It would be a mistake to see environmental and other regulators as ‘blockers’

The government has announced its Planning and Infrastructure Bill as it seeks to remove barriers to construction.

The government says its measure will speed up planning decisions and “remove unnecessary blockers and challenges to the delivery of vital developments like roads, railway lines and windfarms.” 

Sue Ferns, Senior Deputy General Secretary of Prospect union, said:

“Britain’s infrastructure needs an upgrade, and reform of the planning system is urgently needed to build and connect the clean energy that will power Britain in the future.

“But it would be a mistake to see environmental and other regulators as ‘blockers’ rather than essential partners in delivering this mission.

“Sustainable economic growth should be founded on a regulatory system in which expert staff are deeply involved at all stages, but this requires better resourcing of government agencies that have been hammered by deep and damaging cuts for over a decade.”