Infrastructure change ‘will fast-track planning’

Robin Pagnamenta, Energy Editor
More than 50 of Britain’s biggest energy projects, including wind farms, power stations, gas storage sites and high-voltage transmission lines, could be fast-tracked through the planning system under powers handed to the Government today.
In the biggest shake-up to Britain’s planning regime in 60 years, the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC), formally came into existence this month. Its goal will be to slash the time needed to secure planning consent for projects considered to be of national importance from as long as seven years to less than a year.
Ed Miliband, the Energy and Climate Change Secretary, said that Britain’s planning system was not fit for purpose.
“The Fullabrook Down wind farm in Devon took three years to secure planning permission,” he said. “Sizewell B nuclear power station took six years. We are determined to improve the system. Instead of piecemeal decision-making, each application will be decided by the IPC based on a clear statement from Government of our national needs. But the interests of the public will still come first.”
Sir Michael Pitt, a former chairman of NHS South West, will chair the commission and be paid up to £184,000 in the four-day-a-week role. He said that he expected to examine “just over 50” projects by 2011.
Among the first the IPC is likely to examine is a 132,000-volt transmission line in Suffolk from Bramford to Twinstead.
Seven proposed wind farms in Wales, including RWE’s 85-megawatt project at Clocaenog Forest and others at Nant-y-Moch, Coed Morgannwg, Carno and Brechfa Forest, are also likely to fall under the brief of the IPC.
But critics fear the new rules, which were contained in the 2008 Planning Act, will sideline local people and councils and leave the IPC subject to political interference.
Neil Sinden, director of policy at the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, said he had deep concerns about the IPC.
“We will be looking closely at how it works, to see whether it can meet our tests,” he said.
The Government believes the changes are vital to maintaining Britain’s energy supplies and meeting its aim of cutting the country’s carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.
Britain needs to replace about a third of its electricity generating capacity over the next two decades. That will include the construction of vast wind farms and nuclear plants as well as transmission lines.
Under the new rules, eight former planning systems are being replaced by a single process — a move that the Government claims will save the country up to £300 million a year.
The IPC will employ up to 100 people from its base in Bristol and will be overseen by the Department for Communities and Local Government.