Overview
- Rachel Reeves set out plans for the High Court to list hearings on judicial reviews for critical infrastructure within four months, with the Court of Appeal to use judges with planning expertise, to be implemented administratively rather than through new legislation.
- Ministers are preparing amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to prevent councils rejecting applications while a call‑in is considered and to extend permissions under legal challenge to stop projects timing out.
- The package includes allowing non‑water firms to build reservoirs designated as nationally significant infrastructure, reducing routine consultations with Natural England, and seeking a solution to MoD objections near the Eskdalemuir seismic array to unlock onshore wind capacity.
- The Treasury cites a potential economic benefit of up to about £7–7.5bn over the next decade from faster planning and legal processes, which ministers want the OBR to reflect in its pre‑Budget forecasts.
- Officials highlight that few judicial reviews ultimately overturn decisions—four of 34 cited cases since 2008—yet delays can be costly, with major road schemes facing legal expenses of up to £121m per project.