In Part 1 of this series, we examined why Britain’s planning system needed fundamental reform. Now, in Part 2, we turn to how the Planning and Infrastructure Bill restructures the approval process for critical infrastructure — from energy networks to road and rail, and even electric vehicle chargepoints
At stake is the Government’s commitment to fast-track 150 major economic infrastructure decisions and meet its Clean Power 2030 ambition. Here’s how the Bill lays the foundations for that transformation.
Unlocking infrastructure through smarter consenting
The centrepiece of the reforms is a faster, clearer, and more predictable consenting system for infrastructure — an issue that has hampered development for more than a decade.
Key mechanisms include:
- NSIP Reforms (Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects): Recalibrates consultation timelines, introduces periodic updates to National Policy Statements, and enables redirection of projects into more appropriate consenting routes.
- Electricity Network and Grid Connection Reforms: Modernises approval routes and accelerates interconnectivity between generation and demand zones.
- Transport and Highways Acts Updates: Streamlines how local authorities and developers progress rail and road infrastructure through improved statutory powers and deadlines.
The economic impact of infrastructure reform
| Reform Category | Central Estimated NPSV (Net Present Social Value) |
| NSIP Reforms | £1.43 billion |
| Scottish Electricity Consenting | £913 million |
| EV Chargepoints Streamlining | £8 million |
| Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) | -£14 million* (investment enabling, not ROI yet) |
*Negative due to initial familiarisation and compliance costs. Long-term gains expected post-deployment phase.
“By streamlining the process, these reforms aim to compress multi-year approval cycles into more manageable timelines, with direct cost reductions and indirect emissions savings.” — Impact Assessment, 2025
Energy transition: From grid lock-in to grid unlocking
One of the most transformational elements of the Bill is its support for clean power infrastructure:
- Scottish Electricity Consenting Reforms: Tackle pre-application delays and simplify local objection handling. The changes will save developers £778 million in early investment costs and unlock supply chain efficiencies.
- Electricity Bill Discounts: Aimed at improving public acceptability for new transmission lines by compensating residents near infrastructure. While still in scenario analysis, early modelling shows positive emissions and network constraint cost savings.
- Long Duration Electricity Storage (LDES): Enables Ofgem to run a “cap and floor” model — creating certainty for investors. This could reignite storage deployment after a 40-year lull.
Road, rail, and waterway delivery gets a boost
The Bill introduces:
- Statutory deadlines for phases of infrastructure project applications.
- Streamlined consultation processes that reduce gold-plating.
- Provisions to recover costs from developers for local authority time spent on reviews.
- New Highways Act powers to take temporary possession of land — improving negotiations and delivery certainty.
These measures bring long-awaited parity between road/rail infrastructure and the more flexible NSIP system, especially crucial for complex projects such as light rail, flood defences, and water treatment works.
Electric vehicles: Streamlined installation for on-street chargers
EV infrastructure receives targeted support via:
- A shift from a licensing to permit model, simplifying local authority approvals.
- £8 million in cost savings over 10 years.
- Reduction in administrative barriers for chargepoint providers and faster rollout of green mobility infrastructure.
This is critical for regions aiming to meet 2030 zero-emissions targets and for construction firms investing in EV-compatible site logistics.
Strategic implications for senior leaders
As a construction director, infrastructure planner, or public investment executive, here’s what matters:
- Reduced delivery risk: Legal clarity and statutory process timelines protect against delay escalation.
- Pipeline certainty: Faster approvals unlock earlier procurement and contract scheduling.
- Strategic positioning: Firms investing early in grid, transport, or clean power readiness will gain advantage.
Up next: Strategic planning, nature recovery, and empowering local authorities
In Part 3, we explore the Bill’s mechanisms for tackling environmental regulation holistically, unlocking land through fairer CPO rules, and finally equipping Local Planning Authorities to deliver at pace and scale.
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