Government pledges 150 infrastructure projects over next five years

During a speech on the government’s Plan for Change at Pinewood Studios, the PM outlined the government’s plans to ‘triple the decisions’ of the previous Parliament.

Under the new pledge, more gigafactories, solar farms, roads and railway lines are set to be green lit in the next five years.

The increased planning decisions aim to ‘add billions’ to the economy with a new target to deliver ‘at least 150 infrastructure projects, as part of the government’s Plan for Change.

The government will simplify the consenting process for major infrastructure projects, with the aim to provide greater certainty to developers.

The pledge follows the government’s vows to ‘rebuild Britain’, with the promise to deliver 1.5 million homes in the next five years.

The new pledge also promises to create higher living standards in every region of the country.

Starmer has asked secretaries of states to ‘turbocharge decisions on major infrastructure projects – almost tripling the 57 decisions made in the previous Parliament’.

The forthcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill, meanwhile, will seek to set out how the delivery process for critical infrastructure is streamlined, including accelerating upgrades to the national grid and boosting renewable energy.

New 10-year strategies for housing and infrastructure will also be published next Spring.

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner said: “We were elected on the promise of change and turning the page on failure, rebuilding this country from the bottom up.

“That’s why we won’t let the voices of the small minority of blockers hold the country hostage when it comes to growth. We’ve seen this done over the past year – with decisions on vital infrastructure with huge potential to grow our economy being unnecessarily delayed.

“Our Plan for Change will stop this and drive real improvements in the lives of working people.”

“We’re already taking decisive action by transforming the planning system and bringing forward the biggest boost in social and affordable housing in a generation and alongside this uplift in infrastructure, we will unlock long-term economic prosperity for every part of the country.”

Since coming to power, the government has:

• Announced revisions for the national planning policy framework which would see reviews for green belt boundaries
• Announced new mandatory house building targets
• Launched a new “Homes Accelerator” to speed up the delivery of 200 stalled housing sites
• Made a series of budget commitments to improve growth and investment.

Was this interesting? Try: Green light for £191m Barbican ‘essential works’

If you have a tip or story idea that fits with our publication, please contact the news reporter/editor