Keir Starmer provokes fury over plans to concrete over British countryside
The Prime Minister wants to make it easier to build large-scale developments like nuclear power stations and massive windfarms
Keir Starmer provoked fury in his war on NIMBY blockers as he unleashed a planning overhaul to make it easier for large projects to be built.
The Prime Minister says nuclear plants, trainlines and windfarms will be built quicker under changes to stop opponents getting in the way of developments.
Under his plans Sir Keir wants to streamline the system to curb “excessive” legal challenges that delay projects by years.
He says the new measures will save money and reduce energy bills in the long-term.
But campaigners have warned the approach will “slow down” Britain’s economic recovery and will result in an unsightly web of pylons criss-crossing the country and forests of wind farms.
The government says data shows that more than half – 58% – of all decisions on major infrastructure were taken to court, clogging up the system.
On average, each legal challenge takes around a year and a half to be resolved and the courts have spent over 10,000 working days handling these cases, ministers argue.
The government cites East Anglia wind farms, Sizewell C nuclear plant and the A47 National Highway Project as schemes that were delayed after being “dragged” through the courts.
Ministers say that court delays mean major road projects paying up to £121 million per scheme.
The Prime Minister said: “For too long, blockers have had the upper hand in legal challenges – using our court processes to frustrate growth.
“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.”
Under the plans the current first attempt - known as the paper permission stage - will be scrapped. Primary legislation will also be changed prevent challenges to developments going back to court three times.
But campaigners have warned the plans risk blighting the environment forever.
Rosie Pearson, founder of Essex Suffolk Norfolk Pylons action group, said: "Starmer is tinkering with the system and missing the point.
“If infrastructure promoters took on board stakeholder concerns, and worked with communities on alternatives when a project is considered unsuitable, there would be less need for legal challenge.
“There are many examples where amending a project instead of bulldozing it through the system, would result in quicker delivery.
“Instead of threatening to carpet the countryside with pylons, for example, which will result in battles, Starmer could look at the evidence for upgrading the grid in a way that is better for consumers, commuters and the environment.
“He is choosing the difficult approach and that will slow down delivery.”
Sir Keir’s announcement comes as a Labour civil war brews over a climate bill in the Commons on Friday.
Labour backbenchers who vote for the Climate and Nature Bill risk losing the whip, the Express understands.
The Private Members Bill - which will be debated on Friday - is supported by 195 MPs, including 90 Labour MPs.
But Government figures are said to have ordered four ministers to renege their support for the Bill and cut ties with the Zero Hour environmental campaigners championing the bill ahead of Friday’s vote.
They include Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones and Energy Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh.
The Labour Party in opposition supported the “ambition and objectives” of the Private Members Bill but MPs say instructions from Government whips to not support the Bill puts it in jeopardy.
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