Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced plans to curb repeated legal challenges that have been delaying major infrastructure projects. He aims to end a 'challenge culture' where 'blockers' use legal processes to hinder growth, focusing on streamlining the judicial review process for projects such as nuclear power plants, wind farms, and roads.
Infrastructure 'blockers' will have fewer chances to 'frustrate growth' through repeated legal challenges, the Prime Minister has said. Sir Keir said he would end a 'challenge culture' that saw major projects such as nuclear power plants, wind farms and roads delayed by unarguable bids for judicial review . The changes will prevent 'cynical' or 'hopeless' cases causing delays and increasing the cost of infrastructure projects, No10 said.
Those opposing projects currently have three opportunities to secure permission for a judicial review: firstly by writing to the High Court, then in an oral hearing and finally by asking the Court of Appeal. However, under plans announced by the PM on Thursday, the written stage will be scrapped and any cases deemed 'totally without merit' will be unable to ask the Court of Appeal to reconsider. \ 'For too long, blockers have had the upper hand in legal challenges - using our court processes to frustrate growth,' Sir Keir said. 'We're putting an end to this challenge culture by taking on the NIMBYs and a broken system that has slowed down our progress as a nation. 'This is the Government's Plan for Change in action - taking the brakes off Britain by reforming the planning system so it is pro-growth and pro-infrastructure.' The Government has already committed to making 150 major infrastructure project decisions by the next election, and on Wednesday announced changes to environmental protection rules to speed up building work. It follows a 2024 review by planning lawyer Lord Charles Banner, who recommended streamlining the judicial review process so claimants had 'fewer bites of the cherry' when seeking permission to bring a case. The review found that around a third of applications for judicial review of major projects were refused permission to proceed entirely, although it was not clear how many had been deemed 'totally without merit'. Lord Banner said he was 'pleased to see the Government acting on the back of my review', adding that 'reducing the number of permission attempts to one for truly hopeless cases should weed out the worst offenders'.\Shadow communities secretary Kevin Hollinrake said: 'While we welcome the Government taking forward Conservative initiatives to streamline the planning system, Labour's blocking of our efforts to cut EU legacy red tape, such as nutrient neutrality, so they can align more closely with the European Union will hold Britain back.' He also accused ministers of having 'sat on their hands' on implementing measures to cut bureaucracy, adding that reorganising local councils was 'hardly a recipe for accelerating decision-making'
Infrastructure Judicial Review Planning System Nimbys Government Reform
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Brother Dies at 60Prime Minister Keir Starmer's brother, Nick Starmer, has passed away at the age of 60 after a battle with cancer. Keir Starmer released a statement expressing his grief and gratitude for the care Nick received.
Read more »
Three Years On, I Want Action From Prime Minister Keir StarmerThis article tells the heartbreaking story of Kristy Freckleton whose son Oliver was shot at a party three years ago. Oliver's partner called her in the early hours of the morning to tell her the devastating news. Kristy describes the frantic race to the scene, the sea of police cars, and the agonizing wait for answers. The article ends with a plea for action from Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Read more »
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces 1,000 new jobs for Liverpool City RegionStarmer promises to 'turbocharge' region as part of major Artificial Intelligence annoucement
Read more »
Tulip Siddiq Resigns as Treasury Minister Amid Corruption ProbeTulip Siddiq has resigned as Treasury Minister after facing a major corruption probe in Bangladesh. The anti-corruption minister, a close friend of Sir Keir Starmer, resigned following advice from Sir Laurie Magnus, the Prime Minister’s ethics adviser, who expressed regret that she had not been more alert to the reputational risks of her family ties to the deposed former prime minister of Bangladesh.
Read more »
Keir Starmer's surrender of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius WILL jeopardise the 'special...Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson shares his expertise view on Sir Keir StarmerThere are many reasons for despising Keir Starmer 's attempt to sell out sovereignty over the Chagos Islands.
Read more »
Keir Starmer's surrender of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius WILL jeopardise the 'special...Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson shares his expertise view on Sir Keir StarmerThere are many reasons for despising Keir Starmer 's attempt to sell out sovereignty over the Chagos Islands.
Read more »