Reforms to fast track major projects will see the creation of an infrastructure board within the government’s environment department and a single lead regulator to facilitate the delivery of major projects.<\/p>\n
The government announced the measures in response to a wide-ranging review of environmental regulations to \u201caccelerate the delivery\u201d of projects after HS2<\/a> contractors were forced to create a controversial \u00a3120m bat tunnel to stop the mammals colliding with trains.<\/p>\n On Wednesday (2 April), former Gordon Brown advisor Dan Corry published a 64-page review with 29 recommendations.<\/p>\n Environment secretary Steve Reed has confirmed that nine key measures will be taken forward and \u201cfast tracked\u201d.<\/p>\n Among these is a pledge to establish an infrastructure board within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).<\/p>\n Corry\u2019s review urged this to include a \u201crolling, forward-looking pipeline of nationally significant infrastructure projects and other wider complex projects where relevant\u201d.<\/p>\n DEFRA said the board will mean \u201cgreater collaboration and stronger oversight within DEFRA and its arm\u2019s-length bodies \u2013 unblocking barriers to development at an early stage\u201d.<\/p>\n The government will also adopt Corry\u2019s call for a single, lead regulator for all major projects. This will stop the \u201cmerry-go-round of developers seeking planning approvals from multiple authorities who often disagree with each other\u201d, DEFRA said.<\/p>\n These major projects could include the Lower Thames Crossing \u2013 approved last week<\/a> \u2013 and plans to expand Heathrow<\/a>, the government said.<\/p>\n Pilot projects trialling the approach will begin this year, according to DEFRA.<\/p>\n In his review, Corry called for a \u201cradical repositioning and repurposing of environmental regulation\u201d.<\/p>\n More than 3,000 environmental regulations have made life \u201cdifficult for customers\u201d, he said, labelling the current system as \u201cinefficient\u201d.<\/p>\n Despite this, Corry said a \u201cbonfire of regulations\u201d was not needed but a \u201cradical repositioning and repurposing of environmental regulation\u201d was.<\/p>\n In January, chancellor Rachel Reeves said developers would no longer have to \u201cworry about bats and newts\u201d.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, Reed backed her calls and confirmed there would be \u201cno more bat tunnels\u201d.<\/p>\n On this point, Corry recommended that \u201creforms to the relevant legislation and guidance could deliver better outcomes for all parties\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe current system of environmental regulation was set up in good faith, but time and factors like resource constraints, legal findings, case law, EU exit, climate change, and ministerial merry-go-rounds under the last government mean it is not now working as anyone would want,\u201d he said in his foreword.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need modern, streamlined regulation that is easier for everyone to use. While short-term trade-offs may be needed, these reforms will ultimately deliver a win-win for both nature and economic growth in the longer run.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Reforms to fast track major projects will see the creation of an infrastructure board within the government’s environment department and a single lead regulator to facilitate the delivery of major projects. The government announced the measures in response to a wide-ranging review of environmental regulations to \u201caccelerate the delivery\u201d of projects after HS2 contractors were …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29901,"featured_media":499152,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[549,565],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n