPSs):
All NPSs must be reviewed at least once every five years to ensure they remain current and fit for purpose.
Streamlined NPS Updates:
A new, faster process would allow targeted updates between full reviews to reflect legal changes, policy shifts or court rulings.
Simplified Consultations:
Consultation would remain a requirement, but reports would be shorter and more focused on key themes and their impact on project design.
Post-Consent Delivery Support:
New measures would reduce delays after development consent is granted, helping projects move into construction more quickly.
Greater Procedural Flexibility:
Planning requirements could be scaled based on a project’s complexity, with some schemes redirected out of the NSIP regime where appropriate.
Clearer Statutory Guidance:
Guidance documents would be revised to clarify what is—and is not—required at each stage of the process, reducing uncertainty.
Reduced Judicial Review Delays:
Legal challenges would be limited by cutting the number of permission attempts from three to two and removing appeal rights in cases deemed “totally without merit”.
Cost Recovery for Pre-Application Advice:
The Planning Inspectorate would be able to charge for enhanced pre-application services, with a tiered support model for more complex schemes.
Pre-Application Prospectus:
A new guidance document would explain what applicants should expect and prepare before formally entering the NSIP process.
Stronger System Capacity:
Reforms would address resourcing gaps across the Planning Inspectorate, local authorities and statutory consultees, alongside revised fees and clearer expectations for all parties.
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Colin Marrs