Environmental News: Planning Bill to accelerate devleopment of renewable energy infrastructure
The Planning Bill was today given the Royal Assent, boosting hopes that it will help deliver new green infrastructure that is seen as vital for reducing the UK's carbon emissions.
The Act will create a new integrated planning system aimed at speeding up the planning process for for major infrastructure in energy, aviation, road and rail transport, water and waste. The decisions as to whether to allow individual projects to go ahead will be taken independently by a new Infrastructure Planning Commission, operating within a framework set by ministers.
In the New Year the Government will set out a timetable for how we plan to set-up the IPC and consult on the detailed regulations and NPSs to implement the new system. This will help promoters plan their applications, allow stakeholders to plan their engagement and ensure that all are properly consulted. It will include:
* a timetable for the creation of the Infrastructure Planning Commission including the appointment of a Chairman and Chief Executive and when a decision will be made on the location of the body
* a timetable for the consultations on the regulations to create the IPC powers and the eleven National Policy Statements
* development and publication of Government guidance for the operation of the IPC
* the expected timetable for consultation and designation of NPSs. Scrutiny of drafts is expected to begin in 2009 with the first tranche designated in 2010
Ministers said that this Act showed the Government is making the tough decisions needed for this country's future. Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said:
"One third of Britain's electricity generation capacity must be replaced in the next few years and the current planning system is not able to cope. Under the current regime there is enough renewable energy caught up in the system to power over one and a half million homes.
"In the future now that the Planning Bill has been given Royal Assent we can begin to create the faster, fairer planning system we need to reduce our fossil fuel addiction and build up a new generation of renewable energy infrastructure sources like wind power. Many low carbon power sources will now get faster approval, and the country could save £300m a year."
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